Speaking when Kasama Mayor Fidelis Chishoma and newly elected Mungwi District Council chairperson Francis Musonda paid a courtesy on him, Mr. Shawa said he was saddened to hear that Mr. Sata’s opted to attack him and provincial permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe during the recent public rally in Kasama.

The Minister said while he respects the PF leader, there was need for him to exhibit political maturity by discussing developmental issues instead of engaging in character assassination of innocent individuals.

Mr. Shawa said the fact that President Rupiah Banda appointed him as Northern Province Minister does not mean that the Head of State had marginalized the local people from the realm of power.

He vowed not be distracted from spearheading development in the region by selfish individuals who have nothing better to offer the people .

The Minister said he is in the province to serve everyone regardless of their tribal inclination.

Mr. Shawa stated that President Banda’s administration wants to work with the opposition and other interests groups in developing the country and urged well-meaning Zambians to fully support the move.

The Minister praised Mr. Chishoma and Mr. Musonda, who are both PF councillors, for showing interest to partner with the provincial administration in accelerating development in their respective Districts.

Mr. Chishoma has advised Zambians not to listen to Mr. Sata’s alleged divisive politics, as they do not add value to the development of the country.

Mr. Chishoma accused Mr. Sata of allegedly specializing in politics’ of division in order to win political mileage instead of fostering unity in the country.

The Mayor however assured the provincial minister that he and Mungwi District Council chairman were ready to work closely with the government in order to enhance development in their areas.

Mr. Chishoma further said as PF councillor, he would consult widely with everyone on matters of development in Kasama District unlike taking a partisan stance.

Recently, PF leader Michael Sata told a public rally in Kasama that the people of Northern Province have been marginalized because they were being governed by ‘imported’ people, citing Provincial Minister Charles Shawa and his permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe respectively.

ZANIS

The three Investigating wings, probing the Zambian airways saga have refuted media reports that they have hit a snag.

The Zambia police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) are investigating operations at the closed airline.

Inspector General of Police Francis told journalists at a media briefing that reports in Monday’s edition of the Post Newspapers that the probe had stalled are untrue.

He said the joint team has instead broadened its investigations.

Mr. Kabonde said it is also NOT correct that the Police Service is the only one investigating the operations of Zambian Airways.

He said the Police, DEC and ACC want to ensure that every case being handled is thoroughly investigated within the context of justice, professionalism and fair play.

Mr. Kabonde said when the Director of Public Prosecutions advises the joint investigation team it does not imply that the matter has been halted.

He explained that it is common practice to consult the DPP on various legal issues before official arrests are made.

The Post reported that investigations into the operations of the airline had hit a snag and investigators are now probing officers at the Development Bank of Zambia.

And ACC Acting Director General Rosewin Wandi said members of the public have come forward with more information in the ten billion kwacha saga at the Ministry of Health.

Last week the ACC exposed a scam in which billions of Kwacha have been misappropriated by some workers at the ministry.

[ZNBC]

Forum for African Women Educationist in Zambia (FAWEZA) has called on stakeholders to supplement government efforts aimed at empowering women in the country.

FAWEZA National Coordinator Daphne Chimuka says many women have resorted to bad vices such as abortions because they lack the resources they need to care and fend for their children.

Mrs. Chimuka noted that most women and girls abort their babies because they have little or no means to take care of their babies.

She observed that abortions are mostly a last resort action of a desperate woman as no woman would want to abort their baby.

Mrs. Chimuka said although abortion is morally wrong, many women find themselves in very difficulty circumstances.

She explained that it was for that reason that FAWEZA is insisting on educating the womenfolk to ensure that they are empowered for them to properly look after themselves and their children.

Mrs. Chimuka said in an interview that educating women is the only sure way abortion and other vices can be curbed in the country.

The FAWEZA National Coordinator said through education, women will have the information and knowledge on how they can avoid unwanted pregnancies as well as how to take good care of themselves.

She said education is the key women should have that would help them make informed choices even in very difficult situations.

Zambia has in the recent past experienced an increase in cases of abortions as can be evidenced by reports in the media.

ZANIS

Petroleum Committee which would be responsible for formulating policies relating to the exploration, development and production of petroleum in Zambia.

Four of the seven are cabinet ministers in line with the provisions of the petroleum, exploration and production Act of 2008.

Those appointed include Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale, as Chairperson, while Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga has been appointed Vice Chairperson.

Others are Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati who have been appointed as members of the committee.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere confirmed the development in Lusaka today.

Mr. Jere said other committee members are Andrew Kamanga, an Energy Consultant, Guy Phiri of Engen Petroleum Zambia Limited and Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Caleb Fundanga,

The appointments are with immediate effect.

MMD Chairman for Information and Publicity, Benny Tetamashimba says Patriotic Front Roan Member of Parliament, Chishimba Kambwili is likely to be taken to a tribunal for his alleged tribal remarks.

Mr. Tetamashimba, who is also Local Government and Housing Minister, said even though Mr. Kambwili will apologise to the people of North Western province, he breached the ministerial code of conduct.

He said it is an offence for any Member of Parliament to be tribal as they have all sworn to uphold the republican constitution.[quote]

Mr. Tetamashimba stated that failure by the Patriotic Front to punish Mr. Kambwili shows that they condone tribalism.

Mr. Kambwili is alleged to have used tribal remarks at a public rally against MMD Luanshya Constituency counterpart Simon Kachimba and the people of North-Western province.

Mr. Kambwili is reported as having said that the people of luanshya should blame themselves for the closure of Luanshya mine because they voted for a Luvale.

And Mr. Tetamashimba said the ruling MMD is strong under the leadership of President Banda and is not afraid of any opposition political party.

Mr. Tetamashimba said President Banda who is the preferred candidate of the ruling MMD for the 2011 general elections is more than ready to take on any political opponent.
[ZNBC]

World Bank Country Manager Dr Kapil Kapoor has challenged the Zambian Government to use the global economic crisis as opportunity to create the right environment to attract Investment for longer sustainable growth.

Mr Kapoor said Zambia has tremendous economic potential given its location and natural resources which was not being exploited currently due to weaknesses in the policy environment.

Dr Kapoor said this in Kitwe yesterday at Edinburgh Hotel in a paper presentation titled the role of the World Bank in managing the Global Financial crisis at the Economic Crisis Impact on the Mining Industry International Conference organised by Caritas Zambia.

He said it would take Zambia between 20 to 30 years to build the economic wealth it used to have in the late 60’s hence the need for Government to take advantage of the Agriculture potential of the Country to stir the economy back to life.[quote]

He said Zambia has a lot of abundant land and the untapped Zambezi water basin which it must explore fully to promote agriculture activities in the rural parts of the Country were 90% live in abject poverty.

Dr Kapoor further said there was need for Government to boost growth in the Agriculture sector from the current one percent per year to meaningful figure if the poverty levels currently prevailing in the Country were to be reduced.

He noted that despite all these large expenditure on the Fertiliser support programme (FSP), maize yields have been declining while the growth of the sector is insignificant.

He urged Government to invest massively in Irrigation farming and other viable Agriculture projects if the poverty levels was to be reduced and not the Fertiliser support programme which was not adding any value to the sector.

Dr Kapoor observed that the majority of the Zambian people depend on Agriculture for economic survival hence the need to develop the sector.

And speaking earlier at the same function Professor John Lungu of the School of Business at the Copperbelt University called on the Government and various stakeholders to work together if they were to cushion the impact of the global economic crisis.

Professor Lungu said there was need for an acceptable economic agenda that would champion the cause of the Zambian people and not individuals.

He said Zambians had a tendency to champion their personal agendas and maintaining their rigid minds at the expense of national development.

ZANIS