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The Week in pictures
Zambia could develop at a faster rate ,Dr. Mambwe
North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Eustern Mambwe has said prudent use of Zambia’s abundant resources and wiping out corruption and fraud can lead to the country’s fast development.
Dr. Mambwe said, if all the money for economic development were used for it’s intended purpose, Zambia could develop at a faster rate.
He called on all Zambians to vehemently fight corruption and fraud, which he described as devastating to the country’s economy.
Dr. Mambwe said this in Solwezi today, in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy, Nkolola Hazemba during official opening of a workshop on, ”Prevention of Corruption and Fraud in the Work Place”.
He said public service workers can deliver according to people’s expectations, in the absence of corruption and fraud.[quote]
“God has blessed this country with plenty of natural resources, comprising of intelligent people, fertile soils, streams and rivers, lakes, minerals, trees and and many more. All we need is the proper use of finances, backed up by hard work,”, he said.
Dr. Mambwe said Zambians should step-up the fight against corruption and understand that no outsiders will rid the country of the scourge for us.
He urged all Zambians to work hard, rather than complaining about the country’s economy not developing fast”, he said.
ZANIS
Zambia may not attain MDGs by 2015, says academician
An academician has observed that Zambia has slim chances of attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on education because people have little value for education.
Great North Road Academy, Managing Director, Rozious Siatwambo, said Zambians were not willing to invest in education, a situation he said will have a negative impact in attaining the 2015 education for all goals.
Mr. Siatwambo said there was need for Zambians to seriously invest in education and not wait for government alone.
“As a country, the elusive Millennium Development Goal, one of which is education for all by the year 2015, will remain a challenge and difficult to meet unless each one of us citizens do our little bit to pay back to society and help supplement our government’s effort,” he said.
Mr. Siatwambo, who is also the author and consultant of, “Exams made Simple” book said this in Lusaka today after he donated 100 books, valued at over K5 million to the Ministry of Education.
He further said that many students were today failing their exams because they lacked certain information that could make them succeed.
He said many intelligent students were failing because they did not apply many study skills, which include time management, goal setting, and having the right altitudes which he say the book tries to highlight.[quote]
In receiving the donation of the 100 books on behalf of the Ministry of Education today, Director of Education and Specialized Services, Ruth Mubanga said her ministry has an urgent ambition and desire to promote and widen access to education.
Ms. Mubanga said this was one way government will achieve the 2015 MDGs and to particularly attain the universal education for all.
She said this has however remained a challenge which should not be left to government alone, adding that individuals and corporate entities must cooperate in delivering good education services to the country.
Ms. Mubanga has further said the 100 books will be distributed to the provincial education officers (PEOs), who will then identify the beneficiaries of the books.
ZANIS
SACCORD happy with the removal of 7 delegates from NCC
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has commended the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) for removing seven of its members from the conference.
SACCORD Administration Manager, Theresa Chewe said the seven that were barred from the NCC deserved such treatment because they did not give an apology or reasonable explanation for their absenteeism.
Ms. Chewe urged the NCC to ensure that every members of the NCC who was absconding without any reasonable explanation was barred.
She said absconding from the NCC without any reasonable explanation meant breaching the NCC laws.
She said the barring of the seven people from the NCC would be a lesson from the would be offenders.
Ms. Chewe said delegates should understand that they were at NCC to debate national issues, which were important for the development of the country.
ZANIS
More public service workers to strike next week
Public service workers in Choma have resolved to go on strike next Monday, June 1,2009, to press government to conclude long-awaited salary negotiations with their unions.
The government workers have also asked their national union leaders to resign from their positions if they have failed to represent them adequately in the on-going negotiations with their employer.
This is according to a joint statement released to ZANIS in Choma today by Civil Servants and Allied Workers’ Union of Zambia branch Secretary, Peter Phiri, and National Union of Public Service Workers branch chairperson Macford Chiboola.
The two union leaders said their members have noted with regret the way government has been using delaying tactics in the on-going negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service.
They said this is a breach of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act CAP 269 which stipulates the time limit in which the negotiations are supposed to be concluded.
The unions have demanded that government should consider giving a block figure in awarding increments and not percentages.
The civil servants are demanding not less than K 450,000 across the board as salary increment with not less than K 400,000 as housing allowance, adding that all outstanding housing allowance arrears must be cleared not later than June 30, 2009.
Teachers in the district have been on go slow since May 18.
ZANIS
Solwezi nurses stage a sit in protest
Nurses at Solwezi General Hospital have joined their counterparts in some parts of the country to stage a sit in protest to press for improved conditions of service.
A check by ZANIS at the hospital found the nurses who had started their sit in protest on Wednesday,relaxing outside behind the outpatient department building while others were dancing and singing to pass time.
Some of the nurses talked to said they took the sit in action because government has failed to increase their uniform and housing allowances from K35,000 and K200,000 respectively.
The nurses charged that there is no material that can be bought from the K35, 000 and no house in Solwezi is rented at K200, 000.
They also alleged that some of their leave days for 2005 were never honoured and were forfeited the administration.
The protesting nurses have vowed not to go back for work until all their grievances are addressed.
The sit in protest by the nurses has paralyzed some sections at the hospital where only trainee nurses are manning the wards together with top management officials.
And top management at the hospital said the grievances by the nurses can not be solved by them as the issues are above them.
ZANIS
Woman faints in court after Dagga possession conviction
A 35 year old woman of new Mushili compound in Ndola, yesterday fainted in Serenje magistrate court when magistrate Philip Chisenga sentenced her to two years simple imprisonment for unlawful possession of psychotropic substance namely, dagga.
Before Mr. Chisenga were Loveness Nyama 44 of house number 1976 new Mushili compound who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of government trophy and Marjory Chibale also of Mushili compound who was charged with two counts.
Chibale was charged with unlawful possession of government trophy and in the second count was charged with unlawful possession of dagga.[quote]
The two were arrested on Monday this week by Zambia wildlife authority (ZAWA) officers at Kanona check point along great North Road in Serenje when they were traveling from Mpika to Ndola on Checha bus registration number ABC 7292.
According to the facts ready by ZAWA prosecutor Henry Munalula, Nyama and Chibale were found with seven pieces of buffalo meat each in their traveler’s bags.
Chibale, who tried holding back her tears throughout the session, had also 3.4kg of dagga wrapped in a transparent plastic bag in the second count which she told the court she was to use it to treat her hair.
In mitigation, Nyama pleaded for leniency because she had eight children including two orphans and that all of them were school going and if she was jailed nobody would take care of them.
He fined both K900,000 in default six months simple imprisonment in the first count of unlawful possession of government trophy.
Mr. Chisenga sentenced Chibale to two years imprisonment for being found in possession of psycho tropical substance.
Just upon pronouncement of the sentence, Chibale fell on to the chair that was behind and shouted “My Jesus” and openly wept before Mr. Chisenga.
Chibale, who later gained strength, was picked by Nyama and a DEC officer who helped her walk up to the police inquiries.
ZANIS
Suspended Itezhi-tezhi District Council Secretary sues Council
Suspended Itezhi-tezhi District Council Secretary Levy Nachome has sued the Itezhi-tezhi district council for reinstatement to his former position as Council secretary.
According to writ of summons placed before Namwala Mobile magistrates’ court, Mr. Nachome who has also appealed to Provincial Local Government Appeals Board for reinstatement is asking the magistrates court to order the Itezhi-tezhi District Council which suspended him in January 2008 to reinstate him as council secretary for falsely accusing him of stealing K600, 000 from the council coffers when he allegedly awarded himself a contract to transport election materials in 2006 tripartite elections.
His asking for reinstatement comes eight months after he was acquitted of the charge of misapplication of funds in which the prosecution failed to provide evidence in the misapplication of funds case last year in August.
Mr. Nachome also dropped his suing of the Itezhi-tezhi District Council for defamation[quote]
Levy Nachome was last year suspended together with two other council financial officers namely Caiaphas Chelebela, Council Treasurer and Felix Kalandambinga,assiatant accounts officer on allegations of misappropriation of funds some of which are alleged to be for the DANIDA- supported Rural Water and Sanitation Programme.
The revelations of the alleged financial scandals at Itezhi-tezhi district council under his leadership last year compelled Danish International Development Programme (DANIDA) to freeze funding to the rural water and sanitation programme.
The Rural Water and Sanitation Programme is a programme aimed at improving the water supply and sanitation in rural parts of Itezhi-tezhi district by drilling new boreholes and repairing non-functional pumps.
About 18 boreholes were planned to be sunk under the DANIDA funded programme last year but revelations of alleged financial scandals have delayed the resumption of the programme.
ZANIS
Kafue records low cases of malaria
A district health inspector in Kafue district says the use of insecticide mosquito nets and spraying of houses has greatly contributed to the reduction of malaria admissions in the district.
Kafue District Health Inspector Libandila Mulambwa says this year’s parasitological survey conducted in Kafue has revealed that very few people have the malaria parasite in their blood following tests conducted at clinics.
Mr. Mulambwa attributed this to the usage of and acceptance of insects treated nets which is a good preventive measure of malaria.
He however noted that the ministry is still facing challenges with the indoor residual spraying exercise were some residents complain of skin irritation once their house is sprayed and inconvenience of shifting of household property whenever they are about to spray inside a house.
Mr. Mulambwa was speaking at a meeting held to form a District Malaria Commission organized by Kafue District Health Management Team (RDHMT) held at Highway Lodge in Kafue today.
Mr. Mulambwa further said a survey conducted to categorize mosquitoes in April this year in some parts of Kafue town and Chilanga’s Freedom township revealed that 1% of these were Anopheles mosquitoes that cause malaria and 99 percent were Culex mosquitoes that do not cause malaria.
He noted that these findings show that very few mosquitoes which cause malaria were present in Kafue, a development the district can boost of as an achievement towards the fight against the disease.
ZANIS
ARVs have helped stabilize HIV/AIDS rate in Zambia – Chirwa
National Aids Councils (NAC) has said Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) drugs have helped stabilize HIV/AIDS rate in the country.
NAC Director General, Ben Chirwa said it is difficult these days to identify one who is infected with HIV and AIDS from the one who is not.
Dr. Chirwa attributed the new development to the intake of ARVs by those who are infected.
He said some years ago HIV and AIDS people were associated with loss of weight and other symptoms which is not the case today.
He noted the statistics were showing that more people were getting infected and less were dying because of ARVs.
Dr. Chirwa said the strategy which was supposed to be adopted was to break the cycle of infection through HIV patients being open to talk.
And Dr. Chirwa said that government was committed to funding AIDS programs in the country.
He said government was commitment to funding HIV programs through procurement of treatment for the HIV patients.
ZANIS
Teta orders Ndola City Council to curb illegal Plot allocations
Local government and housing minister Ben Tetamashimba has directed Ndola City Council to curb illegal land allocation.
Mr Tetamashimba said the council should carry thorough investigation in cases of illegal allocation of plots allegedly by some Councilors and Resident development Committee officials and bring the culprits to book.
Mr. Tetamashimba gave the directive during the installation of new Ndola City Council Mayor Charles Chiwaya and his deputy John Chanda yesterday at the Civic Centre lawn.
He said all the Resident Development Committees (RDC) which would be found wanting should be dissolved and the culprits should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He said government was happy with the role the integrity Committee was playing in fighting corruption in the allocation of plots in Ndola.
The minister said the integrity Committee formation at local authorities was a government initiative which must be supported by all stakeholders in the interest of national development.[quote]
He said land management did not fall within the mandate of individual councilors and RDC officials because it was not part of their job description to do so as individuals.
He called for hard work, diligence, transparency and honesty in the execution of duties from all local authorities in the country so that people could enjoy a better service from the Councils.
He reiterated the call that Government wanted to operate on a Zero-tolerance to corruption of any form and anyone found in the neighbourhood of corrupt practices should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He said all councils that were not working in line with government’s resolve on zero-tolerance to corruption would be punished by government because the people of Zambia expected to enjoy a better service from their local authorities.
ZANIS
Former Mkushi Council Secretary nabbed for graft
Former Council Secretary Rodger Musonda has been jailed for two years for corrupt practices and forgery.
Musonda, was yesterday 27th May, 2009 convicted and sentenced to jail by Mkushi Magistrate Betty Malupenga.
The sentences will run concurrently with effect from 27th May, 2009 and Musonda has since been imprisoned at Mkushi State Prison.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Timothy Moono said this in a statement yesterday.
Musonda who was facing six counts before magistrate Malupenga, was convicted on two counts of forgery contrary to Section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code and sentenced to two years imprisonment on each count.
Further, Musonda was convicted on three counts of Abuse of Authority of Office contrary to Section 37 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act and sentenced to one year and six months imprisonment with hard labour on each count.
Musonda was arrested by the Anti Corruption Commission in 2008 and charged with two counts of forgery and four counts of Abuse of Authority of Office.
In the first count, details are that Musonda stood charged with forgery of Minutes of the Special Plans, Works, Water Sanitation Committee in which he had purported that the Committee did meet on 20th September, 2006 when in fact it did not meet. As a result of the forged minutes plots were offered to among other people, himself and his wife Artress Musonda.
In the second count, Musonda stood charged with forgery of minutes of the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee in which case he had purported that the Committee did meet on 15th September 2006 when in fact it did not.
As a result of the forged minutes loans were given to, among other people, himself.
In the third count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of authority of office for giving himself an additional loan of K10million without approval from the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee. He gave himself the loan on the basis of the forged minutes already mention in Court Two above.
In the fourth count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of authority of office for offering plots to, among other people, himself and his wife Artress Musonda at a time when the Ministry of Lands had withdrawn the Land Agency from Mkushi District Council. He offered the plots on the basis of the forged minutes already mentioned in Court Two above.
In the fifth count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of office for applying to himself and personally approving for himself an additional loan of K5million without the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee’s approval or the approval of the Council Chairman.
Magistrate Malupenga found Musonda guilty on the above-mentioned five (5) counts and but acquitted him on the sixth count.
ZANIS
Zambia works on contingency plan for the Health Sector
The Zambian Government has received letters from Sweden and the Netherlands on delayed funding to the ministry of health following the K10 Billion scam.
Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane says the sum of money withheld is $33 million out of the total donor support of $120 million for the year 2009.
Dr. Musokotwane said this in the capital, Lusaka, Thursday at a joint press briefing with his health counterpart Kapembwa Simbao.
The Finance Minister said government regrets the theft of public funds in the health sector and the impact it might have on the poorest of the poor.
He said the Ministries of Finance and health are currently working on a contingency plan to ensure key health services are provided during the absence of donor support.
Dr. Musokotwane said government will use its own budgetary resources as well as that of co-operating partners who have not suspended their support.[quote]
He said Zambia has agreed to discuss with the embassies of Sweden and the Netherlands to map the way forward beyond investigations already underway.
Dr. Musokotwane said donors have not lost confidence in the manner government is running national affairs adding that delayed funding is only a temporal measure.
And Mr. Simbao said his ministry will run short of K24 billion each month as a result of the delayed funding by Sweden and the Netherlands.
The Health Minister said the worst affected will be district health centres and hospitals as well as HIV and Malaria programmes
[ZNBC]
Sudan Setting an Example
Sudan profile on the African football scene is set to rise from the ashes its recent war-ravaged past and poor human rights reputation.
The highlight will come in July when Africa largest country will showcase their return to the big stage in when they try to steal the show in the opening phase of this years Caf African champions league group stage.
Sudan will host its first-ever African Champions League local derby between Khartoum giants El Merreikh and Al Hilal to kickoff with a Group A match in the same competition on match day 1 during the weekend of July 17-19.
But in the midst of that, another double football carnival will ensue from June all through August.
Prior to the African Champions League showdown, Sudan will host this years 10-team Cecafa club championship from June 30 to July 12 .
And in August, Sudan will host the second edition of the CECAFA Under-17 tournament after Uganda pulled out of staging the youth tournament.
Sudan is expected to host both tournaments for a combined sum of a modest US$ 1 million.
Meanwhile, the staging of the two events will act as preliminary dress rehearsals of bigger things awaiting Sudan coming in another two years.
In 2011, Sudan is set to host the second edition of the Caf African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Sudan will become the second country coming out of a conflict to host the CHAN event after Cote d’Ivoire successfully staged the maiden tournament from February 22 to March 8 this year.
UN Volunteers donate to vulnerable in Sinazongwe
The United Nations volunteers in Sinazongwe district of Southern province have procured nine hammer mills meant to assist orphans and vulnerable children.
District Aids coordination adviser Lester Nambale said the hammer mills were distributed to the orphans and vulnerable children in various communities from Kafwambila to Chiyabi in Sinazongwe.
The other recipient areas are Siameja, Kanchindu, Ngoma, Sinazeze, Mambova, Sianyoka and Malima.
Mr. Nambale told NAIS in Sinazongwe that his organization has also purchased goats which have since been given to orphans and vulnerable children in a programme known as passing on the gift.
He explained that small livestock such as goats are prolific and will empower the orphans and vulnerable children through the doctrine of passing on the gift.
He urged the communities to follow new agriculture technologies to produce more food and become food secure.
Mr. Nambale pointed out that food production will reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS as households will be self sustainable. He revealed that 44 support groups have been established in the district among the farming households to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
ZANIS