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Register or else, MAZ warns medical practitioners

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Medical Association of Zambia (MAZ) spokesperson Larry Njungu says the institution has put in place measures to control illegal medical practice in the country.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, today, Mr. Njungu warned all medical practitioners and institutions to register with MAZ before operating in Zamba.

He said MAZ has legal powers to close or bar any medical practitioner and health institution under CAP 297 of the laws of Zambia.

Mr. Nyungu also said also said MAZ will also monitor all medical equipment in the country as the same Statute Instrument demands the registration by MAZ.

He said every equipment is in existing because they have registered and the regulations are protected by the law including the surgeon and lab technicians.

He advised all medical practitioners and institutions to ensure that they renew their licenses annually in order to practice without any inconvenience.

ZANIS/PC/ENDS/MM.

UPND refuses to participate in National Indaba

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Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says it would not participate in the national indaba this weekend.

Party leader Hakainde Hichilema said during a press briefing in Lusaka today that UPND wrote recommendations to government last year in December on how to deal with the global Financial crisis prior to the presentation of the 2009 budget.

Mr. Hichilema said UPND was proactive on the matter and tried to engage in consultation because it had projected the impact of the world economic recession on Zambia’s economy.

Mr. Hichilema said it was too late for the government to call for an Indaba when parliament had already approved the budget.

He said that the forum should have been called before the budget approval so that the recommendations that would have financial implications could be incorporated into the national budget.

He further said government had scrapped off wind fall tax which could have been retained with amendments alleging that government’s move was contrary to the consensus that the UPND and President Rupiah Banda had reached when they had a meeting on the 12th of March, 2009.

Mr. Hichilema also accused the government for making an amendment to the Mines and Mineral Development Act that barred the Zambians from owning mines with foreigners as partners.

He advised the government to consider the involvement of the local people in the country’s economic activities aimed at restoring the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, the opposition party says the National Constitution Conference (NCC) deliberations should be concluded by the end of June 2009.

Mr. Hichilema that this will enable government to cut on excessive spending and channel the resources to paramount areas such as the health and education systems.

He also recommended that the ZESCO limited should not be allowed to increase the electricity tariffs by the proposed 66 per cent as more than 80 per cent of Zambians were unable to access electricity.

He noted that once the tariffs have been increased, the demand of charcoal would rise posing a threat to the environment as efforts to discourage environmental degradation would be affected.

ZANIS/MP/ENDS/MM

British High Commissioner refutes Lifwekelo’s 500m pounds claims

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Edwin Lifwekelo (L)
Edwin Lifwekelo (L)

Britain says it has only spent £7 million in supporting the fight against corruption in Zambia over the past seven years.

British High Commissioner to Zambia, Tom Carter, said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
This is contrary to reports in some sections of the media that Britain has spent £500 million on the fight against corruption in Zambia.

“I have seen reports in the Zambian media suggesting that the UK had spent £500 million on the fight against corruption. This is incorrect,” he said.

Mr Carter said Britain, through the Department for International Development (DFID), had spent £7 million, most of which was in support of the activities of the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Task Force on Corruption.

“The British Government will continue to support the Zambian authorities in the fight against corruption and in this context, warmly welcomes the recent approval of the National Anti Corruption Policy,” Mr Carter said.

On Sunday the Forum for Leadership Search  (FLSZ) Zambian  Chapter  Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo claimed that Britain had spent 500 million pounds in the last 5 years on the fight against corruption

“We have  learnt with interest the statement by the British High Commissioner to Zambia, Thomas Carter that Britain has spent over US$1billion, 500 million pounds in the last 5 years on the fight against corruption,” Mr. Lifwekelo said in his statement.

He further said both the Zambian government and Mr. Carter should help the nation by disclosing how such a colossal amount of money was used for.

Government to repeal piracy and counterfeit act

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Deputy Information and Broadcasting Minister Elijah Muchima says government is in the process of repealing the piracy and counterfeit act to curb illegal products on the local market.

Speaking during an on the spot check of seized pirated goods worth billions of Kwacha by the Anti Piracy Crack Squad (APCS) at Nakonde border post, Mr. Muchima said pirated products should not be tolerated as they have the potential of denting the country’s economy.

He said there is need for stiffer punishment on piracy because of its ability to cause instability to the country’s economy and warned long distance carriers to desist from conniving with smugglers of counterfeited products.

Mr.Muchima urged them to join government’s efforts to curb piracy by ensuring that passengers declare the contents of their luggage before boarding their buses.
He commended the APCS for its consistent efforts in fighting the vice.

And speaking earlier, Intellectual Property Specialist Kingsley Nkonde said Africa is being targeted as a market for counterfeited and pirated products because of its porous borders.

Mr. Nkonde said Zambia, in particular, has a big challenge in curbing smuggling of counterfeit products because of its vast porous boundaries with other countries.

Darlington Mwape presents credentials to WTO

Zambia’s Ambassador and Permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva and other International Organizations, Darlington Mwape, has presented his credentials to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

During the presentation, Mr. Mwape hoped the G 20 summit, being held in London this week, would focus on aid for trade in developing countries.
He said Zambia, like any other country, was affected by the global recession and needed measures that would lessen its impact especially on the county’s mining sector which was the most affected.
And receiving the credentials, WTO Director-General, Pascal Lamy said Zambia was an active player in WTO and urged Mr. Mwape to continue putting the country in the limelight.

He said he would find time to visit the mines on the Copperbelt to assess the impact of the crisis on Zambia’s mining sector.

Mr Lamy is expected in the country for the North-South Corridor High Level Conference to be held from the 6th to the 7th of April 2009.

ZANIS/ENDS/MP/EB

Livingstone mayor warns dog owners

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Livingstone mayor, Grace Shafik, has asked pet owners in the township to ensure that they cage their dogs in order to avoid the outbreak of rabies or face the law.

Ms Shafik has also urged the veterinary department to put deliberate measures aimed at educating the public over the proper keeping of dogs.

Ms Shafik said dog owners should make sure that their dogs are regularly vaccinated and chained most of the time during the day, adding that if they are to be let loose at night, they need to be within the owners’ yard.

“I have noticed that in some parts of Livingstone dogs even sleep along the roads which is unfortunate because these pets would usually end up attacking passers-by who might contract rabies. So my advice to the dog owners is that they should ensure that their pets are vaccinated at all times, chained during the day and if within the yards if they are let loose at night,” she said..

Ms Shafik, who is also a qualified nurse, said according to her experience, it is very difficult for people bitten by rabied dogs to survive.

Some people yesterday went to register their displeasure at the manner some dog owners let loose their dogs outside the yards as early as 19:00hrs, making it dangerous for passers-by to move as these pets take charge of the road.

One of the residents, Mason Chimuka, who lives in Rail compound, says he usually finds it difficult going home from work since he knocks of at night.

“I knock off from work around 19:00hrs and the moment I am out of town I start meeting dogs along the road. I was even almost bitten along Tanzania road near Busiku club two days ago,” he said.

However comments to get a comment from the District Veterinary Officer at the Vet Clinic in Livingstone proved futile as he was not reachable by press time.

ZANIS/ENDS/AS/EB

UK introduces new system for foreign students

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The United Kingdom has introduced a new system for students who are applying for Visas to study there.

The British High Commissioner Tom Carter said the new system of procuring the Visa will be through Tier 4 of the new streamlined points Based System.

He stressed that this process will require students to prove that they have been accepted in one of the courses run by an educational institute which is a UK Border Agency (UKBA).

He added that international students who will granted visas will required to undertake part time work of up to 20 hours per week during the term time, full time during the holidays and undertake any course related work in order to support themselves.

Mr Carter said this new process will be more transparent and will enable them to know which students are eligible for a Visa even before applying.

Mr Carter announced this in a statement released to Zanis in Lusaka yesterday.

ZANIS/ENDS/AC/EB

Zambia to host international Epilepsy Conference

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Zambia is to host the international Epilepsy Conference this month. The conference to take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Center (MICC) FROM 13 TO 17 April, 2009 is being organized by the Epilepsy Association of Zambia(EAZ).

A number of local and International dignitaries and experts are expected to attend the conference

And Division Pharmaceutical Company has donated stationery worth millions of Kwacha towards preparations of the forthcoming International Epilepsy and Stigma conference.

First lady Thandwe Banda, who received the donation at State House yesterday morning, said there was need for families and society in general to fully understand epilepsy in order to stop stigma against people living with the disease.

Mrs Banda said epilepsy has put other physical health challenges on the country saying there was need to devise a system that will look at issue.

She noted that forth coming epilepsy Conference is important for the country as it will give an opportunity to people living with epilepsy to interact and learn new developments about their condition.

The first lady is also E.A.Z patron.

Speaking earlier Division Pharmaceutical Marketing manager Gajender Arora thanked the first lady for her keen interest in participating in community based health activities such as epilepsy.

ZANIS/AH/ENDS/MM

Lusaka City Council maximises its street lighting project

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The Lusaka city Council says it has made a great progress in putting up street lights in the streets of Lusaka using the K1.6 billion government grant.

LCC Public Relations Officer, Henry Kapata said the Great East road has been fully installed with street lights.

Mr Kapata said the council has now started installing street lights on other major roads across the city.

He said the council is working hard to ensure that by 2010 the entire Capital city will have street lights.

He also revealed that the council has put in place various intervention measures that will ensure that the street lights were not vandalized.

Mr.Kapata said the new poles have been made in way that it will be difficult for vandalism.

He urged motorists to drive with care saying the council will charge careless motorists knocking down the poles K 15 million as penalty fee.

ZANIS/PC/ENDS/MM

ZAWA to auction wild animals in May

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Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) says it will in May 2009 start auctioning live wild animals to local and foreigners.

ZAWA Executive Director Mr. Davies Saiuwa told ZANIS that the animals will be sold through an auction sell that will allow members of the public to choose the animals and bid for them.

Mr.Saiuwa however said that the auction sale will be done in absentia of the wild animals as there were no public facilities to house the animals were buyer can view them during the auctioning.

He said the purpose of having the auction sale is to raise funds for conservation and rehabilitating some national parks that he said were in a deplorable state.

Mr.Saiuwa said the organization will carry out advisements to allow both international and local bidders have a chance to know which animals will be auctioned.

He further said that ZAWA will help transport the animals for successful bidders from other countries.

He said that the animals that will be auctioned include Buffaloes, Impalas, Antelopes, Zebras and many others. These animals will be poached from different National parks in the country.

ZANIS/PC/ENDS

Ndola businessman accuse Judges of conniving with corrupt lawyers

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A Ndola based businessman has urged government to control the mushrooming of law firms to protect the general public from exploitation at the hands of unscrupulous law practitioners.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Ndola today, Edward Ng’andwe alleged that some law firms in Ndola were corrupt and taking advantage of clients who have little knowledge in legal issues.

Mr Ng’andwe also accused some judges at Ndola magistrate’s court of conniving with corrupt lawyers to acquit offenders.

Mr Ng’andwe, who claimed to have been duped buy a lawyer from a named Ndola based law firm, urged government to monitor the operations of private law firms so that innocent citizens do not suffer because of corrupt lawyers.

The Ndola businessman claimed that he was duped by a lawyer from a named Ndola based law firm in a case where he was involved in a road traffic accident in which he lost 46×50 bags of groundnuts worth about K400 million and the transporter he hired to transport the bags has not compensated him because he seems to have been protected by the magistrate’s court and the lawyer which the complainant used.

He alleged that a magistrate connived with the lawyer so that the transporter could be let scout free despite the charges that were laid against him earlier.

Mr Ng’andwe said he has not recovered anything since the accident happened in December, 2007, yet he has spent about K7 million in pursuing the case.

He named the transporters as Justine Phiri and Rabson Banda both of Chimwemwe residential area in Kitwe, the duo popularly known as Jafira.

ZANIS/ENDS/LNN/CMM/EB.

Luse urges Zambians to buy shares

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luseThe Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) has urged the Zambian public to take advantage of the fall in share price and invest for the future.

LuSE General Manager, Beatrice Nkanza, said the public should start buying shares now when the prices are down, adding that they might gain when shares prices start appreciating on the stock exchange.

Mrs Nkanza told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Zambians should start developing a culture of saving by buying shares and investing on the stock exchange.

She said investing on the stock exchange is one way of saving and ensuring that the future is safe, adding that there is need to use money wisely that will ensure maximum benefits.

She said parents should also encourage their children to start investing through the high school investment challenge that was introduced to high schools.

Mrs Nkanza said the high school challenge is aimed at encouraging school children develop an entrepreneurial spirit and investment culture at early age.

She said the project will also help lay a strong foundation for mobilizing savings in the Zambian economy and thus contribute to wealth creation and economic growth.

Meanwhile Mrs Nkanza said companies should continue trading and offloading shares on the stock exchange despite the global economic crisis.

She said the global meltdown should not stop companies from listing on the stock exchange but that business should be usual for them.

Mrs Nkanza commended Bata Shoe Company for finally listing on the Lusaka stock exchange, saying other companies should emulate shoe firm.

ZANIS/ENDS/GP/EB

FAZ-Breweries deal not Renard salary – Munaile

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Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice president Emmanuel Munaile says partnership agreement between the association and Zambia Breweries PLC is not for Zambia national soccer team coach Herve Renard’s salary.

ZANIS sports reports Munaile telling the media at Football House, today, that the deal to be signed this Friday is for the national team players and does not for Renard.

Payment of Renard’s salary has remained unclear since the mining giant Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) decided to stop paying the French man his salaries due to the global economic clampdown.

Meanwhile, Munaile has commended the national team for its performance against the Pharaohs of Egypt in Cairo 2010 Africa/FIFA World cups qualifier.

Munaile said the national team had a fantastic and dream start adding that Sunday’s result firmly puts destiny in the Chipolopolo’s hands.

He said the result will spur FAZ and the national team to work even harder to see to it that the dream of Zambia qualifying to the World Cup becomes a reality.

He said hard work, professionalism, dedication to duty and greater unity among all stakeholders will ensure that greater things are attained for football in the country.

And the under-17 national team will participate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) International Youth Championship from April 7 to 14, 2009.

Munaile said the under – 17 national team has been training for the tournament to be played in league format, early this week .

Munaile said the administrative and logistical preparations are underway to facilitate the team’s travel to the tournament that will see hosts UAE, Zambia, Korea and Nigeria battle it out.

And Munaile has expressed confidence that ZESCO United will get a positive result against Africa Sports of Ivory Coast in the second leg this Saturday.

He urged soccer fans to troop to the Trade Fair Grounds in large numbers to support ZESCO United who held the Ivorians to a stalemate in the first leg in Abidjan.

He also expressed optimism that Red Arrows who lead the Ocean Boys by 2 goals to nil on aggregate having beaten them in the first leg in Lusaka can also get a positive result away in Nigeria and progress to the next round.

He asked clubs and fans alike to take note that Super League matches on the Copperbelt will be played on Sunday as ZESCO United play Africa Sports on Saturday.

ZANIS/MK/ENDS/MM

Rangers Draw in Division 1 North Debut

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Nchanga Rangers began life in Faz Division 1 North, albeit under protest, with a 2-2 away draw to Indeni in a Week 4 match today played in Ndola.

Rangers, who vowed not to play in the lower leagues for the first time in their history after the overturning of their earlier successful appeal against demotion by Faz, scored through Boyd Chanda and Ian Chama.

The match was Rangers first after missing the previous three matches and are fourth from bottom in 16th place while Indeni are 3rd on 7 points.

Meanwhile, Nkana usurped Afrisports from the top spot after a 2-0 win over Ndola United in Kitwe to rise to 7 points.

Kalewa are second on the same number of points after a 1-0 home win over Chindiwn in Ndola.

RESULTS

FAZ Division 1 North Week 4

01/04/2009

North

Nkana 2- Ndola United 0

Kalewa 1- Chindwin 0

Luanshya United 1- Kitwe United 1*

*Match abandoned due to rain

Prison Leopards 2- Lime Hotspurs 2

Muchindu 2- Kalulushi Modern Stars 1

Zesco Luapula 0- Chingola Leopards 1

Afrisports 0- Mufulira Wanderers 1

Mufulira Blackpool 0- Mining Rangers 0

Indeni 2- Nchanga Rangers 2
SOUTH

Lusaka Tigers 2- Paramilitary 0

Young Green Eagles 0- Lusaka Celtic 1

Nkwazi 0- National Assembly 1

Police Bullets 1- Profund Warriors 0

Lusaka City Council 0- Kascol Rangers 1

Mazabuka United 0- Green Eagles 1

Livingstone Pirates 1- Nampundwe 1

Leuna Buffaloes 0- Riflemen 1

Peatuke United – Zamcoal Diggers*

*Not Played after Zamcoal failed to travel

Zamtel FC Hire Makwaza

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Promoted Faz Premier Division club Zamtel FC have appointed former Power Dynamos and  Zambia international midfielder Linos Makwaza as their new head coach.

Makwaza takes over at Zamtel from Daniel Ndhlovu whom the club swiftly dismissed last week after a loss of confidence from his players coupled with two successive league defeats in as many games played since their return to the top-flight this season with one match in hand.

The former Dynamos and Zambia midfielder took charge of the Ndola-based side on Monday.

This will be Makwaza’s first appointment as head coach of a Faz league club after retiring as a player 5 years ago to become an assistant trainer at Power under the late Ben Bamfuchile.

Makwaza left Power last season after his contract as assistant coach was not renewed by the Arthur Davies club where he played for over one and a half decades before retiring in 2004 to join their bench.
 
His first match in charge will come this Sunday when Zamtel travel to Dola Hill to face fellow promoted club Forest Rangers in a Ndola derby.