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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.

Choma marketeers demonstrate over trading area

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Angry marketeers from Makalanguzu market in Choma today staged a demonstration at the district commissioner’s
office in protest against a decision by Zambia Railways to allocate land on which they are conducting business to a rival group of traders.

The irate traders marched to the BOMA at about noon and demanded to be addressed by district commissioner Laiven Apuleni.

They threatened not to leave the premises until they were given concrete assurances regarding the controversy surrounding their market.

The marketeers threatened to beat up leaders of the town centre market whom they accused of using underhand methods to acquire land from Zambia Railways at the expense of those that are currently occupying the premises.

The marketeers have been incensed by a move taken by Zambia Railways to offer plot 1404 in Choma to a group of traders who are not part of the group currently operating from there.

But the District Commissioner assured the marketeers that the matter will be submitted to relevant authorities for redress.

Mr. Apuleni requested the traders to disperse and go back to the market and resume normal trading so as to allow government look into their grievance.

Some marketeers warned of violent demonstrations if Zambia Railways does not revoke the offer of land to the Town centre market committee led by Lawrence Mutemwa.

Makalanguzu market committee chairperson, Charles Siazilo, told ZANIS in Choma that the rival group from the town centre market does not represent the interests of his members and had used dubious methods to acquire the now disputed land.

Mr. Siazilo said the marketeers feel cheated as they have trading from there for a long time and will therefore not allow the committee to take over their land.

ZANIS/CM/MKM/ENDS

Labour Stakeholders propose minimum wage of K600, 000

Labour sector stakeholders have proposed that the minimum wage be increased from the current K268, 000 to K600, 000 in view of the rising cost of living.

And the stakeholders have also proposed some amendments to the statutory instrument number 57 of 2006 that looks at the minimum wage and conditions of employment.

The resolutions were made at a one day workshop on minimum wage organized by the Anti- Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) in Lusaka yesterday.

The workshop which was attended by various trade union leaders, labour consultants, employers and employees, among others, also proposed that domestic workers be included in the minimum wage bracket.

The stakeholders said there was need for the statutory instruments on minimum wage Act and conditions of employment Act to be changed as ithey were last amended in 2006.

They proposed that the minimum wage be increased from K268, 000 to K600,000 with the difference spread across the board to other wage earnings.

They further proposed that employees who have retired should continue receiving full pay from their former company until they get all their terminal benefits and that this should also apply to people whose relatives die while in employment.

And in a vote of thanks, AVAP executive Director Bonny Tembo thanked the participants for coming up with resolutions and suggestions to the labour laws in the country.

Mr. Tembo said some of the proposals that were made are also undergoing debate at the National Constitution Conference (NCC) and urged participants to take keen interest in the deliberations.

He said his organization was prompted to come up with such a workshop because they saw the loopholes in the current labour laws.

He however assured the stakeholders that AVAP will quickly look into the issue of forming an advocacy committee that will ensure that the proposals are implemented by authority.

Mr. Tembo said AVAP will work closely with trade unions and other labour leaders to ensure that many of the challenges workers are facing are addressed.

And a participant at the workshop has hailed AVAP for organizing such a workshop saying there is need for more of such initiatives to acquaint people with the labour laws.

Tedson Msoni who is also a labor consultant said there is also need for stakeholders to be reviewing the statutory instrument yearly if the problems in the labour laws are to be reduced.

ZANIS/GP/ENDS/MM.

Govt hailed for increasing allowances for Chipolopolo boys

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Two sports organisations have hailed government for its intention to increase allowances for the Zambia National Soccer Team and its technical bench.

Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu recently disclosed its intention to increase allowances for the Chipolopolo boys and the technical bench following their impressive 2010 World/Africa Cup qualifier against the Pharoahs of Egypt last Sunday at Cairo National Staduim.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS sports in Lusaka today, Zambia Volunteer Sports Association (ZAVOSOFA) Patron Peter Makembo said the move to increase allowances for the Chipolopolo boys should be supported by all.

Mr. Makembo said increasing allowances for the team and the technical bench would motivate them to even work extra hard.

He said the increasing of allowances for the National Team should have been done a long time ago.

The ZAVOSOFA Patron urged the Chipolopolo boys and the technical bench not to disappoint government and the fans now that the state was considering increasing their allowances.
Mr. Makembo also urged the government to extend the olive branch to the soccer fans board adding that the soccer fans have always been there for the Chipolopolo boys whenever they were playing.

Association of National Team Supporters (ANTS) Interim Secretary General Robert Kayukwa said government’s decision to consider increasing allowances for the Chipolopolo boys and the technical team was in order.

Kayukwa said increasing the team’s allowances would make the team perform better in the remaining games.

The ANTS Interim Secretary General urged the Chipolopolo boys to continue with the same fighting spirit to qualify to the world and Africa cups.

He also called upon the team not become indiscipline with the increased allowances that the government has promised them.

ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/MM

Govt to continue engaging foreigners as long as Zambians under perform

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Government says it will continue to engage foreign contractors on its projects as long as local contractors continued to under perform.

Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti said some local contractors have on several occasions underperformed on projects much to the disappointment of the people who are direct beneficiaries of the projects.

Speaking during a meeting with contractors in Mansa , Mr. Mulongoti said government was in a hurry to develop the country and will therefore reprimand contractors for doing shoddy works at the expense of tax payers’ money.

He said government was ready to promote and support local contractors to build their capacity but that they should be responsible and committed to putting up quality work once awarded contracts.
The Minister said local contractors needed to change their work culture and build credibility in themselves to avoid shoddy works and ensure that government gets value for its money.

“I can assure you that government will not sit and watch you steal money from the people through your shoddy work and desertion of contracts. We will pursue you to ensure that you pay back the funds,” Mr. Mulongoti said.

The minister said he was disappointed with the bad workmanship of some contractors in Luapula Province noting that many contractors had abandoned construction projects despite being paid by government.

He directed the Provincial Roads Development Agency and Buildings Department to compile and submit a list of infrastructure that had been abandoned and names of contractors engaged for action.

“Local contractors cry that we prefer foreign contractors to them, this is because of the bad workmanship they have demonstrated and I can assure you we will continue to engage foreign contractors because what we need at the end of the day is a good product,” Mr. Mulongoti said.

Meanwhile, Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe has urged contractors and suppliers in the province to reinvest their profits into procurement of equipment and machinery.

Dr Kawimbe said local contractors had failed to compete favorably with foreign contractors because they lacked capacity to do quality works upon being awarded contracts.

He challenged the contractors to apply for funds under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) Funds to procure equipment and machinery.

Dr. Kawimbe said the province still had funds under the CEEC and was awaiting proposals from applicants.
ZANIS/CB/ENDS

Compel Albidon Nickel Mine to compensate settlers- HH

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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema

The UPND says government should compel Albidon Nickel Mine in Mazabuka to compensate people who were displaced from their areas by mine.

UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema, says the mine which has now suspended operations has failed to fulfil its contractual obligations to the community.

Mr. Hichilema says Albidon Mine has not fully implemented several community projects including building new houses for the local people after demolishing their old ones.

He was speaking in Mazabuka when he visited communities in Magoto area who were relocated from their settlement by Albidon Nickel Mine.

And Mazabuka Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo, said the mine has abandoned the community, a situation which he described as unfortunate.

Albidon Nickel mine in Mazabuka has suspended operations indefinitely citing various difficulties.

/ZNBC/NEWS

Food commission defends sugar fortification policy

National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) says it will continue enforcing its policy of fortifying sugar with Vitamin A. Reacting to the Parliamentary Committee on Economic and Labour Affairs call to government to change the policy in order to enhance the competitiveness of the Zambia sugar industry, NFNC acting Executive Director Freddie Mubanga said fortification is meant to curb high levels of micro-nutrition deficiency in the country.

He said micro- nutrition deficiency was a complex situation which needed multiple approaches to be dealt with and that there was no need to trivialize the situation.

Mr. Mubanga explained that sugar fortification was a short-term measure to bring down the high levels of vitamin A deficiency common in children under the age of five and reproductive women.

He said other measures were promotion of exclusive breast feeding for the first six months and diet diversification and prevention of diseases that depleted vitamin A in the body.

Mr. Mubanga said the high price of sugar was not being caused by the cost of fortification as prices had been high even before the policy was implemented.

He added that measures to combat micro- nutrition deficiency also contributed to reduction in infant mortality rates and that there was need to invest more in nutrition as it had effects on the country’s economy.

ZANIS/MP/ENDS/MM

Be pro-active Mumbwa radio board urged

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Mumbwa District Commissioner Dowell Chilimboyi has lashed out at Mumbwa community radio station board members for allegedly being inactive.

He charged that the board members were to blame for the slow pace at which the radio station project was being implemented, adding that the project needed to be led by pro-active personnel.

Mr. Chilimboyi said the radio station project was cardinal for accelerating development as well as communication in the district and that it was saddening that the executive board had achieved very little since the project was started in 2001.

The DC noted that most parts of the district had difficulties in radio wave reception from both state and independent radio stations, and that the district was in dire need of a local radio station to address this.

Mr Chilimboyi pointed out that Mumbwa community radio station was important as it could offer an ideal platform not only for the dissemination of government policies, but also for feedback from residents to policy makers.

And an organization dealing with assistance for community radio stations, Radio Africa Network (RANET) has also stressed the need for greater action from Mumbwa’s community radio station board.

RANET country coordinator, Merviouse Siantombo, stated that his organisation was doing everything possible to help the Mumbwa project. He disclosed that RANET has made some progress in trying to help in the procurement of equipment through networking with some United Kingdom based organizations.

Mr. Siantombo said there was still need for Mumbwa board members to make concerted efforts in advocacy, adding that there was no need for them to assume that they could sit back and let others lobby for their project.

Others who have shown keen interest in the project are Mumbwa Central Member of Parliament, Brian Chituwo as well as senior chief Shakumbila of the Sela people.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/EB