A Zambian economist has urged the African leaders scheduled to meet UK’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown ahead of next month’s G20 summit on the economic recession to highlight issues that will cushion the impact of economic meltdown on the African continent.

Dr. Francis Chigunta said African leaders should use this opportunity to push for an international regulatory framework that would support the economic growth and development of Africa.

Dr. Chigunta told ZANIS that the current international regulatory framework on economic growth was heavily stuck on the already developed countries thereby disadvantaging the developing world.

Dr. Chigunta said there was need for African leaders to ask the bilateral organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to be lenient on the conditions when giving financial assistance as they continue rendering support.

He said the leaders needed to see to it that the conditions that they would be given would not further burden the African Nations which were already affected by the crunch.

Dr. Chigunta also said it would not be fair for South Africa to be the country that would represent the entire continent at the April 2nd G20 summit to be held in UK.

Dr. Chigunta said South Africa’s economy was more developed hence the impact of the crunch was not as grave as it had been on other developing countries.

He said South Africa was not likely to fully represent all the African Nations but that there was need for the continent to be represented by a country with a developing economy and not an intermediate country.

According to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Gordon Brown will meet African leaders to discuss their concerns on how their economies have been affected by the global downturn ahead of the G20 summit with South Africa being the only African country to attend the event.

ZANIS/MP/MKM/ENDS

Government says it recognizes Social Cash transfers as a key intervention to address hunger and poverty in the social protection strategy and in the Fifth National Development Plan.

Kazungula District Commissioner, Fred Siasuntwe, said since the introduction of the social cash transfer pilots, the scheme has rapidly gained support and proven to be a highly effective response to the chronic poverty, food insecurity, vulnerability and risks.

Mr. Siasuntwe said this when he officiated at Kazungula District Social Cash Transfer stakeholders’ meeting held at Fair Mount Hotel in Livingstone today.

He disclosed that Kazungula district now has a total of 735 households benefiting from the scheme.

Mr. Siasuntwe said there are 361 households benefiting from the scheme in Chief Nyawa’s area, 141 from Chief Musokotwane’s area, 83 from Chief Mukuni’s area 63 from Chief Moomba and 87 from Chief Sekute’s area.

He said funding has been provided by government and a group of cooperating partners that include DFID, GTZ, IRISH AID, UNICEF and CARE International.

The Social Cash Transfer Schemes were initiated by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in 2003 as part of the Ministry’s programming to protect and promote the livelihoods and welfare of people suffering from extreme levels of poverty and deprivation.

Social Cash Transfer Schemes are currently operational in five districts in two provinces namely Monze, Kalomo and Kazungula in Southern Province and Chipata and Katete in Eastern Province.

Earlier, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Morris Moono, said the workshop would provide an opportunity for other stakeholders to understand and support the implementation and scaling up of the social cash transfers to national programming.

Mr. Moono thanked Care International for the support it rendered towards the workshop.

ZANIS/ENDS/NM/EB.

The Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources partnered with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have partnered to create awareness for the campaign on climate change.

Tourism , Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namungala said she is concerned that most African countries including Zambia were still not fully aware of the serious threats that climate change posed to people’s livelihoods and sustainable development.

The Minister stressed the need to create awareness of the social, economic and environmental implications that climate change posed and the urgency for action in terms of implementing, adapting and mitigating measures which should enlist public participation.

She emphasized the need for African countries to speak with one voice in negotiating for favourable interventions like carbon trading that would help address the problem of climate change while supporting development initiatives in developing countries.

She called for the adoption for common stand by developing countries to be used in negotiating for a better deal such as expansion of clean mechanism development [CDM] projects in Africa.

The Minister made the remarks when COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya paid a courtesy call on her.

This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by Public Relations Officer Bwalya Nondo.

Mr. Ngwenya applauded the Minister for providing credible leadership on climate change.

He said the choice of Zambia as a pilot country by the Norway for the reduced emission from deforestation project was an indication of the nation’s readiness to shoulder the challenge of combating climate change.

ZANIS\ISS/MKM/ENDS

About 50 pastors in Ndola have appealed to the plenary of the NCC to consider elevating the position of Accountant General from the current status of that of Director to that of permanent secretary so that he could have sufficient authority to question the financial behaviour of controlling officers in ministries and provinces.

The Pastors felt since the current status was that of a director, it was difficult for the accountant general to take permanent secretaries to task over certain expenditures that were not clear.

The Pastors said it was difficult for the Accountant General to make inquiries and force permanent secretaries to be accountable to him over the expenditures because he was a junior officer.

The Pastors wondered how the qualifications and training for both the Auditor General and the Accountant General are the same but one became of an elevated status when they jointed the Audit Office and the other remained at Director level when they join the Accountant General’s office.

The Pastors felt that the NCC should make it clear that the office of the Accountant General should be one which should keep control of officers in ministries and provinces. This will avoid misapplication and diversion of public funds.

The meeting also noted that it was important for Zambians to be knowledgeable in the budget making processes so that they could effectively participate and help in monitoring public resources.

The Pastors also supported the clause that made the minister responsible for public finance.In order to take stock and account for any donation given to government ministries organs and departments including those that were operating as shadow NGOs in order to avoid mortgaging a country to foreigners.

ENDS/CN/CMM/PK/ZANIS.