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Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people in Northern Province has vehemently dismissed recent rumours which went round that he had died.
Speaking upon arrival aboard a Zambia Flying Doctors Service plane at Kasama Airport yesterday, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu described the rumours as false and highly malicious.
The Paramount Chief said contrary to the claims he was feeling much better this time after undergoing specialist treatment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu, who spoke in Bemba, thanked people of Northern Province for praying for his quick recovery. He further advised Zambians to desist from speculating on other people’s health status and condemned those who wished him ill health.
Recently, there were speculations among members of the public that the Paramount Chief had passed away at the university Teaching Hospital where he was undergoing specialist treatment.
And Northern Province Permanent Secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe, who was one of the officials who received the Paramount Chief at Kasama Airport, said government was happy that Paramount Chief Chitimukulu’s health has tremendously improved.
Mr. Simfukwe said President Rupiah Banda’s administration was fully committed to fulfilling its promise of ensuring that Chiefs including Paramount Chief Chitimukulu are accorded quality health care whenever they fall sick.
He further explained that government regards traditional rulers in the country as key partners in national development hence it would continue to address their welfare. Paramount Chief Chitimukulu was evacuated on February 10, this year to the University Teaching Hospital for a medical review.
The Paramount Chief was welcomed at Kasama Airport by among others deputy Permanent Secretary Micah Zyambo, Provincial Health Director Dr. Fabian Kabulubulu, Kasama District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda, Kasama General Hospital Executive Director Dr. Cliff Hara and other government officials respectively.
A British National has been arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission-DEC- in Lusaka for trafficking in 14.6 kilograms of cannabis.
Margret Kirby, 69, a teacher at Lusaka’s Baobab College was arrested after DEC officers conducted a search at her house in Rhodes Park.
DEC Public Relations Officer, John Nyawali, confirmed the arrest in a statement to ZNBC news in Lusaka.
Mr. Nyawali said Ms. Kirby will appear in court on Friday 27th february for mention.
And the DEC has also arrested a prison warder at Lusaka Central Prison along with a convict for trafficking in 12 balls of loose cannabis weighing 3.6 grammes.
Jimmy Mulenga 32, was picked up following the arrest of the prisoner who was found with cannabis hidden in his pockets.
Petauke and Nyimba Districts have been hit by ZESCO Power failure that has paralised many operations in three days now.
A check by ZANIS today found that most work in government departments in the two Districts has come to a stand still as they depend on hydro-power.
The two Districts have been in power black out since Sunday following lightening which struck a pole which caused many other poles to fall in Sinda area.
Earlier a transformer blew off in fair view compound and the affected houses were in black out for seven days.
In an interview today National savings and credit Branch Manager, Fredrick Mukonka said these problems are as a result of ZESCO negligence in carrying out routine maintenance of power grid.
Meanwhile, District Health management Office has shifted to the Hospital where they can access power from the generator.
Acting District Director of Health Doctor Nyambe Sinyanje said it was expensive to run the operations at the Hospital on generated power.
Doctor Sinyanje urged Zesco to quickly rectify the problem to avoid loss of lives at the Hospital.
The business community has made huge losses as most businesses interviewed said people had stopped buying most fresh products due to power failure.
A check at ZAMBEEF found that sale of most products could not be effected.
And a check in some popular bars found that bar owners have closed their bars since people could not buy warm beer and they have complained that they have made dramatic loss.
Meanwhile, people are making long queues on bore holes in search for water as the local authority could not provide the commodity because of absence of electricity.
Both Petauke District Commissioner David Tembo and Nyimba District Commissioner Alexander Miti have urged Zesco to quickly restore power to the affected areas.
Efforts to get a comment from Zesco Manager proved futile as he was reported to be out of office.
Delegates of the Great Lakes Region have described the late President Levy Mwanawasa as visionary and selfless leader who stood for peace and democracy in Africa.
Chairperson for the Great Lakes Region Josephine Gaita said the late president was very keen to see a peaceful Africa where the rule of law and good governance prevailed.
Ambassador Gaita added that the late president fought hard to see a peaceful continent of Africa where there is law of law.
Ambassador Gaita, who is also Great Lakes Region National Coordinator for Kenya, said it was in this vein that the Great Lakes was determined to see a center for regional democracy set up in Zambia to honor his contributions.
She said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today when she led a delegation of Members of the Great Lakes Region who laid wreaths at late President Levy Mwanawasa’s grave at Embassy Park.
Ambassador Gaita said the Great Lakes Region will always remain indebted to his contribution and will work tirelessly to see the dream of the late president fulfilled.
And Zambia’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region Dr.Siteke Mwale said that he was overwhelmed by the presence of the eleven member countries of the Great Lakes Region.
Dr.Mwale said he was grateful to note that the great lakes region have recognized the important role the late president contributed in the area of peace, democracy and the rule of law.
He said members countries are therefore facilitating for the creation of the regional centre for democracy good governance, human rights and civic education which the president stood for.
Dr. Mwale said once opened the centre will significantly contribute to the promotion of peace, democracy, and regional integration in the great lakes region.
The Zambia Federation of Disability Organizations (ZAFOD) has threatened to take legal action against organizations that will not change structural designs of their buildings to accommodate people with mobility problems.
ZAFOD Project Manager for Advancing Disability Equality Project (ADEPt), Wamundila Waliuya said all organizations with designs that restricted people with disabilities would receive reports within 90 days after which they would have put up measures to change their designs.
Mr Waliuya said it was unfortunate for 90 percent of buildings countrywide to be discriminatory and restrict people with mobility problems from accessing them for various public services.
He said this after an accessibility audit of buildings in Livingstone today which included the Livingstone City Council, Livingstone Central Police and the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST).
Mr Waliuya said it was unfortunate for public places like the Livingstone Central Police Station to be completely inaccessible for people with mobility problems, especially those confined to wheelchairs, since they also had rights like everyone else to access services offered there.
He challenged the Livingstone City Council, police and management at ZAMPOST to source funding and re-design their buildings to improve accessibility for people with mobility problems.
Mr Waliuya said buildings that were discriminatory to people with disabilities robbed them of the respect and dignity that all human beings were entitled to because they always had to rely on other people to carry them around.
He said Zambia was a signatory to the United Nations Convention on people with disabilities and architectural designs of all buildings had to be changed to accommodate all people including the disabled before ratification of the charter was done.
Mr Waliuya called on government to increase funding to his organization so that inspection of buildings could be sped up for the long term plan of changing all buildings countrywide.
And ZAMPOST Post Master, Tom Musakanya, said he was unhappy about the design of the Main Post Office and its restrictions to people with disabilities but said there was room for change if government could provide the funds.
Mr Musakanya said his organization did not discriminate against anyone because it needed more clients regardless of their backgrounds to improve its business operations.
He said ZAMPOST could only expand if its premises were easily accessible to both able-bodied and disabled people.
Former Chief Justice Mathews Ngulube says the legal immunity availed to the state should not be extended to individuals holding public office.
Justice Ngulube says public officials such as ministers should be made accountable for their actions in the course of their duties.
He told the National Constitutional Commission’s Human Rights Committee in Lusaka, Tuesday that the move can help to enhance good service delivery.
Justice Ngulube was making a presentation about Article 80 which deals with the enforcement of the bill of Rights.
The former Chief Justice also said there is need to avoid a situation where some individuals may abuse the right to institute legal action on behalf of an aggrieved person.
/ZNBC/NEWS
Former Luanshya copper mines employees have commended Luanshya District Commissioner, George Kapu, for his bold step of presenting a petition to President Rupiah Banda.
Some miners, who did not want to be named, said in an interview with ZANIS that it was gratifying to see the District Commissioner take up the matter with the urgency it deserved to the head of state.
They also thanked President Rupiah Banda for receiving the petition and assuring the nation that the talks concerning the re-opening of Luanshya mines had reached an advanced stage.
They said efforts made by Mr Kapu should not be negated, adding that government should expeditiously tie up the deal.
They said there were encouraged by government’s efforts of re-opening the mines and hoped that the jobs will be given back to miners soon.
On Monday, former miners and their spouses, church leaders and some sympathizers held a peaceful demonstration at which they petitioned government to find an investor for the closed mine.
THE Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) has said that it has no authority to investigate alleged financial irregularities in the running of Zambian Airways which suspended operations last month.
BAZ chairman, Saviour Chibiya said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday the association’s constitution did not allow it to investigate complaints coming from shareholders regarding the operations of a company.
The Post Newspaper, who are shareholders in Zambian Airways, last week invited the BAZ and other professional bodies as well as members of civil society to investigate the dealings of the airline as the police started a separate probe.
“We really do not have the authority to handle that issue. These issues do not fall under our ambit.
“Constitutionally, BAZ deals with issues relating to customers and a specific bank or a bank against another bank,” Mr Chibiya said.
On Sunday, the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) said the Zambian Airways shareholders did not have the authority to invite independent investigators to examine the operations of the company.
ZICA president, Chintu Mulendema said only the creditors of the company who were aggrieved could invite qualified auditors appointed by a legally formed institution to undertake such an investigation.
Meanwhile, the MMD has said investigating the operations of Zambian Airways would require the services of specially trained forensic auditors and not just any member of society.
Reacting to the invitation by the shareholders of Zambian Airways for the party to join the team of investigators, MMD legal committee chairperson, Bwalya Chiti said probing the operations of the airline was not an easy thing.
Mr Chiti said the MMD felt that such as invitation should come from aggrieved parties such as creditors of the airline and should be directed at qualified forensic auditors who had the capacity to do a competent job.
“In this case the shareholders are not aggrieved. In fact, the shareholders delegated the directors of the company to represent them and these must be accountable to shareholders and the nation,” he said.
Mr Chiti said the party did not have the skills to undertake the forensic audit and would leave it to the law enforcement agencies.
THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has handed over the case in which it is embroid in a controversy surrounding Manda Hill Shopping Centre extension to its lawyers.
But Manda Hill Centre manger, Charity Banage said LCC had not given them a feedback on their recent requests.
LCC public relations manager, Chanda Mankanta said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the issue of Manda Hill extension was complex and required experts at this stage.
“It is a complex issue, what we have done now is to hand it over the matter to our lawyers. It is complicated,” she said.
When contacted, Ms Banage said Manda management had not yet received any feedback from the local authority.
Recently, President Banda directed Local Government and Housing Minister, Ben Tetamashimba to intervene in the matter of the Manda Hill and LCC to ensure the expansion went ahead.
According to the plans, 11,000 square metres were to be added to the existing centre through various extensions including 30 stores.
The stalled expansion and redesigning programme was initially, expected to be completed this year.
HBW Group of South Africa, owners of Manda Hill Centre last month announced that it found the continued wrangling over the proposed development frustrating.
The firm insists that LCC had wrongfully continued to claim that it was the owner of a portion of land at Manda Hill Centre which management had intended to use for extension of the shopping centre.
AFRICONNECT marketing manager Jonathan Elliot during the launch of the NCC website in Lusaka
BY RICHARD MULONGA
INFORMATION is power, states a journalism cliché. Certainly information is power because it empowers people with the authority to make informed decisions in the development process or any other subject that they may be handling.
It is also true that information removes all obstacles to development. For instance, in a democratic dispensation such as the one Zambia is governing on, the provision of information to the general citizenry is critical because information is a pre-requisite to democracy.
This is justified by the fact that democracy is meant for the people, by the and with the people where free-flowing information about governance plays a major role in establishing a true transparent mode of governance.
This author has expounded on this subject to eulogise the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) for establishing a website, which is expected to provide up-to-the minute information about the proceedings in the constitutional making process.
Many Zambians have different views about the existence of the NCC and that is their right as enshrined in the same constitution being amended.
But aside from that debate, which has spurned many months and across a cross section of society. In fact this author would suggest that the criticism of NCC has been Zambia’s biggest debate since 2007 when it was established.
This week, NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country co-ordinator McLeod Nyirongo, Justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo, and iconnect marketing and brand manager Jonathan Elliot with a list of other invited guests converged at Lusaka’s Mulungushi international conference centre to launch a website for the NCC.
The website, www.ncczambia.org was established because of the desire by the NCC members to have medium where they would be able to communicate with other stakeholders.
The website has been designed to provide a two-way communication channel between stakeholders and the public on this hand and the NCC on the other.
The website endeavors to provide downloadable and detailed information on the NCC, its mandate, membership, committee, news updates and verbatim reports for committee meetings and conference sittings.
It is through this website that stakeholders and members of the public would be able to make their views and demands known through the ‘have your say’ window.
The NCC website has created a platform where the members of the public can share their views on the draft constitution and also obtain latest reports.
The creation of the NCC website is commendable because it has established a channel where members of the public would be able to follow proceedings of the NCC without any interruption, unlike previously where the citizenry relied on press reports, which are usually highly edited to cater for space.
This development is also laudable because it has provided an avenue where the NCC should be transparent in its proceedings.
The website has also provided an opportunity to Zambians and other stakeholders in the diaspora to follow and participate in the proceedings of the NCC.
Interaction and information sharing with between the NCC and the public is critical. This is critical because it would guarantee an opportunity to every Zambian to participate in the constitution making process.
The UNDP provided technical and financial support to set-up the website. The UNDP in Zambia has been providing other forms of support to the NCC such as procurement of office equipment for the secretariat and the engagement of experts in the constitution making process. So far, the UNDP has pumped US$350, 000 into the NCC.
“It is my sincere hope that stakeholders will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to increase their interaction with the NCC and make their views and those of their members known to the conference.
“In this regard, I wish to implore members of the public who will have access to the website to make their contributions on-line on the numerous issues under discussion by the NCC,” chairperson Chifumu Banda said during the launch.
And iconnect marketing and brand manager Jonathan Elliot said his firm was greatly encouraged by the commitment and innovation the government and the NCC had shown in developing the interactive website. He said there would be dialogue achieved on the website.
“It ties in very well with the work we at iconnect have been driving forward, such as the rural connectivity in Namwala and our school project.
“It will allow Zambians all over the world to contribute to the shaping of our nation’s constitution,” he said.
And Justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo said the draft constitution of the NCC would only be legitimate if many Zambians were given an opportunity to participate in the making of the document.
He said sharing information was important in the constitution making process.
“I am sure the website would create the much needed interaction between the NCC and the general public,” he said.
UNDP resident co-ordinator McLeod Nyirongo said the organisation was glad that Zambia was tirelessly entrenching democracy in its society.
“The effort to accommodate as may divergent views as possible needs to be recognized as it is a key ingredient for conflict prevention,” Mr Nyirongo said.
The Internet has been used to influence decisions since it dawned on mankind.
The Internet can also play a vital role in informing and educating the Zambian people as Zambia makes strides to advance its laws because it would also allow those in the diaspora to provide in-put.
Nine staff houses at Mulalika Basic School in Chongwe district are on the verge of collapse and teachers occupying them are living in fear of losing their lives.
Authorities at the school are appealing to the government for funds to assist them rehabilitate the houses to prevent loss of human lives.
This came to light today when Chongwe Acting District Commissioner (DC) Stanslous Mutale visited the school.
Deputy School manager Tyson Hachilangu told the Acting DC that the houses have developed huge cracks and are likely to collapse soon.
Mr. Hachilangu said there was an urgent need to rehabilitate the houses to prevent loss of human lives.
And after inspecting the houses, Mr. Mutale directed the school authority to demolish one of the houses built by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA).
The Acting DC said the hous has developed too many cracks to be worked on and has some of its walls tilting.
Mr. Mutale also directed the school PTA to source funds from the Constituency Development ?Fund (CDF) for constructing pit latrines for the teachers and their families.
He said the pit laltrines at the teachers’ houses are also a danger to their lives because the logs covering the pits have been eaten away by termites.
Copperbelt province minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has commended the police in Chingola and district commissioners in the province for being vigilant in tracking down people involved in illegal business.
Mr. Mbulakulima said this after being briefed by Chingola district commissioner Tob Maliti on the maize saga racket involving more than 34 trucks carrying 13,090X50 Kilograms of maize destined to a neighboring country.
Mr. Mbulakulima who was accompanied by Copperbelt Permanent secretary Villie Lombanya and some senior officials from Zambia Revenue Authority said the government will seriously investigate the matter and that the law will take course against those found wanting.
He described the illegal importation of maize claimed to be from Tanzania which has banned the importation of maize as economical sabotage which should not be allowed to continue.
He said the will critically investigate the matter to find out where the maize was loaded from how they allowed the trucks to enter without originals documents instead they all had photocopies of import permits which is not supposed to be the case.
He went on to say that the government will need to verify with the Tanzanian government over the same because illegal importation of maize which has not been cleared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives can lead to maize with disease to come into the country and spread creating hunger.
Mr. Mbulakulima said there is enough maize to feed the nation but some people want to tarnish the image of government by illegally taking maize to a foreign country though dubious means.
District Commissioner Tob Maliti told the minister that the impounded trucks had some documents missing and that the normal procedure to get ZRA documentation was not followed.
Mr. Maliti said the transporters were not cleared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to allow them import the maize, no transit documents from the ministry were issued and there was no government general receipt issued and no phytosanitory certificate accompanied the maize.
And assistant commissioner with ZRA Moses Mfune explained that the documents that were presented were valid but said officers in Nakonde can be investigated because they are supposed to be mindful of the implications if they are not doing a good job.
President Rupiah Banda receives a petition from Luanshya District Commissioner George Kapu at State House in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda has assured the people of Luanshya district that government will soon conclude negotiations for the handing over of Luanshya Mine to ZCCM-IH.
Mr. Banda said government is also trying to engage other strategic partners from other countries with whom it can run the Luanshya Mine after finally taking over the running of the mine.
President Banda said this after receiving a petition from Luanshya District Commissioner George Kapu who presented it on behalf of Luanshya residents at State House in Lusaka today.
Mr. Banda said government is has also been inspecting the mine regularly to ensure that it is not flooded and kept in a good state.
He said government has been actively engaged in negotiations which have reached an advanced level adding that his administration has heeded to calls by Luanshya residents to speed up the rejuvenation of the mine.
Mr. Banda said has been in negotiations and engaged Luanshya Mine owners in order to ensure that that the mine is handed over to ZCCM-IH which will run it on behalf of government.
He commended the District Commissioner for representing the people of Luanshya by delivering the petition on the economic challenges they are facing resulting from the closure of the mine.
And speaking earlier Luanshya District Commissioner George Kapu disclosed that the residents yesterday presented the petition which he presented to President Banda today.
Mr. Kapu thanked President Banda for personally receiving the petition and for his efforts in ensuring that the mine resumes its operations.
Zambia face Senegal on Wednesday in an important battle for supremacy of Group A at the inaugural CHAN tournament when the two sides face-off in Abidjan in an 18:00 kickoff.
This game will be Zambia’s first real test of its staying power in the CHAN after all the hype surrounding their fairly easy 3-0 win against modest hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the tournaments opening game on Sunday.
Both Zambia and Senegal are on 3 points but the former lead Group A thanks to a superior goal difference after the latter beat Tanzania 1-0 in match two also on Sunday.
Victory for Zambia in their mid-week Group A game will hand the team its first major semifinal appearance slot in a senior Caf event since the 1996 Africa Cup tournament.
This match too is another test for Zanaco striker Given Singuluma’s reputation as CHAN top scorer with three goals as he tries to erase his part of Zambia’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup misadventure last month.
The same will go down for Herve Renard who is under pressure to avoid a case of De Ja Vu after the false down in Uganda.
Meanwhile, Zambia face a pragmatic Senegal whose pace and physical presence is surely to test Renard’s adventurous flair from their game against Cote d‘Ivoire.
Zambia’s captain Kebby Hachipuka of Green Eagles should be a key figure in what is expected to be potentially a bruising battle ahead against Senegal.
Senegal are certain not to give too much respect to midfielders Henry Banda of Zanaco and including Zesco United’s William Njobvu following their impressive display against Cote d’Ivoire.
Moreover, Renard’s side were not tested defensively on Sunday and looked suspiciously suspect when Ivorian striker Florent Sahoure bear down on them for the 79 minutes was on the pitch before being red carded.
And defender Elijah Tana is set to start after his arrival in Abidjan on Monday and should bring some stability and experience though he will be certainly short on pace against an expected rampaging attack from the Senegalese.
However, Renards biggest worry is the left back where Power Dynamos’ Perry Mubanga, as expected, was exposed- something familiar with the defenders form over the years.
And in the second Group A penultimate match, winless Cote d’Ivoire and Tanzania meet in the second kickoff at the same venue each hoping to keep their CHAN dreams alive.
The local currency depreciated by K50 to the US dollar, Monday.
This was after trading closed in the range of five thousand 550 to five thousand 570 kwacha.
Standard Chartered bank Zambia said in its daily newsletter that the market was quiet for most of the day until in the afternoon when offshore players cashed in.
The bank predicts that the kwacha will weaken to a range of five thousand 500 to five thousand 600 kwacha Tuesday.
Last week the local unit hit five thousand 700 kwacha to one US dollar.
Copper and oil prices also weakened slightly.
The price of Copper closed at three thousand 200 dollars a tonne, down from three thousand 251 dollars a tonne last week.
Oil prices fell by about three dollars to close at 38 dollars per barrel.
