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MMD warns HH against malicious remarks on President Banda

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Michael Mabenga
Michael Mabenga

The ruling MMD has described as a sign of ‘political immaturity’ UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s continued malicious public remarks against President, Rupiah Banda.

MMD National Chairman, Michael Mabenga, said President Banda should be given time to concentrate on implementing programmes that would impact positively on people’s welfare and national development efforts.

Mr Mabenga dismissed Mr Hichilema’s assertions that President Banda is perpetuating corruption in the country.

Mr. Mabenga said President Banda’s administration has remained focused at fighting graft at all levels of society with the objective of protecting public resources from abuse.

He said in Lusaka that the recent revelations by the Anti Corruption Commission,ACC, of a K10 billion corruption scandal is a clear testimony of President Banda’s commitment to combat corruption and abuse of public resources.

He challenged the opposition leader to appreciate that the continued revelation of corrupt practices by ACC and other investigative wings of government is an indication that President Banda has taken over late President Mwanawasa’s legacy of fighting corruption.[quote]

He said government is working closely with law enforcement agencies in ensuring that corruption does not exist in the public service, and that public funds are protected.

Mr. Mabenga pointed out that law enforcement agencies among them DEC, ACC, and the Zambia Police are simply acting on the instruction of the President investigate, arrest and prosecute suspected corruption cases.

He regretted that Mr Hichilema is trying to gain political mileage out of President Banda’s positive efforts to combat corruption.

He warned that it was unreasonable for Mr Hichilema to align the President to confiscated houses in a suspected corruption case involving a ministry of health official.

Mr. Mabenga was reacting to remarks by Mr Hichilema that corruption has worsened in President Rupiah Banda’s government.

ZANIS

Food Reserve Agency announces Maize floor price

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has announced K65 000 as the maize floor price for a 50 kilogramme bag of maize for the 2009/2010 marketing season.

The agency has also announced K60 thousand as the rice floor price for a 40 kilogramme bag for this year’s marketing season.

FRA Board Chairman, Costain Chilala says this represents an increase of 18 percent for maize and 15 percent for rice.

Mr. Chilala announced at a press briefing in Lusaka that the FRA will this year buy 110 000 metric tonnes of maize an 1200 metric tonnes rice at a cost of K200 billion.

He also said the rice and maize price for this year’s marketing season are as a result of consultations with various stakeholders on grounds of production, supply and demand factors affecting the food balance sheet.

Mr. Chilala also said FRA will buy most of its maize from outlaying ares as directed by president Rupiah Banda early this year.

He however said farmers should use the floor prices as guidelines when negotiating with buyers.

Meanwhile, the agency has announced that it will only buy maize and rice from farmers this year.

Mr. Chilala said the withdrawal from buying other crops such as cassava is as a result of non availability of a market and processing plants for the crops.

He said the agency has embarked on a country wide rehabilitating its silos in Kitwe, Chisamba, Monze, Ndola, Lusaka and Kabwe which have beeen vandalised over time.

The FRA Board Chairman said the first rehabilitated silos will soon be commissioned in Lusaka.

[ZNBC]

First Lady calls for active involvement of women in develpment programmes

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First Lady Thandiwe Banda
First Lady Thandiwe Banda

First Lady, Thandiwe Banda, has called on Women in the country to actively participate in programmes aimed at promoting economic growth and alleviating poverty.

Mrs Banda said women have the potential to contribute meaningfully to the development of key sectors of the economy, such as education and health, hence the need for their active participation in the implementation of programmes.

Mrs Banda was speaking during a fundraising luncheon for the Ministers’ Spouses Club at hotel Intercontinental in Lusaka today.

She challenged women to consider working towards making positive contributions to government efforts of improving the economic livelihood of the people in the country.

She said the Minister’s Spouse club remains committed to empower women in economic viable projects so as to enable them achieve economic independence.

She said the ministers’ spouses club would focus at supporting initiatives that will empower women with skills and tools for their involvement in economic viable projects.

The First Lady said the concept of empowering women with skills and tools would enable communities identify sustainable solutions to economic problems at local levels without relying on handouts.

Mrs. Banda also called on the business community to assist the ministers’ spouses club with its mandate of helping vulnerable people in various parts of the country.

ZANIS

GRZ releases K143 million for teachers’ allowances in Mazabuka

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Government has released an additional K143 Million to Mazabuka district towards the payment of various outstanding allowances owed to teachers.

Mazabuka District Education Board Secretary, Darius Kaluba, who disclosed this in Mazabuka today,said the release of K143 Million brings the total funds released given to the district since January to K286 Million.

Mr Kaluba said the funds released are part of the K3.4 Billion owed to teachers in unpaid repatriation, settling in, leave terminal benefits and long service bonus allowances.

He said government deserves to be commended for the steady release of funds meant to dismantle the backlog of arrears.[quote]

Mr Kaluba said the debt owed to teachers is likely to swell because two months ago, 24 teachers retired from the public service in the district alone.

And Mr Kaluba has disclosed that funds for the payment of outstanding fixed band housing allowances have finally been released.

He said the funds would be disbursed to the district by the Office of the Provincial Education Office on Monday.

Mr Kaluba has since commended teachers in the district for giving government and the union ample time to complete the salary negotiations.

ZANIS

UPND Councilor Commends MMD Government

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A United Party for National Development (UPND) Councilor has commended government for commencing the programme of electrifying rural communities in Sinazongwe district.

Malima Ward Councilor, Fisher Zimana, said in an interview that the electrification programme would fulfill government’s promise of lighting up rural communities which were displaced during the construction of Lake Kariba many decades ago.

Mr Zimana said people in the district were happy because they have for a long time now, waited for government to provide electricity to the rural areas.

He said the rural electrification programme should be extended to Malima area up to Chiyabi to boost the economic activities of the local people.

Mr Zimana said electricity would also attract investors to the area, adding that Malima ward was set to develop since most people in the area grew a lot of cotton in the district.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zimana also disclosed that people in the area were happy with the rehabilitation of the Bottom road from Sinazeze to Chabbobboma in Gwembe district.

He also appealed to government to find a contractor to rehabilitate major bridges on the same road since the Road Construction Company (RCC) that was working on the road did not work on the bridges because they were not part of the contract.

ZANIS

Education Minister heaps praise on community schools

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Government says community schools play an important role in enhancing education standards in the country.

Education Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, said government cannot ignore the tremendous contribution community schools make in affording children with learning opportunities for basic education.

Prof Lungwangwa said his ministry appreciates the enrollment in community schools because it plays a greater role in moving towards achieving the education for all goals by 2015.

The minister was speaking in Mazabuka when he commissioned Siyowi Basic school which was built with funds donated by Irish nationals.

A total of seven classrooms, two teachers houses and four Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines have been built at a cost of K 1.2 billion.

Prof Lungwangwa said the total enrollment in grades one to seven was 448,461, representing 17 per cent of the total figures for 2006.

He further explained that in 2007, grades one to seven enrollment countrywide was 2,822,759 and 490,240 pupils were from community schools, representing 17.3 per cent.

Prof Lungwangwa observed that the contribution of community schools to the overall enrollment in schools cannot be down played.

He said government is pursuing the private public partnership in the provision of quality education to school-going children and will welcome and support such partnership.

Prof Lungwangwa said the support received from Irish nationals as individuals despite the biting world economic financial crunch has cheered the Zambian government.

And Prof Lungwangwa said the selfless spirit and sacrifice by the individuals will enable more than 600 boys and girls receive quality education at the learning institution.

The minister also directed Mazabuka District Education Board Secretary, Darius Kaluba, to ensure priority is given to the school when the district receives desks and teachers.

Speaking earlier, Mazabuka Mayor, Shaderick Mwiinga, urged other Non governmental Organizations (NGOs)and well-wishers to emulate individuals from Ireland by donating generously towards the plight of pupils at the school.

Mr Mwiinga also urged government to resolve the shortage of desks in most learning institutions.

He said currently pupils were sitting on the floor.

ZANIS

Sata praises Teta

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kingcobrasataPATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata has pledged that his party will support the administration of local Government in Zambia.

The opposition leader has meanwhile thanked Local Government and Housing Minister, Benny Tetamashimba for exhibiting maturity in national affairs.

Mr Sata, in a letter to Mr Tetamashimba obtained in Lusaka yesterday pledged his party’s support in the running of the local government sector in the interest of Zambians.

This follows Mr Tetamashimba’s revocation of the suspension slapped on Chinsali District Council in Northern Province after Mr Sata had appealed to the minister to do so in the interest of progress.

“I acknowledge receipt of your letter reference No. MLGH/101/16/7 dated May 8, 2009 in respect of the above matter.

“I would like to thank you for the decision to revoke the suspension of the council and your manifestation of lack of pettiness in national affairs.

Accordingly, I promise you our party’s support in the administration of local government in the interest of our people,” Mr Sata says in a letter to Mr Tetamashimba dated May 15 2009.

He said that during the suspension of the council, one of the two members of Parliament (MPs) in the district allegedly abused and corruptly withdrew some constituency development funds (CDFs).

Mr Sata appealed to Mr Tetamashimba to facilitate the provision of auditors and the Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.

“Honourable Minister, I would like to draw your attention that during the suspension of the council one of the two MPs in Chinsali District abused and corruptly withdrew large sums of money from CDF.

Would you please provide auditors and Anti Corruption Commission officers to investigate the scandal,” reads the letter.[quote]

And in another letter to Home Affairs Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, Mr Sata appealed that this year’s mobile national registration card exercise in provinces should be conducted fairly and transparently.

He complained that so far, the exercise had allegedly started in only four provinces mostly where MMD was popular and wondered why other provinces had been left out.

Mr Sata said it had come to his attention that the exercise was going on in Eastern, Central, North-Western and Western provinces, regions which were MMD strongholds and suspected that the move was political.

“Our past experience has shown that after undertaking the NRC exercise in a manner which promotes the MMD interests, your ministry in conjunction with the office of the Registrar General have come up with various excuses for not completing the exercise in the other provinces or have just slackened completely,” he says in the letter to Dr Mwansa dated May 14 2009.

[Times of Zambia]

Chief Nsamba calls for the immediate arrest of the K10bn scam officials

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Chief Nsamba of the Bangweulu Swamps in Samfya has said, the theft of K10 billion by officers at the Ministry of Health is a sad development.

The chief has joined those calling for immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers involved in the K10 billion-scam.

He said those who will be found guilty of the corrupt act should be handed life jail sentences, because what they have done is tantamount to killing.

The traditional ruler said the K10 billion which the officers put in their pockets to serve their personal interests would have been prudently spent for the procurement of medicines to save lives, especially at the time when the country is grappling with the AIDS pandemic.

“In the Bangweulu swamps the situation is very bad in this era of HIV and AIDS, where people need better health services. There is need to have one of the health centres upgraded to stage II (two) clinic, where specialised health services can be provided ,” Chief Nsamba said.

He said he gets worried to understand that one of the officers identified to be behind the K10 billion-scam at the Ministry of Health has been transferred to the Ministry of Local Government.

He said leaving the said officer scotfree will afford him another opportunity to steal more public funds and urged the ACC to investigate deeper and arrest the officer.

“These people need to be handed harsher penalties, not simple sentences. Life sentence could be ideal, since what they have done is tantamount to killing,” the chief said.

ZANIS

Zambia Breweries gives K 324 million for 2009 Castle Rugby 7’s tournament

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The Zambian Breweries Group ( ZBG ) has given has the Zambia Rugby Football Union (ZRFU) K324 million towards the 2009 CASTLE 7’s rugby tournament.

ZBG Marketing Director Patrick Lead said his company was proud to with his company’s ongoing association with the event saying ZBG would continue sponsoring the annual event to ensure its growth.

The tournament will take of from June 13 to 14 at the Lusaka Rugby club.The tournament has received the green light from the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) 7’s circuit and the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Lead said the Castle 7’s is not only about building the building the beer brand but also for giving back to the local community by ploughing back by investing in Zambian sports and youth.

And receiving the cheque, Zambia Rugby Football Union (ZRFU) President Clement Sinkamba paid tribute to the brewing company for its continued sponsorship of the sport in the past 11 years.

Colonel Sinkamba has urged other business houses to emulate ZBG in sponsoring the tournament. He said the 2009 Castle 7’s tournament would be more thrilling than last year’s as it has attracted interest from countries such as Namibia and Japan.

Meanwhile, 2009 Castle 7’s Organising chairman Tom Walker says the defending champions Zimbabwe say they would bring the men and women teams to the tournament.

Walker said other teams which have confirmed participation include the CAR affiliates in East Africa namely Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

Others are Bostwana and South Africa.
ZANIS

First Lady Thandiwe Banda donates to St. Mary’s school

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Saint Mary’s Secondary School of Lusaka is scouting for K500 million to build a 1X4 block Flat to accommodate teachers at the school.

The School has about thirty teachers and only six teachers are accommodated in the three houses owned by the school.

Saint Mary’s School Principal Theresa Sepeti says teachers at the school are facing a acute shortage of accommodation.

Speaking after the fundraising walk in Lusaka today during which approximately K11.5 million being raised, Sister Sepeti said lack of adequate accommodation for the teachers has greatly affected the performance of the pupils at the school.

She further said most highly skilled teachers have left the school to go and join other schools because of lack of accommodation at the school.

Sister Sepeti said it was for this reason that the school would be conducting fund raising walks in order to raise the required money to build the 1X4 block flat for teachers.

And First Lady Thandiwe Banda and the Minister’s Spouses Club donated K1 million towards the building of a 1X4 block flat for teachers at the school.

Speaking in a speech read on her behalf by Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane’s wife Mate, Mrs.Banda appealed to the business community to come forward and assist the school raise the required money.

Mrs. Banda noted that the building of the 1X4 block flat for teachers who were not properly accommodated would also be of great benefit to the pupils.

She said it would be of benefit to the pupils because most teachers would be motivated to teach the pupils.

Meanwhile, School PTA Chairperson Osbert Sikazwe thanked the First Lady and the Minister’s Spouses Club for donating towards the building of the 1X4 block flat.

ZANIS

APC, ZAWA starts to restock Liuwa National park

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The African Parks Conservation (APC) in collaboration with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has restocked Liuwa National Park with two male lions in Kalabo district.

The lions were gotten from the Kafue National Park and were transported to Matamanene woodlands in the Liuwa National Park last Wednesday.

A number of Kalabo residents including Kalabo District Commissioner Mwiya Wanyambe turned up at Maunyamu to view the lions on Wednesday morning before the beasts were transported to Liuwa national park.

African Parks Conservation Park Manager for Liuwa National Park, Craig Reid, said the two lions were restocked in Liuwa to join the only lioness that had remained in the park for the past ten year years.

Mr. Reid said that APC and ZAWA started the restocking programme of animals in Liuwa National Park with 49 Elands in 2007 which was extinction from the park.

He said last year, 16 buffaloes were also taken to the park, noting that this was in a bid to bring back the glory of the Liuwa National Park.

And Kalabo District Commissioner Mwiya Wanyambe has commended the APC and ZAWA for restocking the Liuwa National Park, adding that this was a big move in order to boost tourism in the district.

Mr. Wanyambe however said there was need to improve infrastructure in Liuwa National Park.

He said roads must be improved and new lodges built.

ZANIS

Nurses in Northwestern province cry for rural hardship allowance

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Nurses in North-Western Province have appealed to government to consider paying of rural hardship allowance in order to motivate medical personnel serving in rural areas.

The nurses, who cheered as their union representative gave a speech during the international nurses’ day cerebration, later told ZANIS in an interview that North-western was a more of a rural area than other provinces in Zambia.

The nurses came as far as Chavuma, Zambezi, Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe, Kabompo and Solwezi to attend this year’s commemoration of nurses’ day which was hosted in Kasempa district.

Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia Union of Nurses Provincial Chairman, Laban Mungwala said North-western was predominately rural hence the need for the government to pay rural hardship allowance.

He said health workers in rural areas need motivation as they face many challenges while working to improve the lives of the people.

Mr. Mungwala observed that some teachers, who were serving in the same areas, have been receiving rural hardship allowance leaving health workers.

“As for us, we are forgotten simply because we are classified as essential workers and we cannot easily take industrial action,” he said.

Among the many challenges that were stated was the issue of housing allowance, which was said to be below their entitlement and the retention scheme.[quote]

Mr. Mungwala further commended nurses for having a self-sacrificing spirit, adding that most of the health centres have shortages of staff thereby making the few workers overloaded with work.

He said the issue of inadequate staff was not because of lack of skilled workers but because of lack of motivation in the health sector.

“As long as these are not addressed, nurses will continue going until such a time when government will be willing to provide meaningful conditions of service,” he said.

And gracing the occasion Kasempa District Commissioners Henry Shantolo commended the nurses for being innovative and ensuring that patients were cared for.

Mr. Shantolo said initiatives by health workers have resulted into significant improvement of the health systems in the district.

He further urged the public to support the efforts of the nurse in order to provide solutions to the challenges and demands being faced in providing care in the country.

ZANIS

ZTB wins best SADC tourism ward

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The Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has been awarded the best Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region Gold Award for Stand Excellence at the just ended INDABA tourism exhibition held in Durban, South Africa.

The award was given based on a point system formula scored by a group of high level judges derived from a cross section of South Africa Tourism Industry.

About 30 companies from the private sector representing accommodation establishments, airlines, car hire operations and tour operators exhibited at the stand.

ZTB Acting Managing Director, Stein Liyanda, in accepting the award, commended the exhibitors and ZTB staff for setting a supreme standard of professionalism.

This is according to a statement released by ZTB Public Relations Officer, Dorris Kofi and obtained in Lusaka today.

The Indaba is the biggest tourism exhibition on the African Tourism calendar of the event and is held annually.

This year’s exhibition attracted 12,675 visitors, including 673 members of the media and all tourism boards from the SADC region and a few others from other parts of Africa such as East and North Africa.

ZANIS

Maamba Collieries production levels cheer ZCCM-IH

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The Zambia Consolidated Copper Mine Investment Holding (ZCCM-IH) is happy with the current production of coal at Maamba Collieries (MCL) mine in Southern province.

ZCCM-IH acting Chief Executive Officer, William Musama, disclosed this when a board of directors for ZCCM-IH visited MCL to familiarise itself with the operations of the mine today.

Mr. Musama said 20,000 tones of coal have been produced and 9,000 tonnes was ready for sale.

He said the board was impressed with MCL management and Oriental Quarries, the company which is contracted to mine coal on behalf for MCL for a period of one year.

He said the two companies have employed new mining techniques that were safe from accidents.

Mr. Musama said within the stipulated time, the contractor has managed to remove the overburden to start extracting coal for sale and has since managed to work on the roads within the mine area and on a bridge at Izuma B pit.

“Production of coal is going on well, we are now able to produce coal for sale after a long period of non-production,” he said.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer further disclosed that MCL has a target of producing 40,000 tones of coal per month although this would be determined by the demand of the commodity on the market.

He said the MCL was now targeting potential buyers of coal, noting that the production of high quality coal was on course.

Mr. Musama said MCL was determined to continue operating the mine despite economic threats caused by the global economic crunch.

He has since appealed to government to work on the Maamba-Batoka road bridges to facilitate for the smooth movement of tracks once MCL starts selling coal.

He said the current temporal bridges at Sikalamba in Sinazeze and in Mbole could only allow a 25 tonnes load to pass through.

On the MCL Rope Way, Mr Musama noted that rehabilitation works have started to reduce on the tracks that would be using the main road.

Mr Musama also explained that negotiations with preferred equity partner Nava Bharat, which is contemplating buying off part of MCL, will start soon, adding that government would have the final say to approve the contract.

Mamba Collieries mine has coal reserves that could last for 80 years.

ZANIS

Former BoZ Governor, Nkhoma, dies

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Former Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Francis Xavier Nkhoma is dead.

BOZ Head of Public Relations Kanguya Mayondi confirmed that Mr. Nkhoma passed away this morning.

Mr. Mayondi said the late former Central Bank Governor will be remembered for his dedication to duty and for being a selfless leader who contributed greatly towards the development of the financial sector in Zambia.

The Board, management and staff of the BOZ have since conveyed their condolences to the widow, Mrs. Benedicta Lillian Nkhoma and the family on the demise of Mr. Nkhoma.

The late Francis Nkhoma served as Central Bank Governor from 1987 to 1989.

ZANIS

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