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RB confident of good results from new Permanent Secretaries

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President Rupiah Banda is confident that people appointed to positions of permanent secretaries and ambassadors will perform in line with government’s vision of meeting the expectations of the Zambian people.

President Banda said he has appointed people that have vast experience and qualifications to such positions.

He said it was such credentials that gave the appointees capacity to help government deliver the required development to the people.

Mr. Banda was speaking after swearing in newly appointed Permanent Secretaries for Defence and for Labour, Nicholas Kwendakwema and Winnie Mwenda respectively and Zambia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Hebert Simutowe at State House today.

“I am very happy and proud to have appointed you to the highest levels of the civil service. I know you bring with you vast experience and no doubt, you have the capacity to help government deliver to the people,” President Banda said.

Mr. Banda said he has the confidence that Ms. Mwenda and Dr. Kwendakwema would provide the expertise needed in managing the affairs of the ministries of Labour and of Defense respectively.

“I am confident that you will give the right ministers who you will work with, a steady hand to manage the respective ministries,” he added.

Ms. Mwenda and Dr. Kwendakwema are among 13 other permanent secretaries that were sworn in a fortnight ago.

They are in President Banda’s first shuffle at that permanent secretary level, which he made since he took office late last year.

During the appointment of these officers, President Banda strongly warned that he would not hesitate to dismiss corrupt permanent secretaries.

President Banda cautioned that he would not entertain abuse of public funds by controlling officers, but also expressed confidence that the appointees would join colleagues already serving in government to focus at implementing programmes of developing the nation.

Among new permanent secretaries, already sworn in are, Villie Lombanya for Copperbelt province, Sebastian Kakoma at Office of the Vice President and Berlin Msiska for Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

Others are Velepi Mtonga for Health, Ndiyoi Mutiti at Homes Affairs, Coillard Chibbonta at Local Government and Housing and Davison Mendamenda at Mines and Minerals Development.

ZANIS/SJK/KSH/ENDS

Kasama Zesco clients complain

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Several business houses in Kasama have complained over Zesco’s unstable supply of electricity in the town.

Businessmen stormed Kasama District Commissioner’s office today to lodge their complaints over poor supply of the commodity by Zesco.

Shoprite stores Regional Manager, Cornwell Mwiinga, Chambeshi  Water and  Sewerage  Company  representative,  Arnold  Musonda,  and other businessmen  complained that the continuous low  electricity power voltage  has affected their operations heavily.

Mr Mwiinga complained that Shprite management fears to stock perishable goods such as cheese and others because of the unstable supply of electricity that has been experienced in the recent days.

He revealed that refrigeration equipment has been damaged several times due to  sporadic power fluctuations.

And the Chambeshi Water and  Sewerage Company representative, Arnold  Musonda, has accused the sole energy supplier of blowing his company’s  major water pump that has ended up plunging the township  in water blues.

Mr Musonda said the maintenance of the water pumps was costly, adding that repairing  one pump  costs about K 7 million  and the  pumps  may be blown up more than four times.

Meanwhile Kasama District Commissioner Colonel Stephen Chanda has requested Zesco to stabilize the electricity supply within two weeks.

Col Chanda observed that  several Zesco clients have taken him at task to  explain why  the district was experiencing  such low voltage or sometimes  high voltage that ends up  blowing many  commercial equipment and household appliances.

He also advised the company to learn to inform the clients about the power surge in the area instead of just tripping the power suddenly.

But Zesco Regional Manager, Lawrence Sinzala, explained that the tripping and outages were as a result of disturbances of the system on the national grid.

Mr Sinzala produced the statistics of the power outages that are caused by main system disturbances to the clients through the DC’s office.

He also added that power generation at Chishimba has been staggering due constant break downs of machines and that currently Chishimba was supplying only 4 mega watts instead of the normal supply of 6 mega watts. He, however, assured the clients of normal supply in two weeks.

Kasama town has been experiencing power outages for some days that has affected the water reticulation, major business operations and gutting clients’ equipment such computers, TV sets and heavy duty equipment.

ZANIS/ENDS/AP/EB

Govt. sets aside K7.5 billion for creation of tourism zone

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Government has set aside K7.5 billion for the creation of the new tourism zone in Livingstone in Southern province.

Vice President George Kunda disclosed this in Livingstone today saying this is in an effort to diversify the country’s economy in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Mr. Kunda said this shortly after his arrival in Livingstone where he is to officiate at the Africa Mining Congress today.

He noted that the creation of the tourism zone in the tourism capital will help diversify the economy in the country.

He also said once the Zimba-Livingstone road is completely rehabilitated, tourism activities would be enhanced in the city.

Government has since set aside K99 billion in this year’s budget for the same road.

And Mr. Kunda has restated President Rupiah Banda’s call on Zambians to produce more food in order to promote domestic food security and encourage exports of the Zambian produced agricultural products.

He said it was important for Zambia to strengthen its agriculture sector, adding that it is government’s policy to diversify this sector.

He said government was confident that the people of Southern province will rise to the challenge of growing more food.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda said civil servants were critical in promoting good governance in the country and has since urged them to continue maintaining discipline in order to help implement government’s developmental agenda.

He urged the civil servants in the province to cut down on unnecessary expenditure and warned that government will not tolerate any wastage of public funds.

He said Zambia has continued with its good governance records which have continued to attract donor and investor confidence.

The Vice President said government, under President Banda’s leadership, will continue fighting corruption, which he said is one way through which Zambia can counter effects of the global financial crisis.

Furthermore, Mr. Kunda has urged the MMD in Southern province to unite and recruit more members to make the party even stronger.

He said there is need to further strengthen the party in the province despite the challenges that the province is dominated by an opposition political party.

He however commended the people of Livingstone for voting for President Banda in the October 30th 2008 election.

He urged them not to be complacent because the party needed to be more organised for the 2011 presidential and parliamentary election.

And speaking earlier, Southern province MMD chairperson, Solomon Muzyamba appealed to government to provide more agriculture extension services in the province.

Mr. Muzyamba said agriculture extension services will help people of Southern province to grow more food and contribute to the nation’s food basket.

He has since assured Mr. Kunda that the party in the province and Livingstone has remained stable.

He is accompanied by the Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala and Commerce deputy Minister, Richard Taima.

The Vice President was welcomed at Livingstone International Airport by Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale, Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Darius Hakayobe and senior MMD party officials.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

PF MP, Xavier Chishimba, urged to visit his constituency

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KASAMA central Member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba
KASAMA central Member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba

Patriotic Front (PF) Mulilansolo ward Councillor, Abraham Mulenga, has appealed to Kasama Central Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Xavier Chishimba, to visit his constituency and co-ordinate  developmental  projects with  the electorate.

Mr Mulenga made the appeal in a press statement realesed to ZANIS in Kasama today, saying most projects have remained static due to none-availability of the area MP to lobby and push for implementation.

He has accused the MP staying in Lusaka on the expense of the electorate, adding that developmental projects in Kasama had stalled, a situation he called  retrogressive and unproductive.

Mr Mulenga lamented that last year only K5 million was accessed from the Constituency Development Funds (CDF)which was spent on the flood lights at New Town community market in his ward.

The ward councilor said communities in New Town, Central and Mulenga Hill have a number of projects that need the presence of the area MP and other stakeholders to attain implementation.

Mr Mulenga disclosed that the council has already approved the Mulenga Hills  antenatal annex building, the extension of handicapped community building in Central Town and road rehabilitation works on New Town roads but the MP was  not available  in Kasama.

He stressed that  Rural Development Committees (RDCs) need  the  involvement of  the MP  if they  have  to come up with viable developmental projects which  would enable them access the CDF funds that the Government has allocated to Councils.

Mr Mulenga added that CDF funds have to be competed for through the provision of viable and merited projects from communities and so the RDCs have to work hard in order to benefit from the funds.

ZANIS/ENDS/AP/EB.

Kafue residents urged to stop cutting down trees for farmland

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An Environmental organization has urged Kafue residents to avoid cutting down trees anyhow as this is contributing to the deforestation of Kafue’s rich natural hilly forests.

Youth and Environmental Network (YEN) President Billy Lombe said residents should be environmental conscious and not cut trees anyhow just because they want to carryout farming activities.

Mr Lombe said global warming trends were not only particular to western countries but even countries like Zambia.

He said though poverty is forcing people to scout for land and cut trees, worse poverty will prevail if people continue with the practice recklessly.

He said there is need for local authorities to assist people who want land to farm so that indigenous trees are preserved.

The YEN President observed that most hills in Kafue have become barren because people are cutting trees indiscriminately.

But residents when talked by ZANIS said poverty in the district is forcing them to scout for land, and hills are the only remaining places where they can cultivate from and be able to have food in their homes.

The residents said they know the dangers of cutting down trees but have no options because the hunger situation in the district is bad and people have to struggle to survive.

One of the residents Mrs. Jane Phiri said since the main companies, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) and African Textiles of Zambia (ATZ) have not performed well for a long time, the only means of survival for people in Kafue is agriculture.

Mrs. Phiri said people are choosing to do their farming in the hills because it is the only area where land for cultivation has remained.

ZANIS/BZ/ENDS/MM

Kawambwa Tea Company acquires a K6 billion ZANACO PLC loan

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Kawambwa Tea Company (KTC)has acquired a K6 billion boost from a loan from the Zambia National Commercial Bank PLC for recapitalization and to settle outstanding debts the firm owes including various government institutions.

This brings a total of K 8 Billion the firm owes the local bank from the K 2 billion loan the Tea company had acquired from the bank.

The firm which had ceased its operations for about a year due to non remittance of dues towards debts, recently resumed operations following the cash injection from the bank.

This came to light during a fact finding tour of the company at its Kawambwa estate by State House Chief Analyst for Policy implementation and monitoring (PIM) Tobias Mulimbika.

He was accompanied by Kawambwa District Commissioner Wilbroad Mumba and other officials,during a tour of the company yesterday.

The Kumar Holdings owned Kawambwa Tea Company (KTC) owes Zanaco K2 billion in arrears from a loan earlier obtained from the bank to help settle its previous Africa Development Bank (ADB) debts.

Management at the factory which was at pains to explain why the firm had stalled operations for over a year and had outstanding salary arrears for its 800workers earning between K210, 000 and K 370,000 respectively, explained that owing to its debts, the firm had struggled to cope with operational costs.

They said the bank sent a team of experts to assess the company’s viability before approving the loan and were satisfied with its potential.

But when further queried whether tea had no market and was not profitable, management said produced commodity had readily available market and was sold through legal channels refuting claims that the firm was selling on the black market.

They said the recovery plan was the best alternative for the company to sustain operations given the previous lack of ploughing back of proceeds for recapitalization and operational costs.

“We have been legally conducting our business despite owing various organizations because in the case of exports to neighboring DRC we raised export documents through Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) which is legal documentation, so this is against allegations that we have been trading on the black market,” said one of the Zambian KTC factory management staff.

Management at the factory said following the resuscitation of operations the company had projected a recovery plan which included an operational cost of K3bn which would generate an estimated K8bn from its 412 cultivated hectares of tea targeted to produce 900,000tonnes of processed tea.

They said the tea had readily available market from the local and international markets, such as the DRC and Kenya’s Anjeli Tea Auction floors, where it used to fair very well.

Kawambwa Tea Company has an estate covering over 2000hactares which has never experienced expansion of the cultivated hacterage.

The firm also owed other firms such as ZESCO K127million,NAPSA K255million,ZRA K598Million and accrued terminal benefits of K560million to its employees.

However, management said the company had started settling the debts after negotiating with the various creditors on repayment plans.

They said the firm was paying ZESCO K25million per two weeks and recently paid the electricity firm a K30million bringing the balance to about K60million and had settled outstanding council levy dues it had with the Kawambwa Local Authority.

Management also revealed that the company was paying NAPSA K50million per month under the arrangement while it was also committed to also pay ZRA K50million on a monthly basis to offset the accrued tax dues.

They said workers at the factory had started receiving their regular salaries which were being paid together with one month’s accrued salary arrears from the 11months dues the company owed them.

“Workers have started receiving their dues and what is happening is that a months pay is being given at the same time with an accrued salary from arrears as a way of knocking of outstanding salaries at the company,” said the management staff.

They also said the company had procured fertilizers for enhancing the yield of tea and protection gear for some workers which was yet to be given to all the sections.

And addressing the management at the Factory Mr. Mulimbika said Government was concerned with the problems that the company has faced for a long timedespite its potential to be sustainable and vibrant.

ZANIS/DN/ENDS/MM

Cheap, expired liquor rocks Livingstone

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Kantemba selling home brewed beer

Expired and cheap liquor rescued from the dumping site has continued to be in circulation in Livingstone, posing a health risk to unsuspecting consumers.

Livingstone City Council Chief Health Inspector Paul Mukuka has observed that the recent disposal of expired liquor was scavenged from the dumping site and has found itself on the shelves.

The observation came after watching ZNBC news recently that revealed that council officials disposing of expired liquor earlier confiscated by the Zambia Revenue Authority from cross border traders.

Mr. Mukuka said there is need for proper destruction of all goods that need disposing of, to stop people from scavenging on the dumping site.

He bemoaned lack of cooperation from security wings such as the Zambia Police and the officers from the Office of the President to ensure the dumping site is sealed to allow proper destruction of condemned goods.

“There is need for partnership and concerted efforts from all security wings to ensure a successful raid and destruction of goods,” he said adding that council police is under staffed.

Expired beer was scavenged and from the dumping site and is back on shelves for customers.

ZANIS/MM/ENDS/MM

Official calls for legal framework on mining activities in Luapula

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A senior government official has called for the establishment of a legal framework to regulate and formalise mining activities in Luapula Province.

Acting Mansa District Commissioner Charles Makwaya observed that government was loosing revenue from mining companies and individuals operating in the area because of lack of legal framework to regulate the mining and mineral prospecting activities.

He said some mining activities were being conducted without impact assessment from the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) and were causing degradation to the environment in the area.

Mr. Makwaya was speaking at his office when he received State House Chief Analyst for Policy Implementation and Monitoring (PIM) Tobias Mulimbika who paid a courtesy call on him .

The DC said there was need to legalise the activities so that mining companies and individuals are compelled to come up with programmes to mitigate the impact of mining activities on the infrastructure and environment.

“It has become very difficult for government to regulate the mining activities because we don’t have a legal framework to do so, that’s why we have a lot of illegal mining companies and individuals operating from whom we can’t even benefit but are using our roads to transport the minerals,” Mr Makwaya.

Mr Makwaya said the increased mining activities in the district had continued to deplete reserved forests especially in chief Matanda’s area.

There have been increased mining activities in Luapula Province which has attracted both local and foreign companies , that have ventured into mining of manganese and copper which is sold abroad.

ZANIS/CB/MKM/ENDS

Government challanged to disburse funds on time

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The Eastern Province Program Management Team, EPPMT, of the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction CSPR) Provincial Coordinator Emmanuel Musonda has challenged government to disburse the allocated funds to the various sectors in good time so as to see to it to the success of the 2009 national budget.

Mr. Musonda said the 2008 budget failed to live to its expectations because of the late disbursement of funds and the same is likely to happen to this year’s budget if there is a repeat in the untimely disbursement of funds in 2009.

He said the success of the 2009 national budget which is worth 15.2 trillion Kwacha is highly dependant on how the allocated funds will be disbursed to the various sectors.

Mr. Musonda who issued this statement through a press release that was made available to ZANIS today also said early disbursement of funds and the providing of budget information to government departments and society would allow them to embrace the budget thus giving it the support it deserves.

And The business community in Kafue District has called on government to provide more funds to the local authority so that infrastructure can be improved in the district if more investors are to be attracted.

The community also says despite many people commending this year’s national budget, people in Kafue feel disappointed with it because it has not answered the problems of Kafue.

Power Five Enterprise Director Joseph Chanda told ZANIS in Kafue today that Kafue district has a lot of potential which can turn the economy of the area.

” While government is doing everything possible to help the once industrial town of Kafue to get back to its former status, the local authority must explore ways of making the town more attractive to investment,” he said.

Mr Chanda said among the areas the budget has failed is to create employment in the country. He said unemployment is still a problem government must endeavour to resolve as many Zambians have no jobs.

He said government should have also provided money to re-capitalize Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia. He said failure by government to resuscitate NCZ is killing the economy of Kafue as many business houses depend on the salaries of workers who make up the majority of residents in the area.

He further called on government to deliberately increase funding to councils so that infrastructure is improved in districts. He said infrastructure in many districts is very poor and investors may shun them.

Mr Chanda said Kafue district is too close to Lusaka to lack proper infrastructure and more investment should be directed to it so that it comes out of its problems. He said the local authority on its own can manage to improve the town if government does not intervene.

And another Businessman Muhammad Nurget commended government for having increased the threshold of those exempted from paying PAYE from K600, 000 to 700,000. He said this will provide more relief to workers as they will be having something to take home.

Mr Nurget however appealed to government to extend the exemption to those earning K1, 000,000. He said many workers in Zambia will not be spared from the economic problems the world is facing because business houses are increasing prices of commodities and yet salaries have remained static.
ZANIS/MK/ENDS

RB Calls for Increased Food Production

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President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambians to produce surplus food and increase tonnage in the next farming season in order to enable the country to export food in the region.

President Banda said Zambians should take advantage of food deficits in some African countries like Kenya for exportand local consumption.The Eastern African country is currently facing food shortages.

Mr. Banda said this to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport on his arrival from the African Union ordinary summit in the Ethiopia capital of Addis Ababa.

The President also made a stop over in Kenya for bi-lateral talks with his Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki on issues affecting the two countries.

President Banda’s plane touched down at Lusaka’s international airport around 14:00. Vice President George Kunda, cabinet ministers and MMD senior officials among others welcomed the President.

He disclosed that Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki had invited him to discuss issues that are affecting the two countries among them agriculture.

Mr. Banda also said there is need for the two countries to activate joint commissions and share experiences in various sectors.

He said one of the key issues discussed is the agriculture sector and that Zambia can learn from Kenya’s advanced extension services in the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile President Banda said he has also extended a message of condolences on behalf of the people of Zambia to Kenya on the tragic accident involving over 145 people that were burnt to death after a petrol tanker they were siphoning fuel from exploded.

And Mr. Banda said the just ended AU ordinary summit was held in an exciting atmosphere where leaders on the continent found the formula to the formation of the proposed United States of Africa for the continent.

He noted that the summit totally agreed to the gradual formation of the United States of Africa despite the various proposed approaches adding that the vision and ambition of a union government has now existed for a long time on the continent.

Mr. Banda said the leaders also agreed to take deliberate steps and expedite the formation of the proposed union government.

He said it is now up to governments on the continent to table and discuss the union government in their countries and engage stakeholders such as legislators.

Mr. Banda revealed that the AU committee would in three months meet and make proposals on the way forward.

President Banda also said the election of Libyan leader Col. Muamar Gaddafi as AU Chairman was in accordance to the Chairmanship circulation in most regions and organisations on the continent.

He further explained that the summit unanimously agreed that Libya takes over the chairmanship of the continental body after Tanzanian leader Jakaya Kikwete as it was North Africa’s turn after East Africa.

He said North Africa and President Gaddafi will then hand over the chairmanship to the Southern African region.

On the local front, President Banda has said he attaches great importance to the MMD party National Executive Committee (NEC) because it is capable of overcoming challenges of the ruling party.

Mr. Banda said he is confident that the issue on the party presidency will be solved by the NEC adding that his current role as acting party president is subject to ratification by the NEC.

He said people should avoid twisting statements which are portraying the party as divided adding that the ruling party is still united and intact with warm and cordial relations among its membership.

ZANIS/CM/CMC/ENDS/MM

CSPR concerned over abuse of PRP funds

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The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction, CSPR, says is concerned with the alleged misappropriation of public funds, mostly those meant for Poverty Reduction Programmes, PRPs.

CSPR Acting Executive Director, Saul Banda, expressed sadness by the weaknesses in the implementation of PRPs as cited in the 2007 Auditor General’s Report specifically in the Education and Health sectors, Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS), Street Kids Funds and Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) among others.

Mr. Banda said in light of the announced 2009 budget, the increased allocations of funds to the social sector should be met by stern measures to ensure protection of such funds from abuse.

He has since called on government to seriously consider ring-fencing PRP funds in the national budget, saying the measure ould help ensure the utilisation of funds to the intended purpose.

Mr Banda told ZANIS in a statement that the CSPR is happy for the work of the of he Auditor Genera in highlighting the misappropriating public funds.

Mr. Banda, however, said the reports will only yield positive results if punitive measures are taken promptly on the erring officers, especially with regards to misappropriation of funds.

He said CSPR expects and challenges government as the primary duty bearers to the poor to take action as laws are already in place to deal with such acts of indiscipline.

He cited the 1,500 bags of fertilizer that was unaccounted for in Chipata valued at over K65 million and the untraced revenue from Kapiri Mposhi and Chipata amounting to over K90 million as some of the most disturbing cases.

“These are programs that directly benefit the vulnerable people, yet they seem to be treated with little care. It is sad that duty bearers charged with the responsibility of making the lives of the vulnerable better are actually taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves,” he said.

He said the findings of the AG’s report solidify CSPR’s findings indicating that the implementation some PRP programmes have had insignificant impact on the economic and social livelihood of beneficiary communities.

ZANIS/PM/ENDS/SJK

Chamber of Mines laud Govt over Windfall tax

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-The Zambian Chamber of Mines, ZCM, is happy with government decision to wave windfall tax on Copper and Cobalt prices.

ZCM president, Nathan Chishimba, said the measure reflects government’s commitment to assisting mining companies remain viable and sustain their workforce.

Mr Chishimba, however, said the negative effects of the on going global financial crisis and high production costs required measures to cushion the negative impact on the mining industry.

He expressed confident that the measure would also help promote investment in the sector.

Mr. Chishimba said the mining industry in Zambian does not control commodity prices at the world market and hence the sector could not isolate itself from the negative effects of the global economic recession.

He also said the high cost of doing business in Zambia create a barrier to economic growth and hence called on government to work with the mining industry to streamline the burden and other statutory costs involved.

Meanwhile, Vice Republican President George Kunda is tomorrow expected in Livingstone for the official opening of the 2009 African Mining Congress (AMC).

Mr. Kunda who is also Justice Minister is scheduled to arrive at the Livingstone International Airport around 08.30 hours and will be received by the Provincial Minister, MMD Provincial Chairman, the Permanent Secretary, the Mayor, and the provincial leadership.

The Vice President is also scheduled to receive briefings from the provincial leadership at the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

This is contained in a programme statement made available to ZANIS by provincial administration office.

After his arrival , Mr. Kunda will proceed to Zambezi Sun Hotel where he is expected to receive briefings from the AMC organizers.

Mr. Kunda is expected to depart for Lusaka after the official opening of the congress.

ZANIS/MM/MKM/ENDS

ENDS/AC/ZANIS/SJK

ZACA disappointed over reduced duty on beer

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The Zambia Consumers Association, ZACA, is disappointed with the move by government to reduce customs duty on on clear beer at the expense of imported food items.

The consumer body expected government to reduce duty on imported flour and other food items in this year’s national budget.

ZACA Executive Director, Muyunda Ililonga, said the reduction of exercise duty on clear beer will increase alcohol abuse among the youth.

Mr Muyunda expressed hope that government will come up with a deliberate measure to bar young people from indulging in excessive beer drinking in view of the expected reduction in the price of the commodity.

He said the move to reduce the cost of beer is counter productive especially in a country that is striving to promote economic growth and alleviate poverty.

Meanwhile, a check by ZANIS at COMEA market found that traders have not effected reduction on the price of beer following the announcement by government to reduce customs duty on imported commodity.

One of the traders, Emmanuel Mukalele, told ZANIS that the price of clear beer on the market might not reduce significantly despite the reduction on customs duty due to the continued depreciation of the Kwacha.

ZANIS/AC/ENDS/SJK

CEEC to review modalities on acessing small loans

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The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is to work out modalities to allow applicants access loans of less than K15 million.

Luapula Province CEEC coordinator Brian Mutale disclosed this when he addressed scores of Kawambwa residents yesterday.

Mr. Mutale admitted that the CEEC’s current provision of accessing loans ranging from 15 to 50 million disadvantaged the most vulnerable in society hence the need for the commission to look into the matter quickly.

He said women and the youth were the most affected as they did not have the required collateral.

The coordinator reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that the plight of the vulnerable people in society was addressed.

And Mr. Mutale has disclosed that CEEC will consider projects to do with the  Agriculture sector before other sectors  such as mining, manufacturing, Information Technology (IT) and tourism .

Mr. Mutale  stated  that CEEC would not give loans to applicants who wanted to build houses to put on rent saying there were government mandated bodies such as National Housing Authority (NHA) and building society which were administering such projects.

The coordinator who took time explaining on how to write a good business proposal also urged those who wanted to access the funds to seek professional advice.

ZANIS/LC/MKM/ENDS

Poor Infrastructure impedes marketing of tourism in Livingstone

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Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe says poor road infrastructure has hampered the effective marketing  of  the city’s tourism potential.

And Road Development Agency (RDA) engineer has attributed the delay in the completion of rehabilitation works on the 30 km Zimba-Livingstone Road to wet weather conditions.

Speaking yesterday when he inspected the progress on the road works on the Zimba-Livingstone Road, Mr. Hakayobe stressed that  poor road infrastructure has impeded progress in marketing both tourism and agricultural potential of the province and Livingstone in particular.

“Tourists want good road infrastructure and the delivery of agricultural inputs depend on good road network,” Mr. Hakayobe noted.

He commended government for allocating K99 billion towards the rehabilitation of the Zimba-Livingstone road in this year’s national budget.

Mr. Hakayobe who was impressed with the rehabilitation works so far urged the contractor to maintain quality works to ensure a  quality end product.

He observed that the Zimba-Livingstone Road is passable following the maintenance works  on the remaining 43km stretch that falls under phase two of the road rehabilitation project.

“The impassable road now is passable and I am very impressed with the temporal interventions on the other stretch,” he said and added that resources and material are available to finish the project.

The PS was accompanied by engineers from both Kazungula and Livingstone councils and their District Commissioners, RDA engineer, the city mayor and provincial planners among others.

RDA Regional Engineer Lazarous Nyawali said the rehabilitation works on the 30 km stretch that were supposed to be completed by May this year will delay owing to wet conditions.

Mr. Nyawali said heavy rains have slowed down works on the 30km stretch but added that the contractor has finished assembling the plant that will be used to produce important material for road works.

“The plant will be fully operational but road works are determined by the weather as they require a certain amount of moisture to ensure a quality end product,” he said.
ZANIS/MM/MKM/ENDS

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