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African Union Ministers of trade have converged in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss the financial crisis and other challenges that are being faced by the continent.
Commerce Deputy Minister Richard Taima is attending the fifth ordinary session of the two day AU conference of Ministers which opened yesterday.
The conference is also expected to reflect on developments such as increasing food prices, climate change on the continent and global trade.
This session is a key institutional framework of the AU which provides a forum to review developments on the continent, take stock and asses policy implementation.
This is contained in a statement made to ZANIS by Zambia’s Embassy in Ethiopia First Secretary for Press Dorcas Chileshe.
A visiting Standard Chartered Bank Chief Financial Officer Mahendra Gursahani has expressed dismay at investors who only invest in good times .
Mr. Gursahani said genuine investors stick by their commitments in good times as well as in bad times.
He said Standard Chartered Bank believes in making long-term commitments that over-ride short term challenges.
Mr. Gursahani disclosed that Standard Chartered Bank will this year be celebrating its103rd year of unbroken operations in Zambia.
The chief Financial Officer said genuine partnership should be a continuation of a long and successful history, adding that Standard Chartered Bank Zambia will continue to remain an integral part of the local economy.
Mr. Gursahani told ZANIS in an interview today that his bank will continue to support local and international businesses in order to drive economic growth.
He has since commended Government for creating an enabling environment for investors to invest in the economy in order to enhance socio-economy development of the country.
Mr. Gursahani said the Bank will continue to use its international expertise and capabilities to introduce new, innovative products and services into the Zambian market, so as to support the rapid sophistication of financial services sector and the wider economy.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has urged the health sector in Zambia and Africa to consider giving serious attention to people living with epilepsy.
Mrs. Banda said the health sector in most African countries have paid little attention to the devastating effect the disease has on the people.
She said many countries have concentrated on major communicable diseases such as malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
She said of about 60 million cases of epilepsy in the world over, Africa and other developing countries accounts for about 80% of the recorded cases.
The First lady said this in a speech read on her behalf by Vice President’s wife Irene Kunda after the epilepsy sensitization walk to mark the launch of the registration for the epilepsy conference that will be held next month.
She said there is need for all stakeholders to create awareness and stop stigma against people with epilepsy as it affects even the most productive people in our society.
Mrs. Banda said there is need to sensitize people on epilepsy and tell them that the disease can be cured with drugs adding that about 80% of the people who remain on treatment for two years remain free from seizures.
She however said that there is need to provide anti-epilepsy drugs to people suffering from the disease if it is to be completely eradicated.
Speaking at the same function Epilepsy Association of Zambia (EAZ) member, Chinunka Kalonga called for all stakeholders to support people with epilepsy.
Ms. Kalonga said epilepsy is the disease that affects everyone adding that there is need to stop the discrimination of people living with the disease.
She however said the sensitization walk that has been conducted will mark a new chapter for epilepsy in Zambia.
The gloves are off in the standoff between Kalusha Bwalya and the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) after Fifa asked the latter to stand down of face sanctions while Zurich deals with the Emmanuel Mayuka case.
And Faz have maintained their annual general meeting slated for tomorrow will not take place despite orders by the NSCZ that the meeting goes ahead without the suspended Kalusha on Thursday for failing to heed to summons over the Mayuka case.
“As already announced, that meeting (Faz AGM) can’t proceed,” Faz general secretary George Kasengele said at a briefing today, Friday in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke in a latter dated March 19 to Faz through Kasengele has said it will not recognize Kalusha’s suspension by the NSCZ, who are the local watchdog on all sports associations in Zambia.
“Fifa would like to inform the FA of Zambia and all its members who will gather for its annual general meeting scheduled to take place on March 21-22, that Fifa will not recognize any suspension and any action of any type, which will limit the autonomy of your association or the mandate of its democratically-elected officials,” Valcke said.
“Similarly, we received information on the charges leveled against various Faz officials including yourself (Kasengele), the organization of hearings of these officials summoned to appear before the NSC(Z) Legal and Disciplinary Committee as well as public statements by the Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, the Hon Kenneth Chipungu.
“This current controversy circles around issues falling under the direct competence of FIFA, (a) the defence of the fundamental principle of the autonomy of the Fifa member associations from external influence, (b) the disputes around international transfers of players.”am
“As a consequence and considering the potential disruption of football in Zambia due to these hearings and possible violations of the Fifa statutes, Fifa is of the option that the hearings should be suspended until Fifa could review the file of the transfer of the above –mentioned player (Emmnauel Mayuka) as well as the alleged charges against the Faz officials.
“In order to initiate this review, Fifa would be grateful to Faz to send to Zurich a detailed summary of the case of the above mentioned transfer as well as the response of the Faz officials to NSC(Z) alleged charges.”
Kasengele did not take any questions on the matter as the wheels of justice in Zurich are now certainly in motion.
FINANCE minister Situmbeko MusokotwaneThe Government is optimistic about the future of mining
following indication that China will this year increase its
annual copper purchase from 600,000 to one million
tonnes, Finance and National Planning Minister,
Situmbeko Musokotwane has said.
Dr Musokotwane said in Lusaka yesterday that if implemented, China’s move would result in a deficit in the global copper requirement for 2009 and trigger higher prices.
The minister said this in a speech read for him by Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei during the second Corporate Governance award-giving ceremony held at Hotel Intercontinental.
Dr Musokotwane said despite having put in place various measures to support economic diversification, the Zambian Government would not abandon what it knew best: mining.
“This is the reason why we are optimistic with reports that China’s State Reserve Bureau may this year raise purchases of copper to one million metric tonnes from 600,000 tonnes.
“Such a measure, if implemented, ‘would easily turn the projected global surplus of between 350,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes this year’ into a deficit. This is an encouraging signal for the Zambian mining industry,” he said.
Dr Situmbeko said that Government was equally positive about the future copper prices, which had gained by 25 per cent on the London Metal Exchange (LME) within this year after falling by 54 per cent last year.
Currently, he said, the price stood at around US$3,862 per tonne after China’s copper imports jumped by 55 per cent last month. This price level is the highest since November 2008.
He, however, noted that in the 2009 budget, Government had put in place programmes to diversify the economy and increase the potential for wealth creation through agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
Dr Musokotwane said his ministry would this year address some challenges faced in the governance of State-owned-enterprises some of which had been a drain on national coffers.
“To forestall this trend and improve overall performance, my ministry will reinforce measures aimed at improving oversight, supervision, general management, corporate governance, quality systems and service delivery in State-owned enterprises.
“In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that we have provided K2 billion in this year’s budget for strengthening the implementation of the automated trading system on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE),” he said
He said the growth of market capitalization on the LuSE over the last few years gave government hope that the market in Zambia, though experiencing a momentary reduction, was sustainable and a worthy choice for stock investments.
Dr Musokotwane noted that although share prices might have fallen, the overall performance of most listed companies had been satisfactory and was a testimony of the resilience of Zambia’s economy.
“The evidence of our market attractiveness is manifested by looking back at 2008 when K1.302 trillion was raised in seven issues on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. This means that on average, the LuSE market capitalisation grew from K13.07 trillion or US$ 3.188 billion in 2007 to K24.205 trillion or US$ 6.538 billion in 2008.
“As a result, market capitalisation to GDP ratio also grew from 40 per cent to 61 per cent. This scenario makes the Lusaka Stock Exchange an illustration of the stability of our economy and a demonstration of the depth of private sector development in Zambia,” he said.
[Times of Zambia]
Zambezi Central Ward Councillor, Paul Nongo has called on government to provide a standby generator to the Zambezi District hospital to avoid inconveniences when ZESCO power goes off.
Hospital Administrator, Bukama Chilipili said efforts were being taken to secure a generator but referred all queries to the Ministry of Health spokesperson, who could however not be reached for a comment.
Patients complained that they use candles every night when power goes off, a situation which should not be happening at a health institution.
Meanwhile a Mr.Nongo has accused nurses at Zambezi District Hospital of being uncaring to patients.
The Zambezi Central Ward Councillor, charged that the nurses have no sense of urgency for patients, saying they take long to attend to patients even when they were not busy.
Mr. Nongo told ZANIS in an interview that he received a lot of complaints from the members of the public about the alleged bad behaviour by nurses towards patients.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Country Representative, Duah Owusu-Sarfo has attributed high maternal complications among communities in rural areas to lack of information on sexual reproductive health matters.
Mr Owusu-Sarfo said there was need for intensive awareness sensitization in the communities on sexual reproductive matters.
He said if communities both females and males were equipped with knowledge on safe motherhood programmes such maternal complications and deaths could be prevented.
Mr Owusu-Sarfo who is on familiarization tour of North-Western province said this when he paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Mujimanzovu of the Kaonde people in Solwezi yesterday.
He told the chief that UNFPA would embark on sexual reproductive health programmes and other related programmes in his chiefdom to sensitize the communities.
Senior chief Mujimanzovu was highly elated and assured the UNFPA chief that he would always work with the organization saying issues of sexual reproductive health and family planning were very critical in his chiefdom.
He said it was saddening to note that all girls in his chiefdom who sat for grade nine last year got pregnant.
The chief said parents in his chiefdom need a lot of sensitization because they are fond of marrying off their school going children at tender age thereby denying them education and exposing them to maternal complications as most of them are too young to handle pregnancies.
The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has suspended Faz president Kalusha Bwalya from all official sporting engagements.
This is after Kalusha defied the local supreme sporting body’s summons to appear before them today in Lusaka over his role in the controversial transfer of Emmanuel Mayuka from Kabwe Warriors to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
NSCZ chairman Dr. Julius Sakala confirmed Kalusha suspension during a press briefing in Ndola Thursday afternoon where he unveiled the official letter to the Faz president after the latter snubbed to appear before them after he countered it with an official letter to Fifa over the same matter.
“Dear Mr. Bwalya we refer to your letter addressed to the NSCZ we note with regret that you have not appeared before the national sports council disciplinary committee instead you have informed us that you have wrote to Fifa,” the letter to Kalusha from the NSCZ read in part.
“We have resolved that you be suspended with immediate effect from all activities of your association and from all sporting activities of those association which fall under the NSCZ pending your appearance before the council disciplinary committee this has been made under the provisions of section 10 (3) of the national sports council Act number 15 of the laws of Zambia.”
And Dr Sakala said the NSCZ was dismayed by Kalusha’s actions.
“We the sports council with the emergence consultation from colleagues we have take exception to this type of approach by Faz president because we are operating under an Act of Parliament which has nothing to do with the process of getting a comment from Fifa,” Dr Sakala said.
“Fifa is not a part to our investigations we have found. In my capacity as NSCZ chairman on behalf of the council I have written to Mr. Bwalya today and the minister of sport in the following manner.”
Meanwhile, Faz vice president Emmanuel Munaile and association general secretary George Kasengele who were also summoned did oblige and appeared before the NSCZ this week.
With this development, Kalusha will not chair this weekends Faz annual general meeting and Munaile will instead oversee proceedings.
A civil society organization has challenged Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, to declare his interest in the operations of Zambian Airways.
Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) national coordinator, Edwin Sakala, says it is clear that Mr. Sata has personal interest in the airline.
Mr. Sakala says the nation expects Mr. Sata to be in the forefront to ensure that the government recovers the debt owed by Zambian Airways.
He says the money can be used to improve the living standards of Zambians.
Mr. Sakala said in a statement that it is disappointing that Mr. Sata has acted contrary to people’s expectations.
Meanwhile, MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, has appealed to party members to desist from commenting on allegations against former finance minister, Ngandu Magande.
Mr. Magande who is also Chilanga Member of Parliament has been accused of trying to ask government to delay repayment of a debt owed by Zambian Airways, a private firm.
Dr. Kalumba said in Lusaka that MMD members and all Zambians should respect official investigations, currently under way, on the financial irregularities at Zambian Airways.
He said people who have concerns should take their information to the committee investigating the matter.
Dr. Kalumba said Mr. Magande has expressed concern over the actions of some MMD members who are petitioning the party leadership to discipline him despite the matter being under investigations.
He said there is need to respect Mr. Magande’s concerns.
Former Transport minister, William Harrington, has discontinued his court action seeking judicial review over President Rupiah Banda’s decision not to suspend minister, Dora Siliya.
Ms. Siliya who is the current Transport minister has been accused of flouting procedure when awarding contracts to some foreign firms to implement projects for some Zambian parastatals under her ministry.
A tribunal has been set up to look at the accusations.
Mr. Harrington says he will now rely on the integrity of the tribunal chaired by Supreme Court justice, Dennis Chirwa, to ensure justice prevails.
The former transport Minister has instructed his lawyers to discontinue the case following Wednesday’s application by the state to adjourn the matter to next week.
Mr. Harrington says he expected the High Court to treat the matter with the necessary urgency before most of his witnesses who are government officials finish testifying.
The former minister had petitioned the President to suspend Ms. Siliya so that she could not interfere with witnesses.
Mr. Harrington has finished calling all his witnesses.
Zambia Consumer Association, ZACA, has welcomed government plans to enact a legislation that will help discourage dollarisation in all domestic transactions.
ZACA Executive Secretary, Muyunda Ililonga, told ZANIS in an interview today that the association was happy that government responded positively to calls for legislation to discourage business houses from quoting prices of goods and services in foreign currency.
Mr. Ililonga said the current trend where most goods and services were being priced using the value of the US dollar subjected the consumers to exploitation.
Mr. Ililonga noted that dollarisation of domestic transactions should be discouraged at all costs as it undermines the dignity of the kwacha.
He said there was need for the dignity of the local currency to be upheld in all the domestic transaction as opposed to the current situation where the dollar was being used to quote prices whenever the Kwacha depreciated against the world’s major currencies.
He further said Zambia was a sovereign state which could not allow the alien currencies such as the dollar to determine and influence its domestic market forces.
Government announced on Wednesday that it would introduce a legislation that would stop dollarisation in the country.
The quoting of the dollar in domestic transactions is said to have influence on the current exchange rate which has seen the kwacha lose its strength against the major currencies.
The Lusaka City Council, LCC, today removed some illegally placed billboards on Lusaka’s Nasser road, which are said to be posing a danger to motorists.
The local authority said the development is part of efforts by the Council to help reduce cases of traffic accidents caused due to wrongly placed billboards.
LCC Public Relations Manager, Chanda Makanta, said the Council will continue to remove billboards on other roads and high ways that are in deplorable conditions as they pose a danger to both motorists and pedestrians.
She defended the Council’s action saying it has the mandate to help ensure a clean environment in line with the ‘Keep Zambia Clean’ launched by late President, Levy Mwanawasa.
Mrs. Makanta disclosed this in a phone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
She has since urged people who are intending to mount billboards to consult the local authority, in order to be advised on where to erect bill boards in accordance with the sizes and nature to avoid inconveniences.
Mrs. Makanka said it is illegal to cut down trees without the consent of the Council especially at sites where billboards are to be placed.
She further warned that perpetrators defying Council orders risked their billboards being removed as soon as they are spotted.
The United Party for National Development, UPND, says it has embarked on the party strengthening programme in readiness for the 2011 general elections.
UPND spokesperson, Charles Kakoma, said the party is confident of winning the elections in view of the ambitious programmes it is currently executing.
Mr. Kakoma said among the programmes of strengthening the party, was a membership recruitment drive ahead of the polls.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that with the recruitment of more members the party would strengthen its performance in the next elections.
He also said the party would soon embark on a nationwide tour of its presidential aspirant, Hakainde Hichilema, as a measure of enhancing his popularity ahead of the elections.
The UPND spokesperson said the opposition party has also started reorganizing the party youths to enhance their participation in elections.
The Foundation for Democratic Process, FODEP, has welcomed the proposal by government for a national Indaba.
FODEP Executive Director, Elijah Ruvuta, said the proposed National Indaba is an important step in efforts of resolving some of the contentious issues and challenges facing the nation.
Mr Ruvuta said the indaba should, however, be premised on addressing some of the current political, social and economic problems haunting the country.
Mr. Ruvuta told ZANIS in a statement today, that the National indaba is also likely to give proper and clear policy direction to the country.
He observed that Zambia recently has been engulfed in serious challenges and problems ranging from the depreciation of the local currency to rising commodity prices, which are threatening the country’s attainment of the Vision 2030 and Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.
He explained that his organization hopes that the indaba will also address issues such as the perceptible waning confidence in the country’s governance system.
He stated that through the indaba, the country could achieve progress in addressing corruption, poverty and HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Ruvuta noted that as the country aims to attain the status of middle income economy by the year 2030, the indaba would be a good platform to review progress in attaining the Vision 2030 and 2015 MDGs targets.
He added that the indaba could also enable the country adequately prepare for the 2011 tripartite Elections and the electoral issues, the Constitution and the possible Referendum, the strategies to tackle the effects of the global economic meltdown on Zambia and its citizen and to promote political harmony in the country.
Mr. Ruvuta also pointed out that the proposed indaba could be an opportunity to address the above issues that are critical to the growth of democracy in the country.
He has since, urged stakeholders to bury their differences and jointly work on strategies to confront national problems.
