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.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has expressed concern at the high levels of people driving while drunk in Lusaka.

RTSA spokesperson Mukela Mangolwa said it was very unfortunate that even with the education programmes on the dangers of drunken driving the agency has put in place some people have ignored the messages.

Mr. Mangolwa told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that it was important for people to always adhere to RTSA guidelines , which he said was for the good of members of the public.

He urged members of the public to immediately report such drivers adding that RTSA would not hesitate to deal with them.

He stated that the agency alone cannot manage to identify all drunken drivers hence the need for members of the public to help by reporting such poeple..

Mr. Mangolwa said the agency has now re-enforced its patrols on roads to ensure that drunken drivers are brought to book..

The RTSA spokesperson said drunken driving was not only dangerous to the person driving the vehicle but also other road users.

He advised those who like driving while drunk to value their lives by desisting from driving under the influence of alcohol.
And Mr. Magolwa has disclosed that breathalyzers have been very effective in catching drunken drivers .

He disclosed that the Agency has so far spent K5billion on the breathalyzers.

ZANIS/AJN/MKM/ENDS

HOTEL Inter-Continental has sued the defunct Zambian Airways for non-payment of rentals for their three offices amounting to over US$11,000.

According to summons filed at the Lusaka High Court, the applicant wants Zambian Airways to pay the five months’ rental arrears of $11,344.32 in full.

The applicant is also seeking an order that it be granted leave to levy distress on the respondent’s goods to recover the said outstanding rentals, further relief and any other interests.

An affidavit of originating notice of motion, sworn by George Joseph, assistant manager for finance and business support, states that on May 1, 2006, the applicant leased its three shops to the defunct airline at monthly rentals of $2,893.62.

He says Zambian Airways failed, ignored and/or neglected to settle rentals since October last year and had locked up the shops and abandoned them without explanation.

“According to the certificate of exhibits, the lease period was four months two years and Zambian Airways only paid $6,600 as deposit and monthly rentals were at $2,893,62 excluding VAT and payable on a quarterly basis,” said Mr Joseph.

He says on February 10, counsel for the hotel, Nhari Musheni, wrote to the airline’s chief executive officer, Mutembo Nchito, to inform him that the hotel wanted immediate settlement of the debts and an explanation regarding the airline’s position over the abandoned offices.

“Take note that our client requires your response within seven days to the demands alluded to failure to which they may commence legal actions,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]