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Government has been called upon to quickly announce the floor price of maize in this year’s marketing season to protect farmers from being swindled by brief case maize traders.
And Government has also been urged to ensure that it quickly moves into rural areas and buy maize from small scale farmers in order to beef up the national reserves in view of the global food crisis.
Magoye Member of Parliament, Bennie Mweemba, told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that any delay in announcing the market floor price would impact negatively on the national food reserves because some millers and other traders were already buying maize.
He complained that the unscrupulous maize traders who have invaded Magoye Constituency were allegedly cheating farmers that government had announced a floor price of K 25,000 for a 50 kilogramme bag.
He said there is need for the government to quickly announce the price of maize to enable farmers sell their produce at a reasonable profit.
Mr Mweemba also advised government to ensure that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is allocated enough funds to buy the produce from farmers before the bogus traders completely exhaust the commodity in rural areas.
He said government should not forget that currently, most nations are faced with a serious food crisis and that any delay to commence the marketing of the commodity would allow the private sector to cause artificial food shortages.
Meanwhile, Mr Mweemba has advised the Government to abolish the FRA after this year’s maize marketing programme and re-introduce the National Marketing Board (NAMBOARD).
He alleged that the FRA has failed to satisfy the needs of the Zambian farmers as evidenced by the delay in paying for the maize bought from farmers in the previous marketing seasons.
A civic leader in Lusaka has urged government to quickly implement the decentralization policy in order to spearhead development in the country.
Mulungushi ward 18 councilor, Daniel Chisenga, however, said government should first try to define and address the role of a councilor before it can implement the decentralization policy.
Mr Chisenga said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that government should define clearly the role of a councilor and recognize them to ease their work.
He said councilors should be respected and that government must always ensure that the local authorities around the country are adequately funded once the decentralization policy is in force.
The councilor added that there is need for the central government to assist councilors in rural areas with transport such as bicycles and motor cycles as they implement the decentralization policy.
Mr Chisenga also said that government should incorporate the grassroots in the policy decision as they know much about their locality.
He said involving the locals will also promote continuity and help stop the tension that exists between the locals, government and the investors.
The Institute of Directors (IoD) president, Mumba Kapumpa, has said there was need to make the Zambian economy viable on a long-term basis through transparency and accountability in the manner corporate and public institutions conducted their operations.
He said this during the official launch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Southern Region Chapter in Livingstone last evening.
Mr Kapumpa said business was not just about making profits because most major decisions made when dealing with public resources meant to foster social economic development affected the lives of many Zambians.
He also called on all corporate institutions to take their corporate social responsibility seriously and treat their human resource as an important asset since they could not succeed without it.
Mr Kapumpa, however, said good corporate governance could not guarantee an end to corruption and theft as long as people in decision making positions continued to be greedy and ignored the greater good.
Minister of Mines and Mineral Developments Maxwell Mwale says government is working with the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to establish the truth about two foreign trucks that were impounded in Kitwe last week, laden with equipment suspected to have been stripped from Mopani Copper Mines (MCM).
Mr Mwale said in an interview yesterday that although MCM had indicated that the equipment were drilling bore raising machines belonging to a contractor, Master Drill, based in South Africa, it was important to ascertain the information.
He said Government wanted to establish whether Master Drill enjoyed any capital allowances and were exempted from duty when bringing in the machinery and that it was also important to establish whether the company was registered in Zambia.
“What has to be understood is that some mines have been closed while others have been put on care and maintenance and naturally, this raises security concerns.
“Any moving of assets will have to be treated with suspicion, that is why as Government, we have taken an interest in this matter, “he said.
Mr Mwale recently directed all mining companies that intended to put their mines on care and maintenance to surrender all their assets to the State before leaving the country.
He said he expected every mining company to be responsible by adhering to directives given for the sake of harmony.
On Thursday last week, police on the Copperbelt impounded a truck suspected to have been carrying assets allegedly stripped from MCM.
Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima travelled to Kitwe last Thursday after being informed by the Mine Workers Union of Zambia that mine assets had been stripped and were being transported to South Africa.
Mr Mbulakulima said MCM management told him that the drilling equipment was being transported to South Africa following the termination of the contract with Master Drill, but that export papers allegedly showed that the machines were being transported to South Africa for repairs and were supposed to be returned to Zambia after being repaired.
He accused MCM of allegedly being insincere and wondered why Government was not informed about the moving of the mine assets.
“MCM knows that moving of such equipment is very sensitive especially with the current status of the mining sector in the country,” Mr Mbulakulima said.
We are in the process of rolling out a new display of picture gallery. Please provide us with feedback on the new direction we are about to take. For now we shall be mixing both the old style and the new flash style.
LT Team
The New and Future Display requiring flash support
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Safe and adequate clean water and sanitation have remained at large in most townships of Lusaka. Here, some township women doing their laundry beside an uncovered well in Misisi townshipSecond hand clothe of salaula traders have besieged most spaces along Freedom way in Lusaka. Here, customers shopping for the clothesAn unidentified mother ponders where the next meal for her two children would come from in Lusaka's Misisi townshipMeal time...Two sisters having a meal in Lusaka's Misisi townshipMeal time. A elder sister feeds her siblingA Likishi (Luvale traditional dancer) spotted along Cairo road in Lusaka, scaring town dwellers who are anonymous with such scenesBemba traditional cousins perform a ritual in front of Paramount Chief Mpezeni during the burial of late Mpezeni's wife in ChipataParamount Chief Mpezeni (second from right) and senior Chief Nzamane (r) during the burial ceremony of his wife in ChipataThe Basic Education Teachers Union of donated desks to Shalubala Basic Chief in Chibombo district. Here Chief Liteta (l) listens to Betuz president Victor Mwanza (r) during the hand over ceremonyChristians during the mock crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good FridayChristians walking on Good FridayLuanshya Copper Mines employees demonstrating outside the minePresident Rupiah Banda welcomes visiting World Bank vice-president for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili at State HouseKenyan President Mwai Kibaki boarding his jet at Lusaka international airportPresident Mwai Kibaki's jet takes off from Lusaka international airportChimpanzees at Chimfushi sanctuary in MufuliraDave Simwanda of Zambia Army pins Chapman Safeli to the ground during the Zambia Judo Association tournament at central sports club in Lusaka at the weekendRed Arrows players on arrival from Egypt at Lusaka international airportWilliam Chinyama (l) of Zesco United beats Young Arrows marker Moffat Mtonga in the KCM-FAZ week five game played at Nkoloma stadium in LusakaWilliam Chinyama (r) of Zesco United shields the ball from Young Arrows marker Moffat Mtonga during the KCM-FAZ week fivematch played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda has said that Radio Icengelo Manager, Father Frank Bwalya, was a free man to hold a public rally.
Mr Banda, who was responding to a question from a Radio Phoenix Journalist on arrival from Mongu, said government will not interfere with the holding of a public rally by Radio Icengelo Manager, Father Bwalya as he was a Zambian and a free man to a hold public rally.
The President was speaking today at the City Airport shortly after arrival from Mongu, Western Province, where he went to grace this year’s Kuomboka Ceremony.
On Friday, the MMD Ndola district executive warned of bloodshed should Radio Icengelo station manager Fr Frank Bwalya go ahead with his press conference and public meeting in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda has described flooding in Western Province as terrible.
Mr Banda says government has since started devising mechanisms aimed at mitigating the negative impact brought about by flooding in the Western Province of the country.
Mr Banda said government was concerned with the suffering of the people in Western Province and that it was making serious plans to mitigate the impact of floods in the province.
Mr Banda assured his Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people that government is assessing the damage and effects of the floods that have affected over 483,000 people in many parts in Western Province.
President Banda said government will soon start sending supplies to the affected people, 9000 of whom have already benefited.
The President named the most affected districts as Kalabo, Shangombo, Lukulu and some parts of Mongu and Kaoma, where roads, homes, crops and animals have been damaged or destroyed.
And President Banda has described the Kuomboka ceremony as a master piece of oral and intangible cultural heritage for Zambians and the world at large.
The President further thanked the people of Western province for giving him and the MMD the winning votes during the 2008 by-election.
Speaking earlier the Ngambela expressed happiness that the Government and the Barotse Royal Establishment were working well together.
The Ngambela thanked the government for responding to the effects caused by the floods and for the developmental projects being implemented in Western Province, such as the construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road.
Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) has spared Zambia of a games ban following its withdrawal from hosting the 2011 All-Africa Games.
However, SCSA said in an official communiqué at the end of the organizations’executive committee extraordinary session held in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Friday, April 10 that they will be negotiating with the Zambian government to seek compensation following the country’s withdrawal from hosting the Games.
SCSA has since handed Mozambique with the mandate to hosts the 2011 All-Africa Games.
“Having listened to presentations from the Secretariat General and from the Republic of Zambia, the SCSA Executive Committee debated on the matter in all its aspects, and at the end of the very enriching debates, members concluded that the withdrawal of Zambia causes prejudice to the SCSA Secretariat general and to partners of African Sports Associations, which since 2005, have been preparing for the 10th All Africa Games,” the communiqué read in part.
“However, because of the legal void noticed in SCSA Regulations for such cases, the Executive Committee decided not to apply any sanction against the Republic of Zambia.”
“Further, the Executive Committee mandated the SCSA Secretary General to engage negotiations with the Republic of Zambia on the issue of compensation for costs incurred following its default.”
SCSA said it was also setting up a committee comprising of South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt and Angola to look into propose provisions be added to the organizations constitution that will define what penalties to hand a country that withdraws as an All-Africa Games host nation.
“The Executive Committee decided not to apply any sanction against the Republic of Zambia and set up a committee comprising South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Egypt and Angola to propose provisions to be inducted in SCSA Constitution providing for sanctions against cases of default or the non-compliance with commitments taken for the organization of Africa Games.”
Zambia last December withdrew as 2011 All-Africa Games hosts citing the current global economic downturn.
Construction of a district hospital in Mpulungu district of Northern Province is expected to commence soon.
Provincial Medical Officer Dr Fabian Kabulubulu says the construction of the hospital, at a cost of about K15 billion, will begin in the next two weeks.
Speaking During the handover of the hospital site to a Chinese contractor, Jing De Zham enterprises Ltd, Dr Kabulubulu said the completion of the general hospital for Mpulungu is expected in the next three years.
He revealed that about K3.6 billion has been set aside for the first phase of the project and that K1.7 billion of the same amount is already available while the rest of the money is to be released within the course of the year.
Dr Kabulubulu said the project is expected to be implemented in three phases, adding that in the first phase, only the X-ray, theatre, maternity block and minor shelters will be constructed. The first phase is expected to last 38 weeks, meaning construction works in this phase will be completed by January next year.
He expressed happiness that the project, which was supposed to start last year, had finally begun.
Dr Kabulubulu urged district officials to take keen interest in the construction process and undertake regular visits to the project site.
He, however, emphasized that the supervision of the construction works will be solely done by the office of the Provincial Buildings Engineer (PBE).
And Mpulungu District Commissioner, Willie Simfukwe, welcomed the development, saying the people of Mpulungu have been waiting for the general hospital for a long time.
Mr Simfukwe said the district health team had been spending millions of Kwacha on referrals to Mbala General Hospital and that construction of the hospital will drastically cut down on such expenses.
He observed that construction of a general hospital in Mpulungu had been a long overdue development and will also help boost the morale of health staff in the area.
Mr Simfukwe urged the contractor to do a good job and follow the laid down labour laws of Zambia and ensure that the project is completed in record time, saying the project is yet another major development project government is undertaking in Mpulungu.
And managing director of Jing De Zham Enterprises Ltd, Xu Jian Lin said he is committed to completing the project on time as long as electricity and water supply on the site are provided on time.
Senior Chief Mujimansovu of the Kaonde people in Solwezi in North-Western Province says he is saddened over the harassement of Provincial Permanent Secretary Eustern Mambwe by MMD cadres. This happened last week when Vice President, George Kunda, visited Solwezi district.
Senior Chief Mujimansovu expressed his saddness when he paid a courtesy call on Dr Mambwe in his office, and observed that those staging protests against the Permanent Secretary were not only dangerous to the province but also to the good reputation of the MMD party in the area.
The visibly annoyed chief said he observed with dismay, some senior government officials’ intentions and attempts to hold North-Western Province to ransom at the expense of development.
He appealed to the President to set up a team to investigate the matter and take stern action against those who will be found guilty.
The Senior Chief alleged that whatever transpired at Solwezi airport when the Vice President visited the province was instigated by some senior government officials and was not the wish of the people of North-Western province.
He further advised people in his chiefdom and the province as a whole to stop embarrassing themselves but instead focus on issues that could bring development to the province during this era of global economic crisis.
Some MMD cadres humiliated North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Dr Eustern Mambwe, at Solwezi airport by carrying placards and banners denouncing him during the visit of Vice President Kunda last week.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter has urged the Zambia Police (ZP) to always take stern action against people who masquerade as journalists when found wanting or reported.
MISA Zambia Chapter Chairperson, Henry Kabwe, said the problem of masquerading was getting out of hand and punishing those who are caught would send a lesson to offenders and would-be offenders.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that people who have been masquerading as journalists were tarnishing the image of the profession.
Mr. Kabwe, who described the development as unfortunate, urged the perpetrators to desist from doing so. He said there was need to respect the work of journalists in the country. He further observed that those who like posing as journalists do so because do so because they are just after something from certain functions.
Of late, there have been reports of people masquerading as journalists in the country.
Twenty two convicts at Choma Central Prison in Southern Province have been baptized by the Seveth Day Adventist (SDA) church following an evangelism programme held at the prison.
SDA church elder Charles Shindaile said nine of the baptised are convicts while 13 are remandees.
Elder Shindaile said the SDA will continue offering Voice of Prophecy lessons to prisoners at Choma central prison to ensure convicts take a stand for Jesus Christ and reform.
The new Christians sang songs to glorify God as Choma Mission District Pastor Wesley Mwiinga baptized them.
And Pastor Mwiinga called on the baptized inmates to continue believing in the saviour, Jesus Christ.
Pastor Mwiinga, who read the Bible from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 16 verses 25 to 34, stressed that Jesus Christ was also baptized before he started his earthly ministry to give an example to his followers.
He assured the inmates that God loved them despite their status as prisoners and that there was no sin that Christ cannot forgive.
Meanwhile, one remandee who has been committed to the High Court for vandalising Zamtel cables in Maamba, Oscar Siamuzovu, expressed gratitude to the SDA for engaging prisoners in the Voice of Prophecy programme.
He said he felt free in the eyes of Jesus Christ after baptism.
And Zambia Prisons Fellowship chairman for Choma district, Pastor Brian Mbao, commended the SDA church for supplementing government’s efforts in reforming prisoners.
Pastor Mbao urged the SDA church in Choma to continue with its prisons ministries programme as the prison always receives new convicts.
He said the word of God can change the convicts, hence the need to help them turn to God.
The SDA church in Choma has also procured two television sets and a decoder worth K2.8m for use by inmates at the Choma Central prison.
POLICE in Lusaka are holding a man whom they rescued from the wrath of Misisi Township residents who allegedly saw him with a small coffin.
The man, Arnold Mumba, who attracted scores of people was spotted with the small coffin at a shop under construction, behind Shoprite off the Lusaka-Kafue Road.
Lusaka Police Commanding Officer, Greenwell Ng’uni, said the police apprehended Arnold Mumba whom they wanted to charge for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace, but could not do so on suspicion that he was mentally unstable.
The people wanted to descend on the man after a false alarm that the coffin contained the body of a baby. However, it turned out that the coffin contained a doll.
Mr Ng’uni said initially Mr Mumba said he was delivering the coffin to someone who owes him money, but later changed his statement and said that it belonged to him.
The man identified himself by various names before he settled for Arnold Mumba.
“As police, we wanted to charge Mumba for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, but it seems the man is mentally unstable. We are just holding him for his own safety,” Mr Ng’uni said.
Some Misisi residents tried to take advantage of the situation to loot a near-by shop, but quick action by police prevented the plunder.
Mr Ng’uni said the mob started throwing stones when police arrived at the scene, but there was no damage caused to property and no one was hurt.
Eyewitnesses who had earlier interrogated Mr Mumba said the man claimed that the coffin was meant for the shop owner who allegedly owed a Tanzanian national millions of Kwacha.
Others claimed Mr Mumba only ran “mad” after he allegedly opened the coffin and read the contents of the letter.
Mr Ng’uni dismissed the stories as grossly exaggerated.
“People want to exaggerate anything. Initially they said the coffin was carrying a baby’s body and yet it was a doll made of cloth,” Mr Ng’uni said.
By press time, the suspect was still in police custody.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
The Post newspaper, one of the shareholders of the debt-ridden Zambian Airways, has reportedly asked the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) for an “amicable resolution” over K14 billion the newspaper allegedly guaranteed on behalf of the airline.
According to the online publication, Executive Issues, The Post, through its lawyers MNB, said they were still open to an amicable solution to the DBZ claim following a second demand notice to them.
The demand notice was sent by DBZ lawyers, Malambo and Company. The state-owned DBZ has demanded that The Post settles the claim or face court action.
When contacted by phone yesterday MNB lawyer, Mutembo Nchito, could not say anything over the matter and the line got cut. Further attempts to talk to him proved futile, as his phone was not being answered.
The Executive Issues quotes “sources at MNB” as saying that the law firm has been retained to defend The Post and JCN following a demand letter from DBZ to the two companies demanding money which the allegedly guaranteed under the buy-back equity transaction.
JCN is a company owned by Mr Nchito and his brother Nchima Nchito.
The online publication quotes a letter said to be from MNB as stating: “Our clients are still open to an amicable solution of this matter.”
The publication also states that The Post and JCN argue that they cannot pay the stated amount because the transaction to swap the DBZ loans into equity in Zambian Airways was never finalised.
DBZ is claiming a total of K28 billion – K14 billion each from JCN and The Post.
PRESIDENT Banda has castigated leaders of opposition political parties for criticising him when he has only ruled Zambia for five months so far.
Mr Banda said in Mongu yesterday that Parliament had just approved his first national budget, which targets to address plight of the poor people.
“Work has just started. We expect those in opposition, those who didn’t want us, to naturally assume that we are wrong people, that we haven’t done anything.
“The Minister of Finance (and National Planning Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane) has just rolled out a sound budget, which has targeted to address the plight of Zambians wherever they are, considering Zambia’s limitations and those of the world,” Mr Banda said.
He was speaking at Mongu Airport yesterday where hundreds of residents received him to a thunderous welcome for this year’s Kuomboka ceremony.
President Banda said he would not sink to the low levels of some opposition leaders who do not respect the people.
“Zambia is big and for you to be a leader you have to respect people. You don’t have to count on few people who you think come from where you come from. I will always count on you people (of Western Province) to block this kind of leadership,” he said.
Mr Banda thanked the people of Western Province for supporting him and the MMD during campaigns for last year’s presidential election.
“I would like to thank the Royal Highness Litunga and all other royal highnesses and all our party workers for the wonderful work they did to ensure that what was started by my predecessor, who concentrated on developing this province, continues,” he said.
He said people of Western Province were wonderful and described them as special people with a great culture.
He was pleased to work with many of his ministers, permanent secretaries and administrators who hail from Western Province because they know what loyalty to leadership means.
And Mr Banda said he was well, fit, and ready to lead Zambia, considering all the attacks he had been subjected to since he assumed office.
He asked Zambians to remain united and peaceful if the country was to develop.
President Banda said there were too many examples of countries where warfare was the order of the day because their people had failed to be united and peaceful.
The President said he would today take an aerial view of flooded areas in the province for the government to determine how to help the victims.
“It is our duty to look after people who face difficulties as a result of floods,” he said.
Earlier, MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga said the opposition should not waste their time on criticising Mr Banda because the first national budget under his leadership had just been passed by Parliament.
Mr Mabenga, who is also Mulobezi member of Parliament, advised the people of Western Province to neither waiver nor be discouraged by opposition leaders’ criticism of Mr Banda, but to move forward with the President’s aspirations and programmes.
He said people in the area voted for the MMD in 2006 and 2008 because of their belief in the ruling party and its policies.
He advised party leaders at all levels to explain to the people good things that the MMD was doing.
Western Province minister, Adonis Mufalali, said people in the area were grateful for Government’s quick response to the plight of flood victims.
“I am convinced that nobody will die of starvation as long as the MMD remains in power,” he said.
Mr Banda was later in the day scheduled to pay a courtesy on the Litunga in Lealui, and receive the paramount chief at Nayuma Harbour in Limulunga.
He is today expected to inspect components of 40 bridges for the Mongu-Kalabo Road, before taking an aerial view of flooded areas from Libonda to Mongu.
Mr Banda is scheduled to depart Mongu for Lusaka at 14:00 hours after lunch at Limulunga, courtesy of the Litunga.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”
(Philippians 4:6, NASB).
Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria
So many people today are living uptight, worried and anxious about the future, filled with frustration and concern. In the natural there may be good reason, but understand, that is not God’s best. God doesn’t want us to live in anxiety and frustration; He wants us to live in peace. You can find rest in Him knowing that no matter what is happening around you, God Almighty has His hand on you.
The next time you’re tempted to worry or be anxious about something, remember this verse. God invites us to come to Him. In fact, the Bible says He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. But notice, we can’t just come to Him any old way. He wants us to come to Him with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. Begin by simply saying, “Father in heaven, thank You for the privilege to come before You. Thank You for hearing my prayers.” As you come to Him with an open and humble heart, He will hear you and fill you with His peace and joy all the days of your life.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today I choose to be anxious for nothing. I choose to set aside my worries and concerns. I thank You for Your faithfulness to meet every need in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
