I was seeing off my sister at the Inter-City bus terminus in Lusaka two weeks ago when I was subjected to an experience that I will not forget in a hurry.

I became an instant center of attraction when one of the call boys that hang around the station passed a disparaging comment on my pair of jeans. His friends immediately joined in with even more zeal than the instigator.

According to them, my jeans were too tight and would not be allowed at their station because they were “tired” of people like me who failed to believe they were Zambians. And then the names flowed; they called me a prostitute, a mobile grave that had taken too many men to Chingwere and many other unprintables.

I took the insults with as much dignity as a confronted criminal can manage. For in that space I was just that, a condemned woman that was getting what she deserved. Well, that was the impression I was given by my attackers and the audience they drew. I stood there, surrounded, outnumbered, scared and totally speechless. No one came to my rescue, not a man, not a fellow woman. Maybe to them, I was just one unfortunate person being humiliated or perhaps being ‘educated’ where my mother had ‘failed.’
And for me, that was the fact that stood out and the main reason I am sharing this with you today. Where was the communal spirit that we as a people are known for? The spirit that would not stand by and watch an out-numbered and intimidated person suffer at the hands of vulgarity. Where was the voice of reason? Just where did those call boys get the idea that they can tell people how to dress?

Is it perhaps from the silence that accompanied my public harassment; the silence that has accompanied the harassment of fellow women and girls for years? How realistic are we being as a people if we subject such personal things as choice of dress to public approval? Where exactly will we draw the line?

Today I am harassed for being a size 10 and wearing size 10 jeans and my attackers are applauded through public silence and inaction. Tomorrow who is to stop them from attacking me because I have combed my hair in an ‘unZambian’ way?

It is exactly things like this that really worry me. I worry about my poor children who have to grow up in a world where being vulgar has become an acceptable way of life, where common courtesy is becoming more redundant by the day.

The fact that I come from another home does not make me any less human or woman than your mothers, sisters, daughters and wives. The respect you would like the world to show them is the same respect my brother, father and husband desire for me. And no, there is absolutely no such thing as deserving vulgarity or asking for it.

My tight jeans are not an invitation to spite me and judge me, they are not an invitation to question my morals and tear my dignity to shreds. My jeans, skirt, dress- whatever shape or size is not an invitation to rape me physically or with words.My clothes are an expression of my taste, an extension of my personality, should that too be subject to popular vote? Who exactly will be the judge?

Former Communications and Transport Minister William Harrington says he will now wait for President Rupiah Banda’s decision on Communication and Transport Minister Dora Siliya.

Mr Harrington said he will respect President Banda’s decision after he studies the final Tribunal report was handed to him by Tribunal Chairperson Ethe head of state.

Speaking to the media at the funeral house of late Patriotic Front National Chairman Chitalu Sampa during the late’s leader’s requim mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka , today, Mr Harrington said he will respect President Banda’s decision on the matter as he is the the head of state.

Mr. Harrington however said it would be premature for him to issue any statement because the issue at hand involves different stakeholders on the matter.

And one of the lawyers Winter Kabimba said the tribunal has done it’s part but now the nation await upon President decision after studying the findings and recommendations of the Tribunal.

Mr. Kabimba said the general public needs to know the final verdict on Ms Silya.

Tribunal Chairperson Juged Enerst Chirwa yesterday submitted the final report to President Banda on the Communications minister Siliya who is alleged to have breached Article 54 sub Article 3 of the republican constitution when she selected RP Capital Partners limited to evaluate Zamtel assets minus the Attorney General’s advice.

ZANIS/VP/ENDS/MM

President Rupiah Banda has advised mine investors to seriously consider investing in metal processing locally to make copper exports more profitable .

Mr. Banda said metal processing would add value to the minerals that are being mined in Zambia and exported.

He was speaking when he commissioned the Lumwana Copper Mine in Lumwana, Solwezi today, which is the largest open pit copper mine in Africa.

He said government is ready to partner with investors such as Equinox Minerals, which has exhibited long term desire to invest in the country’s mining sector.

“What government expects is for investors in the mining sector to consider investing in metal processing facilities that add value to your metal.

Government strongly believe that time is ripe for investors like you to consider processing the copper you mine and add more value by selling finished products made in Zambia to the same international market,” he said

He said government was proud with the perseverance exhibited by Equinox Minerals in fully developing the Lumwana mine project, which started twelve years ago.

President t Banda has since assured the investor that government would partner with the company to further develop the project for the economic benefit of the local people.

The President said government will ensure that it only allows serious investors to set up businesses in the mining sector and not those who only declare interest when the sector is performing well.

He said government was indebted to Equinox Minerals for sacrificing to pump in $US1 billion in the mining development project regardless of the set backs that the copper mining industry was suffering in the recent past.

‘”We are proud and feel indebted that during the twelve years of the project development, you sacrificed to pump in $US1 billion which includes the development of modern Lumwana town. This shows the trust you have in our mining industry regardless of the ups and downs,” he said.

He said government will consider Lumwana mine project , which is Africa’s biggest open pit copper mine, as Zambia’s ambassador in efforts of promoting more investment in country’s mining investment.

Earlier, Equinox Minerals project Manager, Craig Williams said the company is determined to contribute to the efforts of improving the economic status of local people.
He appealed to government to continue providing incentives that will encourage more investment and performance in the mining sector.

And Solwezi West MP Humphrey Mwanza appealed to government to consider embracing Lumwana Mine as part of the Multi Facility Zone.

Mr. Mwanza said doing so will encourage and enhance performance of the mine to enable it fulfill its social responsibility to the local community.

President Banda also toured the mine plant this afternoon.

He is accompanied by Mines Minister, Maxwell Mwale, Commerce Minister Felix Mutati, Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Lands Minister Peter Daka, Minster in Charge of Gender Sara Sayifwanda and other senior government officials.

Lumwana Mine is expected to produce 140,000 tonnes f copper concentrates every year.

ZANIS/SJK/MKM/KSH/ENDS

Government will early next month announce the floor price of maize for this year.

Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Brian Chituwo said government has been under pressure from the public hence the need to announce the floor price of maize as soon as possible.

Dr. Chituwo said this when he opened a joint crop production exercise data collection workshop which is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative (MACO), Central Statistics Office (CSO) and Food Security Research Project (FSRP) in Lusaka yesterday.

He advised members of the public not to panic but wait for a little while for the floor price of the staple food to be announced.

He indicated that government does not want to rush in announcing the floor price of maize because it would want to come up with a price that would make people happy.

Dr. Chituwo explained that has to make consultations before announcing the floor price of maize in the country.

The minister also pointed out that it was not only Zambians who want to know what the floor price of maize would be but the whole Southern African region because it would want to buy the commodity.

He said people need to understand that government has been doing its best in trying to have the floor price of maize announced in the country.

Dr. Chituwo however commended MACO, CSO and the FSRP for doing a commendable job of conducting crop production exercise of data collection in the country.

He said the crop production data collection exercise was very important.

He also emphasized the need for farmers in the country to grow more of other crops such as cassava, rice and Irish potatoes.

Meanwhile, CSO Director Elfridah Chulu said at the same function that the crop production exercise data collection was very important.

She said CSO would provide government and the public with all information once the crop production exercise data collection on crop production.

Of late, there has been pressure from some sectors of society pushing government to announce the flow price of maize in the country.

ZANIS/AJN/KSH/ENDS