Zambia’s former First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, says the death of Gabon’s First Lady, Lucie Bongo, is a tragedy to efforts of fighting HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Mrs Mwanawasa, who is also former Organization of African First Ladies against AIDS, OAFLA, described the late Mrs Bongo as a gallant daughter of Africa, who held the issues affecting the continent close to her heart.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka to today that she learnt with great pain and shock the death of Mrs Bongo.

She said Mrs Bongo would be greatly remembered for her positive contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS particularly, through the works of OAFLA.

She said as the first president of the OAFLA, Dr. Bongo’s secretariat formulated the constitution, the framework of Action and took part in the drafting of the first OAFLA strategic plan of 2002 to 2008.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said Mrs Bongo diligently carried out OAFLA activities under the Save the Unborn Child First Ladies Campaign among other things despite her ill health.

Mrs. Mwanawasa expressed her deepest condolences to Gabon President, Omar Bongo Ondimba, and wished him God’s strength during this trying moment.

Dr. Bongo was the first OAFLA president from 2002 to2004 and was succeeded by Mrs. Mwanawasa’s predecessor Jeanette Kagame of Rwanda in 2004.

ENDS/ZANIS/ENDS/SJK

The Enviromental Council of Zambia (ECZ)says the country’s major cement making company, Larfarge Cement( formerly Chilanga cement) has contravened the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act (EPPCA) of 1990.

ECZ Acting Senior Communications Officer Chama Nyendwa said in a statement obtained by ZANIS, yesterday, that Larfage Cement has been found guilty of operating the factory contrary to the Act.

Ms Nyendwa said for this reason the ECZ has slapped a 14 days ultimatum to address the normalise operations in accordance with the Act.

This means Lafarge Zambia has 21 days to stop cement particles or dust from being strewn or being emmitted in the perimeters of the factory after which further action shall be taken.

ECZ has further given Lafarge –Chilanga’s air emission license validity period from one year to six months for non compliance as provided by the law.

Ms. Nyendwa requested that Larfarge submit stack air emission reports every two weeks for the next six months. This will allow ECZ to increase the frequency of monitoring the facility.

She said findings by ECZ team of inspectors dispatched to Lafarge Cement in Chilanga on 8th March 2009 followed complaints from the public.It has been established that the company has increased an abnormal amount of pollution into the open environment of 1.6 km radius.

The team revealed that Larfarge did not put in place adequate remedial measures to mitigate against the impact of the pollution on human health and the environment.

Ms. Nyendwa says the cement firm failed to report the pollution in question immediately to regulatory authorities as evidenced on surrounding buildings, motor vehicles and plants.

She said clean up and remediates affected areas against the pollution arising from the incident in the surround community up to 1.8 kilometers north-west of the plant.

She stressed that ECZ provided environmental educational sensitization public awareness by way of public meetings.

ZANIS/KC/ENDS/MM

Quick action by a visiting United States Serviceman saved two women from perishing over the Victoria Falls.

US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Keith Andrews rescued two Zambian women who fell into the Zambezi River some 60 meters from the edge of the falls.

The incident happened when the US Air Force Air War College servicemen visited the Victoria Falls recently.

US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Christopher Wurst, told ZANIS in a statement that the two women were believed to have accidentally fallen into the river.

Mr. Wurst, said eye witnesses narrated that the duo fell in the fast current moving river, when one woman bumped into the other, who was talking on a cellular phone.

“Lt. Col Andrews was downstream posing for a photograph when he heard screams and immediately moved towards the women who were holding onto each other and managed to grab one of them’s wrists at the last moment.” narrated Mr. Wurst.

About 24 US Air Force War College servicemen were in the country on a visit.

ZANIS/WM/ENDS/SJK.

Sun Hotel International has donated K20 million to three special unity schools for children with disabilities in Livingstone.

Sun has also pledged to continue supporting the children with disabilities as a way of giving back to the community despite the global recession which has adversely hit many investment firms.

Sun Hotel Corporate Affairs Manager, Mupeta Musungule who presented cheques to the three unity classes said the hotel has since inception supported the vulnerable children in society.

The Beneficiary schools are David Livingstone High school class K3.3million, Christ the King class K3.5 million and Lubasi Home class was given K14 million.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Acting Provincial Coordinator for Zambia Agency for People living with Disabilities (ZAPD), Jane Jere said children with disabilities also have a potential to be future leaders.

Ms. Jere thanked Sun International for the gesture and urged other corporate companies to emulate what the hotel has done.

David Livingstone High School class, school Head teacher, Andrew Matimba thanked Sun hotel and urged the company to continue with the good work they are doing.

Christ the King Head teacher, Kanchele Wallace said one of his pupils who is visually impaired is able to perform well in school just like those pupils who were visually upright.

Sun hotel has been making donation to Lubasi home since 2002 and to Christ the King since last year.
ZANIS/AS/MKM/ENDS.

Gender and Women Development Minister Sarah Sayifwanda has encouraged people in Northwestern Province to diversify in agricultural activities in order to meet the growing demand for food in the Province.

Mrs. Sayifwanda said Northwestern Province has a conducive environment and abundant perennial rivers to promote agricultural production.

She said the province should enhance food production at household level in order to have food sufficiency.

The Minister was speaking in Solwezi yesterday during the induction service for United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Reverend David Mujumila at Trinity Church.

Mrs. Sayifwanda who commended the Church for having a woman Bishop Sylva Mukuka said government attaches great importance to churches and Reverends because they are a source of inspiration and encouragement in times of challenges.

She explained that churches play a vital role in development and maintaining peace in the country.

Speaking at the same function, Bishop Mukuka said Trinity congregation in Solwezi was the backbone to the entire Presbytery that needed a hard working Minister.

ZANIS/CK/CMM/MKM/ENDS.

Education Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa says the delay to

pay rural hardship allowances to deserving teachers in rural areas is as a result of the verification process.

Prof Lungwangwa said his ministry was still carrying out a verification and audit of teachers in some areas to ascertain those eligible to get the allowances.

Speaking in an interview , Prof Lungwangwa clarified that not all teachers based in rural areas qualified for rural hardship allowances hence the reason why the ministry decided to do a verification process.

He said there was no need for the teachers to go on strike because the Government had been paying teachers their rural hardship allowances and that the monies were delayed by the system.
“There is no need for teachers to go on strike due to non-payment of rural hardship allowances because those who qualify will eventually get their money, the Government has been paying this money, the only delay is the verification process, it is done for a purpose,” he said.

Prof Lungwangwa said the criteria of verification to pay rural hardship allowances was not only done in his ministry but to other public service workers as well, to ensure allowances were paid to intended beneficiaries.

The minister was reacting to unionised teachers in Chongwe, Katete and Chadiza who unanimously resolved to go on strike to press the Government to pay them their rural hardship allowances from April 2008.
Prof Lungwangwa said his ministry would institute investigations to verify whether those teachers threatening to go on strike were all qualified for the rural hardship allowance and normalise the situation.
“ I was trying to get hold of people who can assist us with information on the ground to determine whether these teachers all qualified for the rural hardship allowances but failed, my ministry will verify these issues so that as a ministry we can have a clear picture of the strikes,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]