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Probe of other government ministries to start soonest – Shikapwasha

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Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha

Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha says government will promptly extend forensic investigations of corruption to other government departments and ministries.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha told ZANIS in an interview that effective measures aimed at extending forensic investigations of corruption to other government departments and ministries have since been put in place.

Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said the move taken by government to extend forensic investigations of corruption to other arms of government will ensure that the plunderers of national resources and perpetrators of other corrupt practices are brought to book.

He said government through the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other Law Enforcement Agencies is working tirelessly to ensure that it gets to the root cause of corruption in government.

Gen. Shikapwasha said that it is saddening that allegations of serious corruption involving huge sums of funds have persisted in the country despite government serious interventions to fight the vice.

He said government will ensure that perpetrators of corrupt practices are brought to book in a bid to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in the utilization of public funds.

Gen. Shikapwasha further said that government will ensure that it fully supports the efforts taken by the ACC and other Law Enforcement Agencies to clean-up ministries and government departments as corruption was frustrating government efforts of attaining the goals set in the Firth National Development Plan (FNDP) and the Vision 2030.

“As government will not relent in our efforts of fighting corruption and will ensure that forensic investigations of corrupt practices are extended to other ministries and not only the Ministry of Health,” Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said.

Gen. Shikapwasha further appealed to all government officials and civil servants to adhere to the principle of zero-tolerance on corruption.

He has since called for the prudent utilization of public funds with a view to ensuring that development programmes are implemented within the prospects of this year’s national budget and donor funding.

Last week, a combined team of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Zambia police swung into action and arrested 33 Ministry of Health employees including Former Health Permanent Secretary Dr Simon Miti and sent them on forced leave to pave way for forensic investigations.

The 33 Ministry of Health employees have allegedly to have been involved into the financial fraud scam involving over K27 billion.

ZANIS

Eastern province PEO condemns sit-in protests

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Eastern Province Education Officer Pilila Jere says sit-in protests by teachers are not the best way of airing their grievances.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Chadiza, Ms Jere said teachers should channel their grievances through their union representatives.

She said confrontation has never been a solution to any dispute, adding that solutions to problems were only achieved through amicable interventions.

Ms Jere said teachers should be patient as their union representatives were engaged in discussions with government over their concerns.
The Provincial Education Officer, who expressed sadness that teachers in some districts in the province were on a sit-in protest, said the move was disadvantaging pupils in the affected schools.

She commended teachers in Chadiza district for not resorting to industrial action even when they equally had similar grievances as other teachers in the province.

Ms Jere said teachers should have the pupils’ interest at heart as pupils suffer the most when teachers shun their teaching duties.

Some teachers in Eastern Province, particularly Petauke, have joined the sit-in protest by their colleagues in other parts of the country to press government for improved conditions of service and payment of rural and remote hardship allowances.

ZANIS

Lundazi man beats 65 year old to death

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A 65 year old man of Mselela Village in Chief Mwanya’s area in Lundazi district has died after being beaten by a known person.

Chief Mwanya of the Bisa speaking people, confirmed the development to ZANIS in Lundazi yesterday and identified the deceased as Typing Ngoma and the suspect as Jackson Mwanza 45 of the same village.

The Traditional ruler disclosed that the incident happened over the weekend following the death of Gladys Mwanza a sister to Jackson Mwanza. She died of suspected witchcraft which allegedly caused prolonged labour on May 29 th 2009.

He said when the burial proceedings of the late Gladys were over on Saturday 30 th May, the body of the deceased Typing Ngoma was found lying dead in the early hours of Sunday in the same village.

Chief Mwanya said that after investigations were instituted, Jackson Mwanza confirmed to the entire village that he was the one behind the death of Ngoma after suspecting him of having killed his sister Gladys through witchcraft.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler said the body of the deceased Ngoma is still lying at Mselela village waiting for orders from the police whilst the suspect has not yet been arrested and is currently in the same village.

And when contacted for a comment, Eastern Province Police commanding Officer Mary Chikwanda said Police have already dispatched officers to chief Mwanya’s area.

The high incidence of strikes in Zambia

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By Henry Kyambalesa
The high incidence of strikes and other forms of work stoppages in Zambia today should be a source of great concern among citizens who have the interest of the country at heart.

It is rather surprising that all striking workers are on government payroll! This reflects very badly on the performance and competence of those who shoulder the responsibility of managing the affairs of our beloved country.

The long-term success and survival of important institutions in Zambia is partly a function of sustained industrial harmony.

Both experience and observa­tion have taught us that regular industrial strife has partly contributed to the country’s failure to improve the performance of its economy.

Strikes and other forms of work stoppages in the country have tended to lead to widespread shortages of essential commodities, huge increases in operational costs, low worker produc­tivity, death of patients in health institutions, and so forth.

If Zambian leaders cannot spearhead the preven­tion of industrial unrest, they should not expect the country’s economic and other institutions to operate efficiently.

Let me now suggest ways in which the Zambian government can contribute to the attainment of sustained industrial harmony.

(a) Provision for car-ownership and home-ownership schemes, and adequate upward adjustments in the salaries and allowances of personnel on government payroll;

(b) Provision of free life-saving health care to all Zambians that is respectful, that recognizes personal dignity, and that adequately provides for personal privacy;

(c) Provision of free formal education, abolition of examination fees and Grade 7 and Grade 9 elimination examinations, provision of scholarships for high-school graduates who obtain a Division 1 and low-interest loans for other high-school graduates and working Zambian men and women wishing to pursue further studies in classroom-based or correspondence-based study programs offered within Zambia;

(d) Improvement in Zambia’s food security through government-financed irrigation dams and canals, cattle re-stocking and disease control, free seeds and fertilizer for 2 years, a seed and fertilizer subsidy at 50% after 2 years, zero value-added tax on agricultural inputs and raw food, promotion of food canning, and promotion of agricultural schemes by municipalities, the civil police, the prison service, the defence forces, and educational and training institutions.

The government can meet these demands by performing existing and planned government functions with a smaller number of Cabinet Ministers, abolition of the positions of Deputy Minister and District Commissioner.

Having provinces that would be administered by elected Provincial Governors and Secretaries rather than appointed Provincial Ministers and Provincial Permanent Secretaries, reduction in the number of Zambia’s foreign embassies by having clusters of countries to be served by single embassies, as well as initiating restrictions on seminars and leaders’ trips to foreign countries.

It is hard to understand why the MMD government seems to be so obsessed with maintaining a highly bloated government – a government that serves itself instead of serving the people, to use the words of a Kitwe-based prominent Zambian.

Report correct data on Maize avaliable in the country, warns RB

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President Rupiah Banda confers with Food Reserve Agency chairperson Costain Chilala during the launch of the rehabilitated grain silos in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda confers with Food Reserve Agency chairperson Costain Chilala during the launch of the rehabilitated grain silos in Lusaka

President Rupiah Banda has directed the Stock Monitoring Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MACO) to work closely with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in ensuring that correct information is reported and passed on timely and accurately to the government on available maize in the country.

President Banda warned that those found not to be accurately reporting their stocks will be dealt with accordingly in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Mr. Banda said this in Lusaka today when he commissioned the refurbished U$D2.2 million (K10 billion) Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Mungwi depot which has a grain silo capacity of 15,000 Metric Tonnes.

He said government would release additional funds to rehabilitate the five other silo depots in Chisamba, Kabwe, Kitwe Monze and Ndola that closed in 1999 due to rampant vandalism and lack of regular maintenance works.

He said government is committed to agriculture development in the country adding that government will rehabilitate other selected FRA stronghold storage depots to contain 97,000 MT at cost of U$D11.6 million from across the country.

President Banda, who also officially launched the 2009/2010 crop marketing season said farming is critical to enhancing food security at national and household levels hence government will invest heavily in infrastructure in rural areas, and weigh bridges rehabilitated to boost crop production in agriculture in the country.

He said government is saddened by reports on account of poor storage facilities leading to the grain rotting and the reason why government is encouraging good crop handling practices is encouraged to increase the crop production because Zambia has got the potential to produce more food to sustain herself and export the surplus grain to its neighbours.

Government engaged a Zimbabwean engineering firm to rehabilitate the FRA Mungwi silo depot.

He said last year, the FRA released K650 billion from the 800,000 MT of maize bought from the farmers.

He called on the private sector to take up the marketing system from farmers while the FRA goes afloat in rural areas concentrates on stocking only the grain for strategic reserves for the nation.

Mr. Banda appealed to the FRA to disburse the funds timely to the farmers so that all the grain is captured adding that government wants to change/improve the livelihood of the farmers.

The President further appealed to the private sector not to take advantage of the absence of the FRA in rural areas thereby purchasing the grain cheaply and distorting the price of both maize and meali-meal instead of the set K65,000 floor price per a 50 kilogram bag of maize.

Speaking earlier, FRA Chairman Constain Chilala said the Agency is scouting for U$D15 million from government to rehabilitate the five remaining silos in five districts namely Chisamba, Kabwe, Kitwe Monze and Ndola.

Mr. Chilala bemoaned the vandalism in districts but that the Agency has increased the number of satellite depots from two to seven in every district as well as opened up new storage depots in selected districts across the nation to enhance food security in the country.

He said the Agency will reject and not buy the maize that do not meet the minimum standards such as below 12.5 percent moisture content and advised agencies appointed by the FRA to adhere to that.

And Minister of Agricuture and Co-operatives Dr. Brain Chituwo said government intends to reverse the shift in crop production from the Northern region to a situation where it will be evenly produced. Currently, to the the weather pattern, the southern region is yielding low in crop production.

Dr. Chituwo said government has recruited more extension Officers in his ministry so that new technology in farming is transferred unto the farmers.

ZANIS

Sata urged to reconcile with RB

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Information Deputy Minister, Elijah Muchima, has asked Patriotic Front Leader, Michael Sata, to reconcile with President, Rupiah Banda, in the manner he did with late President Mwanawasa.

Mr. Muchima says there is need for the PF leader to tone down his language when ever he is commenting on issues related to President Banda.

He says Mr. Sata’s reconciliation with President Banda will create unity in Zambia and enable the nation to move forward.

Mr. Muchima says the country is not benefiting from Mr. Sata’s unjustified attacks on President Banda.

He observed that despite the efforts of the president to fight corruption, Mr. Sata has continued to attack him, sometimes using insulting language.

Mr. Muchima called on all Zambians to support President Banda’s programmes, which are aimed at fighting corruption.

[ZNBC]

Govt prodded to review legislation on mental health

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The Mental Health Users Network of Zambia (MHUNZA) has called on government to formulate and enact new legislation that will promote and protect people with mental illness in the country.

MHUNZA president Sylvester Katontoka said the current legislations pertaining to the welfare of people with mental illness is demeaning and discriminates against people living with mental illness.

Mr. Katontoka told ZANIS in an interview that the country is currently using the Mental Health Act of 1951 which is demeaning as it labels persons with mental as idiots and criminals.

He said the Act does not take into account the social and health aspects of people with the illness and therefore needs to be revised.
He said government needs to put in place legislation that will bring social order and stop the discrimination of people with mental illness.

Mr. Katontoka said the country needs to take into account the recent development in human rights issues as regards to people living with the disease.
He said people with mental illness have been adversely affected by the old Act as mental patients find it hard to be accepted in the community.

Mr Katontoka further pointed out that there are little or no facilities for people with the disease adding that this has denied them opportunities in life. He has since called on all Zambians to support people living with mental illness because although it is very difficult to be cured, it can be managed and controlled.

Meanwhile, principal Mental Health Officer in the Ministry of Health, Pascal Kwapa said his ministry is concerned with the legislation for people with mental illness.

Mr. Kwapa said government has since taken a step forward by developing the Mental Health Policy to ensure that people with mental illness are provided with quality and equitable facilities.

ZANIS

K10 Bn scam is a dent on civil service image – Munkombwe

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Southern province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has said the K10 billion financial scandal in the ministry of health has dented the image of the civil service.

Mr Munkombwe has regretted that despite President Rupiah Banda having quickly acted upon the issue, some sections of society have not appreciated the action.

He said the civil service, like any other section of political society, is not immune to non credible characters, whose dealings are denting the public service.

Mr Munkombwe was speaking in Livingstone today when Public Service Commission Chairman, Austen Mweemba, paid a courtesy call on him at his office.

He said governments exist because of the civil service adding that unless they were men and women of integrity, the country would suffer.

Mr Munkombwe regretted that some senior civil servants are also involved in the scam.

And Mr Mweemba said no one has the capacity to know the ability of workers because the Public Service Commission only looked at qualifications when employing civil servants.

He said it was difficult for the PSC to tell whether people were joining the civil service to merely gain experience and leave or whether they looked at it as a fertile ground to make money.

Mr Mweemba has since advised civil servants that the public service is not a place to go and become a millionaire and has advised thoses with such intentions to go elsewhere where they can make money in an unlimited manner.

Meanwhile, Mr Munkombwe has appealed to striking workers in the province to resume work.

Mr Munkombwe said there was need for civil servants in the province to give union leaders more time to negotiate with government.

Civil servants in the province have downed tools demanding better and improved conditions.

Hospitals, clinics and schools have been largely paralysed following the strike action by health workers and teachers.

ZANIS

Weekend Scorecard

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Faz Two more players have joined the Zambia national team at its training camp in South Africa.

Defender Emmanuel Mbola of Pyunik Yerevan in Armenia midfielder Stophira Sunzu who is out of contract after leaving French Ligue 2 side Chateauroux have both joined camp in Johannesburg.

Expected today is  striker Emmanuel Mayuka of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The team is expected to leave Johannesburg on Wednesday morning and fly directly to Ndola where the team will be camped ahead of the game against Rwanda this Saturday at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.

Meanwhile, Group C joint leaders Egypt beat Oman 1-0 in a friendly match played in Muscat on Sunday.

Mohemed Aboutrika scored the games lone goal in the 49th minute.

Premier Division

30/05/2009

Week 12
Nakambala Leopards 0- Zamtel 1(Arthur Siwale 76″)

Lusaka Dynamos 0-Choma Eagles 0

Chambishi 0-Zanaco 3(Patrick Kabamba 8″ 50″, Ziyo Tembo 30″)

Young Arrows 0-Konkola Blades 0

Power Dynamos 1(Luka Lungu 41″)- Green Buffaloes 0

City of Lusaka 2(Kennedy Chola 20″ pen 69″)- Roan United 1(Derrick Lukwesa 84″)

Kabwe warriors 0- Forest Rangers 0

31/05/2009

Zesco United 1(Jackson Mwanza 61″)- Red Arrows 1(Lawrence Pondani 44″)
TOP SCORERS

After Games Played 31/05/2009

Patrick Kabamba (Zanaco): 11

Jack Chileshe (Zanaco): 6
Kameta Mutambo (Forest Rangers): 6
Luka Lungu (Power Dynamos): 5
Kennedy Chola (City of Lusaka):5
Makundika Sakala (Lusaka Dynamos): 5
Clifford Chipalo (Zesco United): 5
Simon Lupiya (Red Arrows): 5
Enoch Sakala (Zesco United): 5
Edward Museba (Green Buffaloes): 5
Timothy Mbewe (Red Arrows): 5
Division 1

Week 13

31/05/2009

North

Luanshya United 1  Nkana 2

Mufulira Wanderers 1  Mining Rangers 0

Kalulushi Modern Stars 1 Chingola Leopards 0

Kitwe United 0  Lime Hotspurs 0

Afrisport 2  Zesco Luapula 0

Chindwin 0 Nchanga Rangers 0

Kalewa  0  Ndola United 2

Muchindu 0  Prisons Leopards 1

Indeni  1  Mufulira Blackpool  1
South

Paramilitary  1  Riflemen  0

Luena  1  Livingstone Pirates  2

Zamcoal Diggers 2  Nampundwe 0

Kascol 0  Green Eagles Eagles  2

Lusaka City Council 1  Police Bullets 2

National Assembly  1  Profund Warriors 1

Nkwazi  0  Young Green Eagles 0

Lusaka Tigers  1 Lusaka Celtic  1

Mazabuka  United -Petauke United (not played)

[standings league_id=2 template=extend logo=false]

MMD distances itself from the infamous Best Home Lodge

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The ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) has denied media reports indicating that President Rupiah Banda’s Image Builders were accommodated at the controversy embroiled Best Home Lodge during previous presidential by-election campaigns.

MMD party Spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today described the media reports as false as the image builders were accommodated at Binnie Lodge Inn in Ibex Hill, a facility owned by the late Bank of Zambia Governor Francis Nkhoma, contrary to some media reports suggesting that they were staying at Best Home Lodge.

Mr. Tetamashimba, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, further said as MMD campaign manager and election agent for President Banda he does not remember the party holding any Press Conference at the now infamous lodge which is owned by a suspended Ministry of Health Officer Henry Kapoko who is allegedly involved in the K27 billion Ministry of Health scandal.

He said the MMD Campaign Centre was located on Bwinjifumu Road, South End and does not remember holding any Press Conference at Best Home Lodge which has since been restricted by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

“We wish to deny the story and condemn it in the strongest terms possible,” the statement read in part.

Mr. Tetamashimba has since advised the opposition to keep quiet if they had nothing to offer the Zambian people as the MMD was now concentrating on making Rupiah Banda win with a resounding victory in the 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Recent media reports had indicated that President Banda’s image builders had stayed at the infamous lodge during the previous presidential by-election.

ZANIS

Standard Chartered Bank unionized employees awarded a K700, 000 salary hike

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Standard Chartered Bank has awarded its unionized employees a K700, 000 salary increment across the board effective April this year.

Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) Secretary General Joyce Nonde Simukonko has since welcomed the development.

Mrs. Simukonko said the bank did not take advantage of the global economic crisis to deny its workers the increment because it recognizes the importance role employees contributing to the institution.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Union of Financial and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) have called on both private and public institutions in the country to strengthen thier internal quality controls and ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of donor funds.

ZUFIAW Secretary General Joyce Nonde Simukonko said many institutions in the country lack good internal audits and this has resulted in huge sums of donor funds being misappropriated.

Mrs. Simukonko said there is need for government to put in place strict internal auditors in institutions and see to it that donor and tax payers’ money is channeled to good use that benefits the country.

Mrs. Simukonko said this during the 2009 salary increment signing ceremony for Standard Chartered Bank unionized workers in Lusaka today.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the joint negotiating council, Ronald Chibesakunda expressed happiness with the manner the negotiations were handled.

Mr. Chibesakunda however, called on all institutions to be expeditious in concluding the negotiations in order to ensure the smooth operation of companies.

And Standard Chartered Bank Managing Director, Mizinga Melu, said the K700, 000 salary increment the bank has given its unionized employees represent 17 percent increment.

Ms. Melu said the bank has remained strong in the face of the global economic downturn adding that it has taken the crisis as an opportunity to grow as seen by the bank’s continued introduction of new products on the market.

Ms. Melu further said the bank is hopeful that the country will soon recover from the current global economic downturn.

She said the country has slowly started showing signs of recovery as seen by the increase in the price of copper.

ZANIS

High bank interest rates hinder development, says DPS

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A senior government official in Northwestern province has observed that high interest rates of borrowing from banks were hindering a rapid development of the private sector in the country.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Nkolola Hazemba said the interest rates were prohibitive.

Mr. Hazemba has since appealed to financial lending institutions to be flexible and reduce the lending rates.

He said this when he officiated at the first business trade fair organized by Northwestern chamber of commerce held at Royal Solwezi Hotel yesterday.

Mr. Hazemba said government has partnered with the private sector such as the chamber of commerce to exchange ideas in order to develop the country.

He noted that currently, companies operating in Northwestern province might not know what others were offering hence they travel all the way to the Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces to source certain items.

He further called on all business communities to take the opportunity to participate in future business trade fairs to market and show their products and services to others.

Mr. Hazemba also noted that this would enable business people to interact with their fellow business men and women and share developmental ideas.

Speaking earlier, Northwestern Chamber Of Commerce president Brenda Kunda said the business trade fair was the first of its kind in the district since the organization was formed four years ago.

Ms. Kunda said the idea of the business trade fair was to interact and share ideas on how they could improve their products and enhance service delivery.

She expressed concern that companies in the province only exhibited in the mining and agriculture show on the Copperbelt province and not in their local show.

She said this was due to poor state of the show ground which she said was not conducive to attract corporate companies to participate.

Ms Kunda has therefore appealed to government to maintain the show ground and to seriously look at partnering with the private sector in order to bring sanity to the show ground.

She further noted that Solwezi was moving from a rural setting to a cosmopolitan district hence the need to know and identify areas that should be explored for diversification.

Some of the companies which participated were Professional Insurance, Zamtel, Northwestern Water and Sewerage Company, Mwaka Lodge and Finance Bank.

Others were Floriana Lodge, Bresmar Investment, Goldman Insurance, Madison Insurance, Plasma Enterprises and Wana Cleaning Companies respectively.

And Floriana Lodge was awarded first prize while Zamtel came second and Finance Bank grabbed the third position.

ZANIS

MMD youth in Eastern province endorse RB for 2011 presidency

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Ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) youths in Eastern province have joined other parts of the country in indorsing incumbent President, Rupiah Banda as party candidate for 2011presidential elections.

Provincial MMD Youth chairperson, Sam Thole said President Banda was the only candidate in the party who had the interests of the part at heart, adding that he was the only one who could continue with developmental programmes for the country.

Mr. Thole told ZANIS that youths in the region would not tolerate party members who have shown interest to contest the presidency against President Banda at the party convention next year.

He said the cadres have already started mobilizing their colleagues from other parts of the country to ensure President Banda was adopted for 2011.

“Even if every person is allowed to stand at the convention, Mr. Banda is the right man. Most of those who have shown interest to stand for presidency have questionable calibre” he added.

He has since urged other youths who are 18 years old and above to obtain National Registration Cards (NRCs) so that they could qualify to vote in the 2011 general elections.

And one of the youths, James Zulu, said it would be important for President Banda to contest the 2011 elections for him to serve his own term and not just finishing the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s term.

ZANIS

President Banda calls for a review of the education system

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Mr. Banda
Mr. Banda

President Rupiah Banda says it is necessary to develop a responsive and relevant education system that will produce industrious learners capable of meaningfully contributing to the development needs and aspirations of the country.

Mr. Banda said such a curriculum is also necessary for the country’s quest of achieving the status of a middle income and prosperous nation by 2030.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma during the official opening of the National Curriculum Review Symposium in Lusaka today.

Mr. Banda said the country aspires for sustainable wealth creation and employment generation hence the need for an integrated education curriculum.

He said there must be clear linkages and interconnections in curriculum design from early childhood learning to tertiary level.

The President has further called for a change in the education system and establish effective goals for which learners are educated for.

He added that it is also important to eliminate fragmentation and incoherence in the conceptualization of the country’s curriculum.

Mr. Banda has since urged participants at the symposium to ensure that the meeting serves as a building block for an enduring and holistic curriculum.

And speaking earlier, Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said government will remain committed establishing quality and equitable education at all levels.

Prof Lungwangwa said there is need to critically analyze the current education curriculum in order to achieve quality education.

He said government will also continue to embark on school infrastructure development, continued teacher training and recruitment in order to further enhance the quality of education in the country.

The three-day National Curriculum Review Symposium dubbed “Curriculum for Sustainable Development towards a Middle Income nation by 2030 and beyond” has attracted over one hundred stakeholders from various parts of the country.

ZANIS

Mysterious fish disease breaks out in Mwinilunga

Guest Editor
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A mysterious fish disease has broken out in chief Ntambu’s area in Mwinilunga district of Northwestern province.

The rivers affected by the mysterious fish disease include Kabompo, Kasanjiko and Muzhimbezi. Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, chief Ntambu disclosed that the mysterious fish disease that has hit his area broke out last month and has since deteriorated.

The traditional ruler disclosed that the affected fish develop sores all over the trunk (body). He said the development has raised concern among the local people, especially those who depend on fish for their livelihood.

Meanwhile, Mwinilunga Veterinary and Livestock Development officer-in-charge, Allan Lizambi has cautioned the people in chief Ntambu’s area to refrain from eating the affected fish.

Addressing a gathering at the chief’s palace yesterday, Dr. Lizambi urged the local people to boil their drinking water following the out break of the mysterious fish disease.
He said despite the fact that there has been no report of any person contracting a disease from the affected fish, it was important that local people take precautions.

And chief Ntambu has appealed to government to speedily carry out tests so that his subjects were availed with information on what was causing the fish to develop trunk sores.

Meanwhile Mwinilunga East UPND Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Katuuka said the mysterious fish disease should be addressed urgently.

He said government should act swiftly before human beings contract infections from the diseased fish.

ZANIS

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