The Committee of Citizens (CC) and the Evangelical Youth Alliance (EYA) have called upon the government to disband the Task Force on Corruption now that the Anti-Corruption Commission would be the leading agency in the fight against corruption and other crimes in the country.

EYA President Moses Lungu and Committee of Citizens Gregory Chifire said this in a jointly signed statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The duo who commended government for adopting and launching the National Anti-Corruption Policy (NACP) said immediate changes to the fight against corruption should be embarked upon immediately.

They said there were many issues that surrounded the Task Force adding that the body remained illegally in its operations.

Mr. Lungu and Mr. Chifire said the Chairman of the Task Force was made to exercise investigative and prosecution powers, functions that are mandated by the law to be exercise by Zambia Police (ZP), Anti Corruption Commission ( ACC) and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).

And the duo have called for a comprehensive financial audit to be done in order to asses how millions of dollars provided by the government and other cooperating partners were spent.

“We strongly demand that the Auditor General (AG) audits the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF), and account that belongs to the Task Force on corruption and held in a bank account in the United Kingdom (UK),’ the duo stated.

Mr. Lungu and Mr. Chifire have since demanded the for the prosecution of former Task Force Chairman Mark Chona for diverting funds as stated in the AG’s report for 2005.

The duo said the report indicates that the former Task Force Chairperson diverted the funds to unknown consultants.

They said the Audit Report also cites other serious irregularities surrounding the hire of private prosecutors and the contract that Mr. Chona signed without the consent and authority of the AG.

“We recognize that former DEC Commissioner Ryan Chitoba is also facing similar charges before the courts of law and there should be no discrimination or selection in matters of the law and the nation,” they said.

ZANIS/AJN/MKM/ENDS

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has dismissed claims by some sectors of society that it was the council’s responsibility to bury unclaimed bodies.

Council Public Relations Manager said Chanda Makanta said it was the responsibility of the University Teaching Hospital ( UTH) and the Social Welfare.

Ms. Makanta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that the council only provides labour, transport and identifying the piece of land or cemetery that could be used to bury the unclaimed bodies from hospital.

The Council Public Relations Manager said it was very unfortunate that some sectors of society think that the Local authority was responsible to bury unclaimed bodies.

Ms. Makanta urged those that think that it is the Council’s responsibility to bury unclaimed bodies to do their research well.

She has since said the Council was open to UTH if the health institution needed assistance in terms of provision of logistical support.

ZANIS/AJN/MKM/ENDS

The Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace/ Universal Peace Federation (IIFWP/UPF) Zambia Chapter has announced that they will be holding a global peace festival in Lusaka next month.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka today, IIFWP/UPF Zambia Chapter Chairman General Malimba Masheke said the festival which will be held on 11th April will attract various people from all walks of life and from different locations around the globe.

Gen. Masheke was speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today.

The General also announced that the IIFWP/UPF will be embarking on a number of cleaning projects around Lusaka.

He said the exercise will commence with the COMESA market.

General Masheke called on everyone to pledge support to the cleaning up project at COMESA market regardless of their status in society.

He said it was the duty of each and every citizen of Lusaka to see to it that surroundings are fit for human habitation.

ZANIS/MK/MKM/ENDS.

The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) Zambia, has appealed to the lead political parties in the country to put their differences aside and use the proposed national indaba as a platform to find solutions to the challenges that the nation is facing.

CEG trustee, Gershom Musonda, said in a statement released to ZANIS that there was need for the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) to take keen interest in the indaba and discuss national issues.

Mr. Musonda said the indaba would accord the citizens through their representatives an opportunity to express themselves and ensure that the government responded to their needs.

Mr. Musonda said the indaba would also give government an opportunity to explain how best it was trying to meet the aspirations of its citizens especially at a time when the country’s economic status was being threatened by the global financial crunch.

Mr. Musonda said issues such as the need to have electoral reforms and promotion of human rights among other things needed the input from the stakeholders to succeed.

He advised organizations and political parties against issuing negative statements about the proposed indaba.

He has however suggested that the meeting should be chaired by independent individuals for effective dialogue among the political parties and other stakeholders.

Mr. Musonda commended government for its intentions to hold the national indaba saying dialogue is cardinal in the democratic governance of the country.

ZANIS/MP/MKM/ENDS.

The Kafue Gospel Singers (KGS) has adopted 150 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) whom they are educating.

KGS Director George Chungu says his organisation is at the moment concentrating on advocating for bettering the lives of the vulnerable.

Mr. Chungu said his organisation has since initiated a supply of education teaching aid materials as well as the feeding programe for the 150 orphans.

Mr. Chungu revealed his organisation has partnered with the Churches Health Association (CHAZ) and Zambia Orphans of AIDS (ZOA – Zambia Chapter) in catering for the vulnerable children.

“As KGS, we are not only promoting music but also supplementing government efforts in key sectors like education by uplifting the welfare of OVCs and currently we are looking after 150 vulnerable children in Kafues surrounding compounds,” Mr. Chungu said.

Mr. Chungu described the escalating HIV/AIDS as a time bomb that will erupt very soon as evident from the increasing number of street kids from Zambia Compound, Kafue community and Soloboni areas.

ZANIS/KC/MKM/ENDS

THE government is this year expected to drill 55 new boreholes in Namwala district in an effort to increase access to clean drinking water to people in line with the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] by 2015.

District Commissioner, Eunice Nawa, says there was need to involve women in all water-related development programs as they are the ones who often spend long hours fetching and carrying water, especially in rural areas.

Officially opening World Water Day celebrations yesterday under the theme “Shared water, shared opportunities”, Ms. Nawa said the government recognizes the cultural, environmental and economic importance of water and was doing everything possible to increase access to clean water and sanitation in the district.

Ms. Nawa noted that access to safe drinking water and sanitation influences everybody’s health, education, life expectancy, well-being and social development.

The DC observed that it was imperative for intensified collaboration among all stakeholders in the private and public sectors as well as members of the community to ensure sustainable supplies of clean drinking water.

“The provision of clean drinking water should not only be left to the government alone but we need to see active involvement of all stakeholders so that there can be an integrated approach that includes effective water usage, management and delivery to those who need clean water,” she said.

Ms. Nawa said there was need to involve women in all water related development efforts so that they are able to participate more meaningfully in decision making on how water is used and managed.

“In any culture, including indigenous societies, women are the guardians of water and should be involved in all water related activities if communities are to benefit from their knowledge and skills,” said Ms. Nawa.

She called on the District Water Sanitation and Health Education [D-WASHE] as they implement community-based water supply projects to ensure that women’s views are taken into account.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nawa thanked the Danish government for the continued support it was rendering to the district in promoting D-WASHE activities in collaboration with the Zambian government.

ZANIS/ENDS/FM/EB.

Government says it is always grateful for contributions cooperating partners are making towards the education sector in the country.

Agricultural Minister in charge of livestock and fisheries, Bradford Machila, says government is always humbled when donors work towards improving lives of vulnerable communities.

Mr. Machila, who is also Kafue constituency Member of Parliament, said this in Kafue today at the official opening of Kalundu View Community School which was funded by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from the Netherlands.

Mr. Machila said the completion of the school is an indication that the community of Kalundu is determined to improving their living standards and overcome poverty.

He said parliament was in the process of approving funds meant for the education sector which will even benefit more people in the country.

Mr. Machila thanked the Netherlands community for contributing resources towards the construction and completion of the one by three classroom block and toilets for pupils.

He called on the community to look after the structure and work closely with government so that standards of education can be maintained.

Netherlands Ambassador to Zambia, Harry Molenaar, said the community of Kalundu should be proud of itself as it has managed to construct a school using initiative by applying for donor help.

Mr. Molenaar said the standard of the school was that of high quality which can only be compared to that of government schools.

He said his country is happy to be associated with the school as it was one way of showing how caring the Dutch people were.

The Dutch Ambassador said development in communities will only come about if people show determination and perseverance.

Mr. Molenaar expressed happiness at the way the money had been utilized, saying this is evidenced by the structures in place and pupils using the school.

He said the funds used to construct the school were not sourced from the Dutch government but NGOs who love to assist vulnerable communities.

Project Coordinator of the school Sonia Doras disclosed that a total of 100,000 Euros was donated by the SOS Meerlo – Wansum and Hetty Denen for constructing the school.

Ms. Doras said the project involved constructing a 1×3 classroom block, toilets and three staff houses.

ZANIS/ENDS/BS/EB.