Government has revealed that it was committed to de-politicise the office of Mayor that has lately delayed its elections this year.

Local Government minister Benny Tetamashimba said this at the installation ceremony of Ndola Mayor Charles Chiwaya and his deputy John Chanda in Ndola at Civic Centre.

Mr. Tetamashimba urged the council to develop a more systematic strategy in having a better understanding of the city for improved service delivery to the people.

He said councils should employ cost effective measures without undermining service provision to the local people in the light of the global financial meltdown.

Mr. Tetamashimba said government was fully committed to decentralize local authorities so that they could set their own priorities which should be tailored to respond to the needs of the local in their given local authorities.[quote]

He said decentralization was the most effective vehicle of improved service delivery to the people by local authorities although the process seemed to be dragging its feet.

The minister added that government was also committed to ensuring that employment in the local authorities was based on merit and qualifications through the Local Government Service Commission in administering required functions that councils should perform in their respective local authorities.

Mr. Tetamashimba added that it was good news to government to learn that Ndola city Council has invested K200 million in ZANACO shares out of its own local resources which was a demonstration of prudent management of the meager resources at the Council’s disposal.

He called on all countrywide to enforce the law on street vending and nuisances regulation in order to keep Zambia Clean and Healthy.

ZANIS

A 44 year old Roman Catholic Priest of Ndola has pleaded guilty to contempt of court in the Chifubu Local Court.

Appearing before Local Court Judge Amos Paul Banda sitting with Rosemary Muke and Aaron Sugar Banda for plea, was Pamodzi Roman Catholic Parish Priest Father Davies of 42 Fitente road, Northrise, who pleaded guilty to the charge of contempt of court.

Public Prosecutor John Kabwe told the court that Father Nsama had failed to honour the courts directive of paying Charles Moto a compensation of K10 million in installments for having interfered in Mr. Moto’s Marriage earlier this year.

Mr. Kabwe said father Nsama had as at not paid the first installment of K4 million, which was due on May 10th 2009.

Mr. Kabwe applied for adjournment, as the complainant Charles Moto was not present in court.

Local Court judge Banda adjourned the matter to June 19 2009 for facts, after a further application by Father Nsama to adjourn the matter to a later date after June 15 2009 as that would be the day he would be released from a religious seclusion.

Father Nsama was earlier this year in April fined K10 million after he was found guilty of Marriage interference by the same court.

ZANIS

Law enforcement officers have raided the Ministry of Health headquaters in Lusaka to forcefully remove 20 employees who have been suspended for their alleged involvement in the K10 billion scam.

Officers from the Zambia Police, Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission carried out the operation on Wednesday morning.

The officers ordered the suspended employees to leave their offices searched all vehicles leaving the premises.

Commissioner of Police, Raphael Musamba, told journalists at a press briefing that the operation is part of investigations into the misappropriation of huge sums of money at the Ministry of Health.

President Rupiah Banda has instructed law enforcement agencies to quickly bring to book those involved in the 10 billion Kwacha Scam.

A former employee of the Ministry of Health has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of funds amounting to K10 billion.

However President Banda has said the amount of money involved in the scam at the Ministry of health may be higher than initially reported.

An interim report by the Auditor General’s Office submitted to President Rupiah Banda, Tuesday shows that the funds involved could be more going by the number of people and companies implicated.

The report says funds were stolen in recent years leading up to December 2008 through various payments to companies for goods and services, never supplied.

[ZNBC]

The United Nations Children Education Fund, UNICEF, has pledged continued logistical and technical support towards the implementation of UN supported programmes in the ministry of health.

The UN agency has, however, advised government to strengthen the financial systems in the ministry of health to avoid a recurrence of the K10 billion scam.

Speaking in an interview in Choma today, UNICEF country representative, Lotta Sylwander, said the UN agency will continue with its programme of cash transfers in which it directly pays for specific activities and programmes.

Ms Sylwander said some of the activities that will receive support include training of midwives, procurement of drugs, child health week and nutritional programmes.

She disclosed that UNICEF has this year staked US$22 million for various programmes in the country.

She said government needs to strengthen financial systems to ensure donor funds are utilised to meet the intended objectives.

She said Zambia like other countries should be cognizant of the fact that donor funds are tax payers’ money, which should be properly accounted for.

Ms Sylwander, who led a team of Swedish UNICEF volunteers on a visit to Siamambo and Masopo basic schools where UNICEF has been promoting the integrated latrines and other sanitation facilities, said the UN agency is committed to implementing various programmes aimed at improving learning in schools.

And authorities at the two rural schools located in Chief Singani’s area told Ms Sylwander that they have recorded tremendous improvements in school enrolments due to the provision of improved latrines and other sanitation facilities at the institutions.

Acting headteacher for Siamambo basic school, Catherine Hamasowe, said the school population which was previously at 350 pupils had now risen to 629 pupils.

”The dropout rate has even gone down as all children want to be in school. The good latrines are attracting the children to come back to school,” she said.

Ms Hamasowe said most parents are now encouraging their children to go to school.

She, however, said the institution is still facing the challenge of poor accommodation for teachers as all the 22 teachers have to share the only three staff houses available.

And a teacher at Masopo basic school, Alvin Macha, said the institution appreciates the support from UNICERF which had seen a reduction in disease such as diarrhea due to good sanitation facilities.

Ms Sylwander is today expected to visit Chief Macha’s area, where UNICEF has been implementing the Community Led Total Sanitation Programme.

ZANIS