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Rupiah Banda sacks two Deputy ministers

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w_shakasPresident Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect fired Science and Technology Deputy Minister, Jonas Shakafuswa and Energy Deputy Minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo.

Mr. Banda announced the dismissal of the two when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday to show solidarity with his leadership.

The President also said he would also dismiss MMD MPs who are not loyal to the party and face them in their constituencies during by-elections.

Mr. Banda warned that he will take action against all government and MMD leaders speaking ill of his administration.

He said he is aware that there are some bad eggs within government and the MMD whom he will be getting rid of.

The President said as republican President and Acting MMD president he will not tolerate indiscipline.

Earlier, MMD Lusaka Province Acting Chairperson, Cleophas Chimembe said his members will not sit idle while President Banda is being insulted.

Mr. Chimembe said personal attacks on the president will not derail the MMD’s commitment to fulfilling promises made during the last election campaign.

Zambia went to the polls on 30th October,2008 in a presidential election following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.

Chitimbwa clinic run by unqualified personnel

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Chief Chitimbwa of the Lungu people of Mpulungu has bemoaned the shortage of medical staff at Chitimbwa rural health centre in his area.

In a message sent through his retainer, Sam Chipeta, chief Chitimbwa lamented that people’s lives are being lost in his chiefdom due to lack of qualified health personnel at the clinic.

He said the problem has been compounded after the only trained medical officer at the centre was sent for further training by the Ministry of Health, leaving the centre to be run by unqualified people.

Chief Chitimbwa revealed that recently, a pregnant woman in her 20s, died on the way to nearby Vyamba rural health centre for medical attention, saying she would have been attended to at Chitimbwa if there was a trained officer.

He said people in his area are finding difficulties in accessing health services, even the ambulance at the district cannot respond to emergencies from his chiefdom because the road leading to Chitimbwa area is impassable.

Chief Chitimbwa said he has made several appeals to district health officials to send medical officers but he has been told that Mpulungu district is currently experiencing a critical shortage of medical staff.

Chief Chitimbwa appealed to the Ministry of Health to urgently look into the matter by sending medics to the district before more lives are lost.

Meanwhile chief Chitimbwa has commended government for allocating billions of kwacha in this year’s budget for the rehabilitation of the Mbala/Kasaba bay road, which passes through his chiefdom.

He said the road, once completed, will not only help unlock the tourism potential in Kasaba bay and Nsumbu national park area, but also improve the agricultural potential in Chitimbwa farming bloc and ease transport towards accessing health care for the local people.

ZANIS/ENDS/EK/EB

Finance minister explains Kwacha depreciation

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situmbeko2MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has attributed the cumulative depreciation of the Kwacha by 73 per cent since June last year to short-term and fundamental factors like political uncertainty and re-emergence of pricing of local goods and services in dollars.

The local currency has depreciated by about 17.1 per cent since January this year.

Dr Musokotwane told Parliament in a ministerial statement yesterday that the depreciation of the local currency did not mean that it had performed poorly as it competed favourably with other currencies like the British pound and the South African rand.

“Against the sterling pound for example, the Kwacha had depreciated by only 11 per cent since the end of June 2008. Against the South African rand, the Kwacha depreciation was only 26 per cent,” he said.

The minister said the two international currencies could have been about the same price they fetched against the Kwacha if measured by February last year.

He said Zambian importers often needed other foreign currencies apart of the United States dollar.
Dr Musokotwane said a lot had to do with the foreign currency individual traders wanted to deal with.

Commodity imports and exports that are invoiced in the dollar, like petroleum, attracted higher amounts of Kwacha equivalents which may not be the same for goods purchased in pounds and rand.

“In other words, when we consider the depreciation of the Kwacha against a hypothetical average exchange rate that reflects all our relevant trading currencies, it becomes clear that the Kwacha has not done so badly,” he said.

Dr Muskotwane said other than the re-emergence of dollarisation, fundamental factors like the change in investors’ sentiments resulting from the global financial crisis also contributed to the local currency’s depreciation.

He said the growth and terms of trade that led to reduced foreign exchange earnings equally affected the strength of Kwacha.

Other factors that have contributed to the Kwacha depreciation are the increased and bunched demand for foreign exchange rising from oil, maize and fertiliser import requirements, including some element of panic and speculation in the market linked to uncertainties about the supply of foreign exchange.

And Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Daniel Kalenga told the House that the Food Reserve Agency paid K305,500,080,000 for 402,786 metric tonnes of farm produce bought from farmers countrywide during the 2006/2007 farming season.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development Lameck Chibombamilimo said mining companies, hotels, agriculture and banking sectors lost US$39,550,717 as a result of power outages last year.

Government did not however compensate such strategic industries for the loss.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango reserved a ruling on a point of order raised by Nkana member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge (PF) over the matter in which MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande requested Government to pay party members for goods and services they supplied to Government institutions.

Mrs Nalumango said she, too, had read such reports in the press but needed time to study the matter before she could make a ruling.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Registration of London High Court judgement stalls

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chiluba_courtTHE registration of the London High Court judgement against former President Chiluba and 21 others in the Lusaka High Court has stalled.

Attorney-General Mumba Malila said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

“Unfortunately, that has stalled after the death of Judge Japhet Banda who was presiding over the matter,” Mr Malila said.

He said this was not under Government’s control and that there was nothing much that could be done.
Mr Malila said Government was still waiting for the Judge-in-charge to allocate the matter.

Two years ago, London High Court Judge, Peter Smith reduced damages against Dr Chiluba to US$57.4 million from the US$58.3 million he was earlier ordered to pay the Zambian government in connection with the Zamtrop and BK conspiracies and for the breach of fiduciary duty.

This is according to Judge Smith’s final judgement against each of the 21 defendants in the London civil case brought by the Attorney-General of Zambia.

“Upon handing down of judgement in this matter following the hearing on June 7, 8 and 11, 2007, it is ordered that there be final judgement against each of the defendants in the following sums being inclusive of interest and credits required to be given to the claimant (Government) in respect of recoveries made,” Judge Smith’s order read in part.

The Judge also ruled that a Mr Meer, a partner in a London law firm, Meer Care and Desai, the first defendant, pay US$11.135,665.61
Former Zambia Security Intelligence Services director-general Xavier Chungu was ordered to pay US$57,261,390.72 for conspiracy and another 56,442,027.90 for breach of fiduciary duty, among others.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

No-Rhythm Zambia Fail To Spark

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It was untidy though not unexpected. Zambia stuttered to a 0-0 draw against Senegal in their penultimate CHAN Group Group A game played in Abidjan this evening.

Senegal were superior throughout the first half and most of the second period winning all the aerial duels and also muscled Zambia off the ball with such ease.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire, whom Zambia beat 3-0 on Sunday at the same venue in the tournaments opening game, will be kicking themselves after watching in envy how Senegal frustrated Herve Renard’s side.

Vito Badine and Mustapha Diallo both unsettled Zambia’s defence with good chances in the 10th and 18th minutes.

At the opposite end, defender Francis Kasonde headed down ball narrowly that bounced over the bar in Zambia’s first of only two chances of the first half.

Given Singuluma failed to spark and in a rare show of intent short wide from outside the box in the 42nd minute after a singular counter by Zambia.

Zambia survived conceding a goal two minutes after the hour mark when substitute Oumar Sow saw his powerful shot saved by Davy Kaumbwa.

However, there was later some marked improvement by Zambia in the final 20 minutes of the match but Senegal, who were later reduced to 10-men with 10 minutes remaining on the clock, choked Renard’s boys to submission.

Zambia must now beat Tanzania on Saturday in both sides final game in Bouake to keep their CHAN dreams of reach the March 4 semifinals.
Meanwhile, Tanzania eliminated hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in the second Group A match tonight in Abidjan to stay 3rd on 3 points, one less than Zambia and Senegal in first and second places respectively on 4 points.

Opposition MPs to present a Petition to RB

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Twelve Members of Parliament representing 50 others from the opposition and independent will tomorrow present a petition to Republican President Rupiah Banda seeking redress to the displaced people of Sichifulo in Southern province.

The 50 members of Parliament are from the Patriotic Front-PF, Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD, the United Party for National Development-UPND and Independent MPs.

Namwala MP Robbie Chizhyuka who is the Spokesperson for the 50 told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the 50 MPs are seeking the President’s intervention to the plight of over 8, 500 people of Sichifulo who have been forced out of Sichifulo Game Management Area where they have lived for 23 years.

Major Chizhyuka who is also Chairperson for the Indigenous People’s Association said that the 12 MPs will be led by to Statehouse by Independent Luena MP, Charles Milupi, PF Chimwemwe MP, Willie Nsanda and UPND Katombora MP, Regina Musokotwane.

Major Chizhyuka explained that the people of Sichifulo were displaced last year to pave way for hunting and photographic safari by a named foreign company.

He explained that at the time of displacement between November and December last year, the people of Sichifulo were both agriculturalists and pastoralists producing over 7,381 by 50 kilogram bags of maize and owned 7,432 herds of cattle.

Major Chizhyuka said the petition will be handed to the President at Statehouse at 14:30 hours.

ENDS

Paramount Chief Chitimukulu back in Kasama

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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 69 year old British National nabbed by DEC for Cannabis trafficking

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marijuana

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.

/ZNBC/NEWS

Petauke and Nyimba Districts in power blackout for three days

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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.

ENDS/HMC/PK/ZANIS

A Centre for regional democracy to be set up in honor of Late Mwanawasa

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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.

ENDS/PC/GP/AM/ZANIS

ZAFOD want buildings redesigned

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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.

ZANIS/ENDS/AMM/EB

Former Chief Justice Mathews Ngulube makes submission to NCC

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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

Luanshya miners commend Kapu

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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.

ZANIS/ENDS/OM/EB

Bankers spurn Zambian Airways probe invitation

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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.

[Times of Zambia]

LCC, Manda Hill case with lawyers

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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.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

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