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Rural television expansion project slowed by inadequate funding

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Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) says inadequate funding has slowed down its rural television expansion project.

ZNBC Acting Director General Juliana Mwila says the corporation is in need of funds to enable it complete the rural expansion project which it has embarked on in its bid to cover the whole country.

Mrs. Mwila said this when she led a ZNBC delegation that appeared before the parliamentary committee on information and broadcasting which was chaired by Chisamba Member of Parliament Moses Muteteka in Lusaka yesterday.

She said adequate funding will also help enhance the operations of the national broadcaster in its quest to disseminate information to the nation.

Mrs. Mwila also said that there is need to replace the old analogue equipment at mass media complex with the modern digital equipment.

She said there is need for the corporation to move in tandem with modern trends in order to operate efficiently.

Mrs. Mwila however, said government through the ministry of information and broadcasting has assured the corporation of funding to further improve its operations and coverage.

And the ZNBC Acting Director has dismissed suggestions from quarters of society that the national broadcaster is biased in its coverage.

Mrs. Mwila said ZNBC has continued to endeavor in ensuring that all stakeholders and political players are given adequate coverage.

She also explained that it is within the corporations mandate to ensure that government policies and programmes are given enough air time to ensure that they are effectively explained to the nation.

Mrs. Mwila added that it is also important that the head of state is given adequate air time to enable him explain government decision, policies and programmes.

ZANIS

Singuluma Trains and Ducks Questions

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Given Singuluma joined Zambia in camp late on Tuesday but on Wednesday dodged the press after both morning and afternoon training sessions.

The ace CHAN striker has been absent for the first two days of training camp due to what the technicial bench described as “family matters.”

The Zanaco striker’s absence comes in the midst after confusion over his player status following  alleged reports that he had signed contracts with both TP Mazembe of DR Congo and FC Haka of Finland.

“I have nothing to say to you (Reporters).Hasn’t enough been written about me in the newspapers?” Singuluma said at the end of Wednesday mornings training session at Barclays Sports club in Lusaka.

He went through the same paces with the press again at the end of the afternoon session following a subdued performance in a training match against Green Buffaloes that ended 1-1.

Meanwhile, Zambia rallied from 1-0 down in the second half after Tyson Chikwanda had given Buffaloes the lead to equalized through the promising Zanaco attacking midfielder Michael Bwalya late into the game.

Coach Herve Renard said after wrapping up Wednesday’s workout that he was satisfied with the training so far.

Zambia on Thursday wrap-up training in the morning with another warm-up match this time against division 2 south club K-Stars at Barclays before breaking camp at midday.

Seven regular members of the Zambia team including goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who is in the country will regroup on Sunday.

The eight plus the coaching staff will on the same day  fly out to Johannesburg where they will be joined by
18 other foreign-based call-ups during the course of next week for a private training camp there.

Zambia will return home on June 2 ahead of their 2010 World/African Cup Group C match against Rwanda at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.

Red Arrows Win-Finally

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Red Arrows won their first league game of the season today when they beat Young Arrows 5-1 away at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Wednesday’s victory for Arrows was their first in four league games played after three successive defeats.

But it was Young Arrows who took the lead through Juma Lwipa in the 4th minute to see Alfred Mulao’s side take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Arrows rally began in the 52nd minute through Judge Mkandawire before Simon Lupiya scored his first of three goals on the day a minute later.

Jimmy Njobvu made it 3-1 in the 67th minute before Lupiya completed his hat trick in the 85th and deep into fulltime.

The victory sees Arrows shift from 16th to 14th on the Faz Premier Division table with 3 points while Young Arrows remain in 13th position on 7 points, four more than the winners on the day.

[leaguestandings league_id=1 mode=extend logo=false]

Sata parades and shames underperfoming PF councillors at a rally in Kasama

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Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, yesterday took to task his councillors in Kasama and warned them of being expelled from the party if they do not perform to the expectation of the electorates.

Mr Sata who paraded his councillors before the multitude at a public rally held in Kasama yesterday at President’s Park, said he will not condon indiscipline among the councillors who become champions of corruption at the expense of developing their wards.

He explained that councillors were supposed to be mobile and monitor how developmental activities were being implemented in the district rather than going round soliciting personal financial support.

He said he had received numerous reports that some PF councillors were soliciting some help from other well-wishers for their personal gain in the name of developing their wards.

The PF leader further said he would be sad to hear that PF councillors are taken to court over corruption and abuse of office and public funds, saying the duties of councillors were to speak for the people and take development to the grass root.

Mr Sata noted that some councillors were busy empowering themselves by taking advantage of the global financial down turn that the country has been faced with living the electorates suffering.

He commanded PF councillors in the province to be social to the people regardless of their political affiliation rather than being champions of plundering ideas.

The PF leader added that his party can only win the forthcoming tripartite elections if only the relationship between the people in the community is sound with their councillors.

And Mr Sata has insisted that he will contest the Presidency on PF ticket in the forthcoming general elections.

ZANIS

ACC uncovers K10bn theft involving Ministry of Health Officials

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One of the lodges seized by the ACC in Roma township
One of the lodges seized by the ACC in Roma township

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has unearthed a scam in which over K10 billion from the ministry of health has been misappropriated.

The commission says the money was misappropriated by some health officials.

The commission has also seized twelve vehicles, an executive lodge, two houses and another building under construction in Lusaka.

Among the seized vehicles is a hammer H3, X5 BMW, two Mercedes Benz cars, two Lexus cars, a 30 tonne Nissan UGI tipper truck and a Mitsubishi challenger.

A ford ranger and Mazda pick up van have also been seized.

ACC spokesperson Timothy Moono said the commission has so far seized and restricted property in excess of three billion kwacha belonging to a former ministry of health official.

The official has since been moved to the ministry of local Government.

The Commission has however not named the official but said investigations will continue.

[ZNBC]

Zambia to participate in 2011 Maputo games despite not hosting the games

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The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) says Zambia will participate in the 2011 All Africa Games slated for Mozambique despite pulling out of hosting the event earlier in the year.

ZANIS reports the organisation’s acting Secretary General Margaret Mukopa says Zambia has advanced preparations the 2011 Maputo games.

Major. Mukopa said the NCSZ Talent Identification Programme (TIP) is on going as it is the only way the association can identify capable sports men and women to bring glory to the country.

She expressed her optimism that all NSCZ affiliate members will increase preparations and short list for the event.

The Acting Secretary General said all sports bodies have been given the privilege of coming up with the best list of people so as to ensure every group gets the proper representation.

The sports council embarked on the TIP in October 2008 soon after Zambia won the bid to host the 2011 All Africa Games.

The aim of the TIP was to ensure that sports bodies select the best people that will represent the country at this event and that the programe is still on course.

Zambia however announced its withdrawal from the 2011 All Africa Games citing the global economic meltdown that has had a great impact especially on the country’s major foreign income earner – copper.

ZANIS

Kulibonesha, ‘Ba Some of Us’.

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By Son Mumbi

An illegal miner walking away with a bag of stolen mineral stones from the KCM Nchanga mine in Kitwe
An illegal miner walking away with a bag of stolen mineral stones from the KCM Nchanga mine in Kitwe

Before the copper boom went bust, I had made a relatively modest sum of money as a copper dealer. In two successful deals, I made such a high profit margin- a percentage too ridiculous to state, even after I had greased several palms.

While I could not afford a brand new Toyota GX, I bought a reconditioned one from Japan. In this car, I drove myself to Monalisa, Sherbourne, Jazz Lazzy -the popular and expensive hang out places in Kitwe for budding dealers like myself. At these places, I bought beers for my mates and for the women who I respected because they were ‘working’ hard but whom in contexts outside these, I would have derisively called hookers.

For one of these women who frequented Dubai for business I bought new clothes and cologne. I truly looked and felt flashy. In a short while, I was sporting the paunch of success, which came with taking office girls out for chicken and chips and one too many beers.

I did not think to save any money, nor did my friends encourage me to do so, they said, bushe ukai losha, meaning when I’m dead I am going to dream. I blew a sum of money that I could have lived on modestly for a year, in two months.

For the few months after I run out of money, my car was run by the generosity of friends who put fuel and those who wanted to be seen with the flavour of the month. My own earlier free spending meant that I also got free beers from my mates and the hardworking women in the bars.

However,first to cut me off were the office girls when they realised I could not buy them chicken and chips anymore. Later my mates, when I sold my car to try and finance another business deal; I had instead spent the money on an ill advised shopping trip to Johannesburg with the female flavour of the month. No longer ‘ba some of us’, I am now drinking my beer in the dark hidden dens patronised by the odd former Shimaini who at one time was also a ‘somebody’.

Mansa defiler caged 20 years

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The High Court sitting in Mansa has sentenced a 42-year old man to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a six-year old girl.

Before High Court Judge, Muyinda Wanki, was Charles Mboshi of Chiyemfya village in chief Chisunka’s area in Mansa district who was convicted of willfully and unlawfully having canal knowledge of a minor on February 6, 2009 contrary to Section 138 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Facts before the court were that on the fateful day the six-year old girl was on her way to school around 07:00 hours. As she passed Mboshi’s house he called her and asked her to get inside the house.

Mboshi undressed and had sex with the girl who shouted for help and he later pushed her out of the house.

The girl reported the matter to her mother who took the her to the clinic for examination where it was discovered that the child had bruises on her private parts though the hymen was intact.

Mboshi, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, was arrested on February 8, 2009.

In mitigation Mboshi pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he was a first offender who did not have a wife and children.

However, the court sentenced him accordingly.

And a 31-year old peasant farmer, Justine Mwewa of Kamuleta village in chief kashiba’s area in Mwense district, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour for indecent assault contrary to Section 137 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mwewa, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, was arrested on September 24, 2008, for willfully and indecently assaulting a grade one pupil aged 12 on September 22, 2008 in Mwense.

The court heard that the girl knocked off from school and got home around 10:00 hours but later decided to go and visit her father’s brother Pardon Kaunda.

On her way, as she passed behind Mwewa’s house, who stood on the door way of his house, called the girl three times but she refused to go to him.

Mwewa persuaded the girl by telling her that he wanted her to collect fire for him so she agreed to go to him before Mwewa grabbed her by the left arm and pulled her into his house and before she could shout for help the convict closed her mouth with his palm.

Mwewa threw the girl on a pile of clothes and tore the the minor’s pants and undressed himself and put his penis on the virginal area and the thighs where some watery fluid was released.

Mwewa then wiped the thighs of the girl with one of the clothes where the minor lay then the girl was allowed to leave.

The girl later went home and told the mother what had transpired.

The mother reported the matter to Kaunda who took up the matter and reported to the police who later arrested Mwewa.

In mitigation Mwewa pleaded for the court’s leniency, saying he was not married, was living alone and was looking after his aunt’s house and that if sent to prison thieves would break in and steal household goods.

In passing judgment High Court Judge Wanki said that cases of defilement and indecent assault were serious as they involved touching of private parts of victims and should therefore attract stiffer penalties to deter would-be offenders.

ZANIS

Zesco to install pre-paid meters through out

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Zesco Senior Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Lucy Zimba has disclosed that the company will install prepaid meters to 80 per cent of its customers through out the country by 2011.

Ms Zimba told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Kitwe that the power utility had so far installed prepaid meters in Lusaka and has started a pilot project for the Copperbelt Province where 30 000 meters would be stalled in Ndola.

She disclosed that 2000 prepaid meters had so far been installed in some residential areas in Ndola and that the project would be extended to other parts of the province.

She added that the programme was aimed at reducing operational costs and improve on service delivery at a time when the company was facing various challenges in the energy sector

Ms Zimba added that the programme has enabled the company to get rid of the mass disconnections and accumulation of unnecessary bills by the customers as clients were now paying for what they consume only.

She further said that customers had welcomed and embraced the initiative of prepaid meters throughout the country.

She added that customers who are on the prepaid billing system were no longer receiving services on credit but are actually paying for the service before they use it.

ZANIS

C’belt provincial accountants operated ‘ghost’ companies, reveals Chifungula

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Auditor-General, Anna Chifungula
Auditor-General, Anna Chifungula

ACCOUNTING staff at the Copperbelt provincial administration office currently in court on various charges allegedly ran ‘ghost’ companies that provided goods and services to the Government resulting in the abuse of billions of Kwacha, Auditor-General, Anna Chifungula, has said.

Ms Chifungula said this in Lusaka yesterday when Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya appeared before the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament chaired by Luena MP Charles Milupi.

Mr Lombanya appeared before the committee to explain financial irregularities as highlighted in the auditor-general’s report for the financial year ending December 31, 2007.

Ms Chifungula said that given the manner in which the funds were abused, it was clear that most of the accounting staff or others connected to them were running companies that never had difficulties in accessing their payments.

“There was a cartel to make easy payments and there is a likelihood that these companies were owned by people who were working in the accounting unit,” she said.

Narrating the abuse of funds, Mr Lombanya said that during the year under review, a provision of K1,559,226,616 was made for the construction of staff houses at provincial level and the Ministry of Finance and National Planning released K1,259,742,234.

He said it was regrettable that the money was not used for the intended purpose and there was overexpenditure of K58,000,517.

He said that the accounting staff involved in the scam had been dismissed and 17 of them were facing charges in the courts of law. [quote]

Mr Lombanya said that apart from facing the charges in courts, the Government was recovering the funds from the terminal benefits of the affected.

But Mr Milupi said that the money from the terminal benefits would not be enough.

He said the Government should instead institute civil litigations against the culprits as they had numerous properties which could be seized.

[ Times of Zambia]

Put interests of patients first by not leaving in search of greener pastures,nurses urged

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Government has advised health workers in the country to calmly wait for the review of their conditions of service.

Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda said government was aware of the important role nurses and other health personnel play in the country hence it was ready to listen and respond to their concerns about improved condition of service.

He also appealed to nurses to put the interest of patients first by not leaving the country in search of greener pastures.

Mr. Banda said the nurses should be patient and have trust in their union leaders as they bargain for the review of some allowances which have remained unchanged for a long time.

He said this in a speech read for him by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nicholas Banda at the commemoration of nurses day held at Chipata Golf club yesterday.

He was responding to concerns raised by the Zambia Nurses Union Organization (ZUNO) Chairperson, Japhet Mulipa over uniform allowance, which he said had not been amended since 1995 and still stood at K35, 000.00.

“The introduction of the remote rural hardship and retention allowances demonstrates government’s commitment in improving the working conditions of the health workers and also strategies have been put in place for continued education and provision of sufficient equipment to provide quality patient care,” he added.

Mr. Banda expressed optimism that the current negotiations going on between the union and government would result into a fare deal.

Mr. Banda said government was aware that accommodation of staff working in the health sector was cardinal in the delivery of quality health services and it has to this effect embarked on the construction of infrastructure in training schools and also office accommodation.

He said government was spending a lot of resources to train nurses who should reciprocate by serving within the country to improve staffing levels.

Mr. Banda has since urge nurses to take their profession as a personal commitment and responsibility in order to give hope to patients and save lives.

And speaking at the same function, Mr. Mulipa said nurses were faced with a lot of challenges which the union could not tackle without concerted efforts from stakeholders.

Mr. Mulipa said there was need to increase housing allowance for nurses from K200, 000 to some reasonable amount to enable the health workers access decent accommodation.

He said most nurses were staying in dilapidated houses in the province and need refurbishment.

“The reality at hand in most rural health centres still have one nurse who serves 300 patients throughout the day,” he stated.
This year’s theme is “Delivery Quality, Serving Communities, Nurses leading Care Innovations,”

ZANIS

Teachers should not be subjected to unbearable suffering-ZNUT

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ACCOMMODATION for many teachers who have been recruited in the districts has remained a major challenge. Here a teacher at Kafue's Nankanga Basic School settles in his new home
ACCOMMODATION for many teachers who have been recruited in the districts has remained a major challenge. Here a teacher at Kafue's Nankanga Basic School settles in his new home
The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) in Ndola has

given government up to Friday this week to conclude their negotiations for improved conditions of service and salary increment.

In a press statement to ZANIS in Ndola yesterday, union district secretary, Charles Chapa said the negotiations have taken too long to conclude.

He said teachers were proud of their profession but warned that they should not be subjected to unbearable suffering.

Mr. Chapa said the union members have since lost patience over the negotiations.

He said government should not blame the union for the actions which its members might resort to.

He said the outcome of the negotiations should take care of the workers’ plight by backdating any salary increments to January this year.

He said the fixed band allowance should be paid to all deserving teachers by May 15th, adding that government should also dismantle the 10 per cent.

Mr. Chapa warned that government should not use what he termed the “mathematical term of co-ordinates” to determine teachers that deserve to be paid the rural hardship allowance because this would disadvantage some teachers.

He further noted that the Premium Medical Aid scheme has failed and should be stopped because teachers have failed to access the promised medical services due to the huge unsettled bills.

Mr. Chapa said the unions and the government should demand for a refund of the colossal sums of money that the PMA scheme had deducted from the teachers’ salaries.

ZANIS

RDA starts roads construction in Lusaka

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Engineers inspecting Lusaka roads work
Engineers in the background inspecting Lusaka roads work today

The Road Development Agency (RDA) has started the construction and upgrading of roads in various parts of Lusaka at a cost of over K125 billion.

RDA Board Chairperson Walusiku Lisulo said the road stretches totaling to over 100 kilometres were aimed at creating access to new residential areas the city.

Mr. Walusiku said this after he and other RDA board members conducted a tour of roads that are under construction in Lusaka today.

He said the roads under construction will also serve as ring roads in a bid to decongest traffic in the city and enable easy access to residential areas.

Mr. Lisulo said the agency will also extend road works to other parts of the country in an effort to enhance economic activities.

He expressed satisfaction with the road works but urged the road contractors to ensure appropriate road specifications were met to achieve the 20 years road design life span.

Mr. Lisulo said the RDA would however require more funding to continue with its road construction and maintenance programmes throughout the country.

He said RDA was also intending to improve rural roads in order to enhance agriculture and tourism activities in rural areas.

Meanwhile, RDA Director Erasmus Chilundika has disclosed that the agency will require about K27 billion to repair road infrastructure that was damaged by the rains in the just ended rain season.

Mr. Chilundika said the RDA has since asked the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to consider providing funds towards the repair of the damaged infrastructure in some parts of the country.

He said once the funds were ready, the agency would ensure that works to repair the damaged infrastructure commence before the on beginning of the 2009/2010 rain season.

Among the selected roads that the RDA board members toured are Chalala, Nyumba Yanga, State Lodge and Twin Palm roads. Others are Kafue Bypass, Dedan Kimathi, Mungwi, Njolwe and Kasupe.

ZANIS

Indaba report Summary

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The following is a summary of the Indaba report that has since been presented to the president. The eport has recommended that government should expedite the introduction of discount window to enhance liquidity in the market in order to ensure short-term liquidity is available to the banks and economy at large.

The report further recommend that the ministry of finance, in close collaboration with the Bank of Zambia (BOZ), should facilitate provision of the necessary financial support to efforts aimed the development of the economy.

It also urged government to enhance support to small and medium scale industries and women entrepreneurs through facilitation of access to finance, provision of tax incentives and removal of discriminatory legislation.

The report further urges government to pay off arrears to suppliers of goods and services within three months.

It said government should re-examine the corporate tax rates in order to level the playing field in the financial markets and enact appropriate legislation to provide for the functioning of the Credit Reference Bureau.

On Agriculture, it has recommended for establishment of a Livestock Bank and re-opening of the co-operative bank, to streamline and enhance access top land and processing of title deeds.

It further recommended that government should embark on livestock restocking, compulsory dipping and effect more investment in livestock vaccine research and the promotion of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in farm block development.

On Tourism, the report has recommended for the review of the Tourism and Hospitality Act and Zero rating Value Added Tax (VAT) on tour packages for domestic tourists.

It also recommended for the implementation of the Open Sky Policy and the review of the landing and parking fees and the simplification of licensing procedures by introducing a one stop tourism licensing centre.[quote]

On mining, the report said government should consider the restoration and review of the Mining Development Agreement .

It said urged government to consider a power tariff freeze and a custom duty waiver on raw materials and formulation of policies that support local entrepreneur entry into the mining industry.

‘Government should set up a task force to review the entire mining industry in the light of the global economic meltdown,’ it added.

And the report has urged government to develop an Energy Strategic Master Plan (ESMP) for the electricity sector that allows for better linkages with other sectors.

It said government should provide guarantees so as to facilitate access to finance thereby encouraging easier entry of the private sector and the introduction of cost reflective electricity tariff levels.

Meanwhile, the report has recommended that the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and the Road Development Agency (RDA) be merged.

It said government should establish a ministry that would coordinate all infrastructure development programmes to be named Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and establish an effective and comprehensive infrastructure performance monitoring and evaluation system.

Other recommendations on infrastructure are that government should develop an integrated National Infrastructure Development Master Plan and set up infrastructure Development Fund.

ZANIS

Father Frank Bwalya against the proposed statutory regulation of the media

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Change or Die Zambia Initiative Founder, Father Frank Bwalya has opposed the introduction of the proposed statutory regulation of the media saying the move will cartel press freedom in the country.

Father Bwalya said in an Interview in Kitwe today that the media has a social responsibility role to provide truthful and comprehensive information to the public and needs to operate in a free environment.

He further said the media industry is different from any other service delivery organisation because it plays a social responsibility role of providing truthful and comprehensive information to the masses.

He said the proposed statutory regulation is aimed at controlling the media, which he stated should be self regulated, to offer checks and balances to the Government of the day.

“We have opposed media regulation before and we are still opposing government’s proposal to regulate the media.” he said.

Father Bwalya stated that the media is capable of exposing corruption and all the dirty works in society.

He said in a democratic society like Zambia, the media should not be regulated and controlled as this reduces media freedom and media power.

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