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Government and unions urged to conclude negotiations

Guest Editor
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The Citizens Committee (CC) has expressed concern over the continued strike action by teachers and health workers in the country.

Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says the action is likely to impact negatively on pupils and patients.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that there is need for the speedy conclusion of the on-going negotiations for improved conditions of service for teachers and health workers.

Mr. Chifire noted that poor people have been worst affected by the strike action as they depend on government schools and health care centers.
He urged government to improve the conditions of service for the teachers and health workers as they are key to the economic growth of the country.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chifire has suggested that in view of the withholding of donor funds to the Ministry of Health, Parliament should consider suspending the mid term gratuity for Members of Parliament (MPs) and channeling the money to the health sector.

He noted that the health sector should be protected and supported at all times hence the need for government to channel gratuity money for lawmakers to the health sector.

And Mr. Chifire has commended President Rupiah Banda for the stance he has taken in fighting corruption in the country.

He said the stance taken by President Banda to investigate corrupt practices in government will ensure that all corrupt practices involving government ministries and departments are exposed.

ZANIS

ZESCO partners with Egyptian company

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zescoZambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has entered into a partnership with an Egyptian company based in Ndola to manufacture prepaid meters.

Director for Distribution and Supply Joe Chiyassa, who confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, said the move is aimed at meeting the increasing demand for the prepaid initiative.

Mr. Chiyassa said the metering exercise has been a cost saving measure for the utility company as it leaves no room for error to the mutual benefit of both clients the utility firm.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chiyassa says the ZESCO is aware that accessibility to the prepaid electricity tokens has in some areas been difficult.

He however, assured the public that the company was doing everything possible to address the problem.

Mr. Chiyassa said the institution is looking into the possible establishment of more token selling centers and engaging third party vendors to ease access to the prepaid electricity tokens.

He urged residents to embrace the prepaid initiative as customers are able to control and monitor the usage of electricity.

He noted that the response from the public has been good as more residents are demanding for the prepaid service.

About 23,000 households were metered by ZESCO in the first phase and about 65,000 were metered in the second phase of the exercise and 30,000 more are earmarked for the third phase of the exercise.

ZANIS

Zambia moves up a place on FIFA rankings

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Zambia moved up one place to third on the list of Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA ) nations in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Wednesday.

Chipolopolo have moved above 2006 FIFA World Cup campaigners Angola, who have slipped to 97th in the world, 28th in Africa and fourth on the list of COSAFA Nations.

South Africa maintain their lead at the top of regional teams (72nd in the world, 17th in Africa), followed by the ever-improving Mozambique (87th, 22nd).

The other big movers have been Zimbabwe, up five places to 101 in the world, 29th in Africa, and Botswana, also up five places to 118th on the global list and 33rd in Africa.

ZANIS

Copper prices plummet

editor
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minesCopper prices have dropped to below $5000 a tonne due to weak demand especially from China.

Barclays Bank reports that copper prices Wednesday fell below $5 000 a tonne to trade at $4,936 a tonne.

On Tuesday, Copper was trading at $5050 a tonne.

Analyst warned copper’s recent strength masks poor fundamentals.

Markets are entering a seasonally quiet period after China’s copper restocking reduced.

China helped push copper prices up by 60 percent from a low of $3000 a tonne in January this year.
[ZNBC]

Former Bond actor demands end to child abuse

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roger-mooreFormer James Bond actor Sir Roger
Moore has called for a stop to the sexual exploitation of
children around the world.

The ‘Live and Let die’ star, who is also a longterm
ambassador for UNICEF, has demanded that officials should
pursue paedophiles across international borders, Contact music
reported.

Speaking in Germany to publicise a new report for UNICEF,
the 81-year-old actor called for police to enter foreign
countries in a bid to catch abusers and put them behind bars.

“Childhood is being destroyed by sexual abuse, violence
and neglect. We must stop it. If we do nothing, our silence
would mean acceptance,” said Moore.

“I can hardly imagine a more shameful violation of the
rights of children as the deliberate exploitation of their
bodies by unscrupulous adults to serve their sexual appetite.

They destroy the childhood of their victims and do harm to them that lasts throughout their lives. Perpetrators must be
followed across borders,” he added.

Meanwhile the VICTIM Support Unit (VSU) recorded an increase in sexual violence against women and children on the Copperbelt in the first quota of 2009.

Copperbelt police chief commanding police officer, Antonel Mutentwa confirmed the development yesterday.

The Child Protection Unit recorded 45 child defilement cases , in the first quota of 2009, as compared to 40 cases in the first quota of 2008, with most of the cases having been recorded in remote areas.

Statistics obtained from the Victim Support Unit on sexual violence show that 15 rape cases, 1 attempted rape and 2 indecent assaults were reported from 1st January to 31st March this year.

Mr. Mutentwa said, last year in the first quota there were 11 rape cases, 2 attempted rapes and 1 indecent assault case recorded.

ZANIS

The global economic situation is improving – Fundanga

Guest Editor
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17

Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga says the increase in the price of copper on the global market is an indication that the global economic situation is improving.

Dr. Fundanga says he is happy that copper prices are now improving because the trend is a positive indicator of global economic improvement.

He told ZANIS in Lusaka today that recent rise in copper prices on the global market is a strong signal that the global financial crisis is on the mend.

Dr. Fundanga however said there is need for Zambia to continue concentrating on producing more agricultural products and improve other sectors such as tourism.
He said there is also need to produce other products through harnessing various resources that the country is endowed with.

Dr. Fundanga said diversification of other sectors will prepare and help Zambia cushion the effects of the global economic crunch.
He said production of various products will also shield Zambia from suffering the effects of reduced copper prices in future.

Copper prices had in the recent past hit record low prices of less than US$2 000 from over US$8 000 per metric tone a year ago.

Prices have however shown an upward trend on the global market with a metric tone of the metal costing over US$4000.

ZANIS

Training institutions challenged to offer relevant courses

Guest Editor
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1

Training institutions in North Western Province have been advised to design their courses in line with the booming economic activities in the area.

Solwezi District Commissioner Albert Chifita says training institutions should identify courses that are in demand by the current mining investors.
He said it is folly for training institutions in the province to ignore mine-related study programmes.

Mr. Chifita was speaking in Solwezi when he officiated at Solwezi Skills Training Centre’s second graduation ceremony. A total of 59 students graduated.

He said government was ready to partner and offer guidance to training institutions in order to break the syndrome of offering courses that may not be on demand.

And speaking earlier, Solwezi Skills Training Institute Principal Chiyenge Frank said the institution’s efforts have been hampered by poor infrastructure.

ZANIS

Reduced gate charges still high – ZAVOSOFA

editor
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31

Soccer fans in the country say the reduced gate charges for the Zambia-Rwanda game are still high for the ordinary soccer fans.

Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Associations (ZAVOSOFA) Patron Peter Makembo told ZANIS sports in an interview that the K30, 000 gate fee for the open wing was still high.

Makembo added that Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) should have taken into consideration the job cuts in the country and also the location of the stadium when determining the charges.

He said many supporters are now retrenched and will be coming from different parts of the country and will also need to provide their own accommodation and food.

He said due to these factors soccer fans had expected FAZ to allow free entry for open wing or reduce it even further than they have.

“That was the reason we had written to President Banda to consider us the soccer fans enter the stadium for free to cheer our national team” he said.

He has however commended government for coming to the aid of the soccer fans by appealing to FAZ to reduce the gates charges although they still remain high.

FAZ announced that it had revised the gate fees for the open wing for Saturday’s 2010 Africa/ World Cup qualifier against Rwanda at Konkola Staduim in Chililabombwe.

Sports , Youth and Child Development minister Kenneth Chipungu said FAZ held consultations with his ministry following the outcry from most soccer loving Zambians.

Chipungu said government has commended FAZ for its swift and positive response in the interest of the soccer loving Zambians who he said cannot afford the initial gate fees.

And ZAVOSOFA has implored the chipolopolo boys to fully utilise home ground advantage to score more goals during their clash with Rwanda and Algeria.

He said Zambia should also take advantage of the opportunity to open up a seven point lead by wining their home games.

ZANIS

Lundazi uncle murdered as residents watch

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28

Police in Lundazi have arrested two teenagers for allegedly murdering their Uncle Typing Ng’ona 56, of Musulwa village in Chief Mwanya’s area.

The arrested teenagers have been identified as Bebe Manda 15years and Kunda Zulu 19 years, both of Shabani Village in Chief Mwanya’s area.Two other people, Pepulani Banda and Tapson Mwanza both of Museleka Village, ran away when they heard that Police were looking for them.

Mr. N’gona met his fate on Friday 29th May last week around 16;00 hours when he was told that his niece Gladys Mwanza 38, who had been pregnant, had died of prolonged labor on her way to the clinic.

When he got to the place along the road where the Gladys had died, Tapson accused him of causing the death of Gladys. It was at this point that the quartet descended on Typing.

They beat him with sticks, in the presence of more than fifty people who had gathered along the road, who just watched without stopping the beating.

The four dragged Ng’ona while beating him and calling him a witch as they headed towards the funeral house where he passed out.

When they realized that he had died, they left him on the ground, until his cousin Lyson Lingo took the body away around 03;00 hours on Saturday the following morning.

According to the medical officer who was manning Mwanya Clinic at the time, Ng’ona sustained deep cuts on the head, broken ribs and bled heavily from the mouth and nose.

The same officer accompanied Chief Mwanya to check on the body and the situation in the area the following day on Saturday.

After this, the Chief sent a message by radio to the Police on the same day. However, Police arrived in Chief Mwanya on Tuesday as they did not have their own reliable utility vehicle.

They had to borrow a vehicle from one of the Government Ministries to travel to Mwanya.

Police apprehended Bebe and Kunda yesterday and the Eastern Police Chief said they will appear in court soon. A man hunt has been launched for Pepulani and Tapson who are on the run.

A check by ZANIS in the area found that most of the people in the chiefdom especially children were disturbed by this incident.

People were not willing to talk about it openly as they feared that they may be victimized for sympathizing with the late Typing.

Chief Mwanya said he will do everything in his power to help Police arrest the two who are on the run and hoped that the law will take its course.

ZANIS

Commute woman’s death sentence, pleads ZUJ

editor
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63

THE Zambia Union of Journalists has appealed to the Chinese Government through its embassy in Lusaka to commute the death sentence of Mary Musiyalike, a Zambian woman convicted for drug trafficking.

Ms Musiyalike, 38, a business executive of Lusaka was arrested with 2.5 kilogrammes of heroin at Putong International Airport in Shanghai on December 14 last year and sentenced to death by firing squad after she was convicted of drug trafficking by a court in China.

ZUJ president Morgan Chonya said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia and China had enjoyed very warm and cordial relations over the years.

“We appeal to the Republic of China Government to commute the death sentence of Ms Mary Masiyalike. The two countries have long bonds of friendship that should count for something.

“We therefore call on our comrades to revisit the verdict,” Mr Chonya said.
He said ZUJ was dismayed by the statement that the Zambian convict would be put to death through a firing squad at a date known by the prison authorities.

Mr Chonya said the statement was traumatising to the victim’s family and the Zambians at large.

He said it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure that every Zambian abroad received fair trial and felt safe as well as protected whether they were convicts or not.

He called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the victim was extradited and served her term here in Zambia.

[Times of Zambia]

MMD refutes media allegtions against Deputy Minister Muchima

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The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD)leadership in Mwinilunga district has refuted media allegations leveled against Mwinilunga West MMD area Member of parliament Elijah Muchima of manipulating constituency elections.

Mr. Muchima who is also Deputy Information and Broadcasting Services Minister was accused in one of the daily tabloids of manipulating party elections by ferrying part officials from rural places to contest the district elections in the Boma.

This was contained in a press statement issued by MMD district secretary Jackson Chilengi and co-signed by Mwinilunga west chairman Edwin Sawomba, Mwinilunga west secretary Goodson Kapaku and MMD district treasure, while others included MMD district youth chairperson Daniel Manjomba.

The press statement stated that Mr. Muchima came to the aid of the party by contributing transport to ferry party officials in the quest to facilitate constituency elections.

The statement further stated that the party in the district had no means or capacity to carry out the constituency elections on its own hence it welcomed members of the party who wanted to contribute toward the successful holding of the constituency elections.

The MMD leadership wondered why Rodwell Chinyama issued defamatory remakes against the area member of parliament when Mr. chinyama was not an MMD party member or official.

Mr. Chilengi said through the press statement that the allegation leveled against Mr. Muchima were untrue and baseless.

The MMD Party has since appealed to Mr. Muchima dismiss the allegations labeled against him with the most contempt it deserves.

Mr. Chilengi said the remarks issued in the daily papers by Mr. Chinyama were aimed at destroying the image of the MMD party as well as tarnishing the name of Mwinilunga West area member of Parliament.

The statement read that Mr. Chinyama was not the district or party spokesperson to issue comments concerning the party matters as he belongs to The People’s Congress.

ZANIS

Harrington fights Siliya tribunal findings

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William Harrington
William Harrington

FORMER Communications and Transport minister, William Harrington has applied for an order to quash the Dennis Chirwa tribunal findings clearing Dora Siliya of any wrongdoing in the RP Capital Partners deal.

In a counter claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Mr Harrington said the decision of the tribunal to clear Ms Siliya of allegations under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act was illegal and unreasonable.

Mr Harrington has been joined as intervenor to an application for judicial review where Ms Siliya (also former minister of Communication) is challenging a tribunal finding that she breached the Constitution.

The tribunal investigating allegations raised by Mr Harrington and a consortium of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) cleared Ms Siliya but found that she had breached the Constitution for ignoring the Attorney General’s advice when awarding a contract to RP Capital Partners of Cayman Island to valuate Zambia Telecommunications Company assets.

In seeking an order of certiorari, Mr Harrington said the decision of the tribunal was contrary to the proper interpretation of Section 4 (a) of the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Mr Harrington argued that the decision was against the weight of the evidence and the tribunal’s finding of fact that RP Capital Partners went to the ministry through Ms Siliya.

He further states that Ms Siliya helped RP Capital Partners in securing the contract and that through her conduct, the firm would now directly earn a base fee of $2 million.

Mr Harrington is represented by Ellis and Company, Permanent Chambers and Kabimba and Company.
Lusaka High Court Judge Justice Phillip Musonda gave the parties up to June 8, this year to file their submissions.

[Times of Zambia]

Timber Association of Zambia complains of exploitation by foreign middlemen

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5

THE Timber Association of Zambia (TAZ) has bemoaned the alleged exploitation of Zambian timber producers by foreign middlemen involved in the exportation of Zambian timber.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, Timber Association of Zambia Chairman, Charles Masange, said the Zambian timber exporters are realizing very low turnovers compared to what they could have been realizing if they were exporting direct to buyers on the international markets.

He called on government to consider forming a timber auction market at which the timber producers could sell their products unlike the current system of using middlemen who are allegedly just exploiting them.

Mr Masange has also bemoaned the open market trade policy existing under the SADC region.

He said the trading system has disadvantaged Zambian timber producers on the global export markets as it tends to be highly priced due to the high transportation costs hiked by Zambia’s landlocked position.

He said the Zambian timber producers are failing to compete favourably with producers from other countries within the regional economic grouping who have access to the ports within their countries for easier shipping to the export markets.

He cited timber from the DR Congo which is cheaper because the producers have less transportation costs due to their access to the sea ports for shipping to the European and American markets unlike Zambians that have to first transport their timber by road to ports in South Africa, Angola and Tanzania for shipping to exportation to final markets.

The TAZ chairman noted that there is need to harmonize the trade policies in the SADC region to ensure that none of the exporters of various products from member countries are disadvantaged.

And Mr Masange said there was need to promote value addition to the Zambian timber before it could be exported in order earn more from money the timber exports.

Zambian timbers is currently exported in the raw form, a trend that has been criticized by many stakeholders, including government, because it reduces the market value of the product on export markets.

ZANIS

Unregistered health training institutions to face the wrath of the law

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Medical Council of Zambia (MCZ) says all institutions offering training for health personnel should be registered with it or risk facing the wrath of the law. .

MCZ Registrar, Dr. Mary Zulu, says institutions training health practitioners in various health-related fields in the country should, by law, apply to the council for approval and recognition of their training programme.

Addressing journalists in Lusaka today, Dr. Zulu said such steps are necessary so that graduates from such institutions are recognized and are eligible to be issued with a practicing certificate.

Dr. Zulu warned that if an institution trains health professionals without the council’s approval, such graduates risk not being recognized and would not be eligible to legally practice in Zambia.

She explained that some of the basic requirements for recognition of a training institution are that, the institution must have suitably and adequately qualified experienced supervisory and teaching staff for the purpose of such training.

Dr. Zulu added that the institution must be registered with a competent registering authority among others.

She said in order to enforce high standards of training, the council also carries out routine inspections of health training institutions registered with it.

Dr. Zulu said the council takes measures pertaining to training of health practitioners seriously because they ultimately boarder on provision of quality health care to the public. She said it is the council’s mandate to protect and safeguard the public.

She stated that there are only eight health training institutions that are recognized and have their professionals approved by the MCZ which include Chainama College of Health Sciences, Evelyn Hone College and Ndola School of Biomedical Science, among others.

Dr. Zulu warned of any institutions that are operating without the council’s recognition and their approval of their curriculum that they are doing so at their own risk.

She advised the various institutions which are doing so to normalize their status with the council as they can apply for recognition and it will determine whether they meet the prescribed standards for providing such training.

ZANIS

WFP urges scribes to raise awareness on child hunger

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4

The World Food programme (WFP) says more people die from hunger than HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined.

WFP Country Director and Representative Pablo Recalde says the worst affected are women and children.

Addressing Journalists in Lusaka today, Mr. Recalde said there is therefore need to raise awareness on the high levels of child hunger and malnutrition in Africa, Zambia inclusive.

He noted that about one billion suffer from hunger in the world, with people in the south sub-Sahara being the worst hit.

Mr. Recalde emphasized the need to strive to fight child hunger and malnutrition by increasing productivity of the country.

And Food Programme Management Unit, FPMU, Acting Programme Manager Dorothy Sikazwe said more emphasis should be placed on eradicating child hunger.
ZANIS

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