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Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha says recapitalizing the company is the only solution government can use to address the current problems at the company.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, noted that his Ministry will ensure that operations at the company are revamped and workers who have lost their jobs are returned.
He disclosed that government will acquire new equipment which can also be used to generate resources for the company.
He said this to journalists shortly after addressing workers and management at Zambia Printing Company in Lusaka today.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha further assured that government will come up with the plan aimed at assisting the company to generate the required funds for its operations.
He also added that government will also ensure that workers welfare such as salaries are paid on time to enhance productivity at the printing company.
The Minster further commended workers for their sacrifice despite them operating under difficult conditions.
And Speaking earlier Company Deputy Director for Information John Moyo disclosed that the company owes Zambia Revenue Authority and Nation Pension Scheme K3.6 billion in unpaid taxes.
Mr. Moyo said the company is currently faced with a lot of problems and has since reduced its workforce from 215 to 30.
He noted that there is need for government to quickly decide on the status of the company before it completely stops operating.
He explained that the company also owes workers huge sums of money in salary arrears and benefits for retirees and widows.
He further called on government and other stakeholders to come on board and assist his company to procure modern machinery, adding that it is the only way it can compete favorably with other companies.
President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambians living in border areas with Zimbabwe not to be restrictive but to sell mealie meal to their Zimbabwean brothers and sisters who are passing through hard economic times.
Addressing Zambians resident in Lilongwe, Malawi today, Mr. Banda, who is on a two day official visit to Malawi said he was happy that at long last, a government of national unity was being established in Zimbabwe so that efforts can now be directed to rebuilding that country.
President Banda also urged Zambia professionals working abroad to contribute to the development of the country by ploughing back part of their incomes into various investment ventures back home.
He said Zambia has a yawning potential in tourism, agriculture and other sectors which can help grow the economy of the country.
Mr Banda also assured Zambians in Malawi that government is working hard to address the country’s economic challenges brought about by the current global economic meltdown.
Mr. Banda said government has put in place a wide range of measures aimed at attracting investment in tourism and other sectors of the economy in order to create jobs and wealth for Zambians.
He said government was working towards transforming the northern circuit and Luapula into one of the country’s leading tourist destinations.
President Banda noted with concern that copper prices have plummeted from US$8,900 per ton to US$ 3,400 at the moment, a situation he said was not favourable for the growth of the Zambian economy.
He however said government was doing everything possible to address these challenges by diversifying from the dependency on copper mining to agriculture, tourism and other sectors.
He said Zambia has a lot to learn from Malawi which has succeeded in subsidizing and distributing agriculture inputs to small scale farmers leading to that country’s improved national food security in recent years.
President Banda said it was important for him to visit all neighbouring countries in order to create a stable economic and political environment for continued peace and stability in the region.
He has so far been to Angola, Tanzania, now in Malawi and will proceed to the rest of the neighbouring countries.
Foreign Affairs minister, Kabinga Pande, Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya and her counterpart for Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga attended the meeting.
President Banda returns home tomorrow in the afternoon.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the passport renewal exercise from February 28 to May 31 2009.
Home affairs minister Kalombo Mwansa announced the extension of the exercise after touring the passports office and production unit, Monday.
Dr. Mwansa said government will not extend the passport renewal programme after the May 31st deadline.
He said the announcement has been necessitated to accommodate public appeal for the renewal exercise to be extended.
Dr. Mwansa however said government will not reduce the cost of acquiring the new paasport because the price comforms to the high quality of the travel document.
The minister also revealed that so far 26,890 passports have been printed while two thousand three hundred passports have not been collected.
Government has with immediate effect dissolved the boards for Zamtel, National Airports Corporation Limited and Zambia Railways Limited.
Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya says the boards for the three parastatals have been dissolved in national interest.
Ms. Siliya says the move has also been necessitated to re-align and improve operations and performance of the three parastatals.
She has however commended all the members of the boards in the parastatals for the contributions they made during their tenure of office.
This is contained in a press statement released to ZNBC news in Lusaka, Monday.
And the National Union of Communication Workers has urged government to quickly find an equity partner to re-capitalise ZAMTEL.
Union President Patrick Kaonga said there should be no further delay in securing an equity partner because ZAMTEL is on the verge of collapsing.
Mr. Kaonga told ZNBC news in Lusaka that his union fully supports Communication and Transport Minister Dora Siliya’s stance over the partial privatisation of ZAMTEL.
He advised Zambians against politicising the impending partial disposal of ZAMTEL.
Mr. Kaonga also appealed to ZAMTEL employees to remain calm as the future of their company is being determined.
The Union had previously opposed the partial privatisation of ZAMTEL, one of the few surviving parastatals in Zambia.
The shortage of Mealie Meal has become serious in Choma in Southern Province following suspension of production of the commodity by Choma Milling Company.
The situation has resulted in a sharp increase in the price of mealie meal
on the black markets where a 25 kilogramme bag of roller meal is now
fetching K 75,000.
A survey by ZANIS in Choma this morning found National Milling
Company mealie meal brands on display for sale along Winston Street in the
town centre where vendors, mostly youths, are cashing in on the shortage of
the commodity.
Bags of National Milling Company mealie meal were also found on the open
market at Makalanguzu market.
Some, traders from surrounding districts of Sinazongwe, Monze, Namwala and
Kalomo have been flocking to Choma in the hope that Choma Milling Company
will resume production.
Meanwhile, long winding queues this morning had formed up as early as
06.00 hours at Spar Choma after word went round that the chain store had
received mealie meal from National milling Company.
By 08.00 at the opening of business, management at Spar had a tough time
controlling the crowds that had besieged the premises wanting to buy mealie
meal.
District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni told ZANIS in Choma today (Tuesday)that most
residents seemed to have gone into panic buying because of the uncertainty
surrounding the availability of mealie meal following the suspension of
production by Choma Milling Company due to lack of maize.
Mr Apuleni expressed fears that the situation might result into hoarding of
the commodity in homes.
Chieftainess Lesa of Lamba –lima people of Mpongwe District has opposed the participation of traditional leaders in active politics.
Chieftainess Lesa says chiefs should not be allowed to be take part in politics because this will create confusions in chiefdoms as traditional leaders would be perceived to have lost their neutrality and integrity.
The traditional leader told ZANIS in an interview in Mpongwe today hat chieftainship should not be mixed with political activities because it required traditional leaders to be non-partisan.
Chieftainess Lesa’s sentiments follow a clause in the draft constitution on Article 260 (1) (b) which recommends that chiefs be allowed to participate in political activities and stand for any public office to be included in the final constitution.
Meanwhile, the legislative committee of the National Constitutional Conference, NCC, has reportedly allowed chiefs to be nominated to become members of parliament.
This was reportedly approved during the on –going sittings last Friday, the members agreed that there was need for chiefs to be allowed to debate issues affecting them.
The committee however resolved that chiefs should not be subjected to an election but be nominated by the president.
After much deliberation on the 2009 Budget, CDP (Citizens Democratic Party) takes note that the INTENT of the 2009 budget as presented by the MMD government is good and can be said to be “on point”. However, reading further into the budget, the party finds that put into practice, this budget puts up a dismal reaction, to the extraordinary economic situation we currently face.
Government should NOT bury their heads in the sand, and blame every inadequacy, on what is going on in these challenging economic times. We believe that our country can put up a fight in this storm and prevail, with intelligent use of our country’s resources.
The 2009 Budget matches the character of past budgets, which have failed to counter the various challenges our nation faces. This budget is a repetition of expenditure on “tried and true” failures in terms of redundant projects and programs. To put it in Zambian terms, the MMD government has “stuck to the formula”, by simply plugging in figures by default, in the same old pattern to address Zambia’s challenges.
At a time when the economic resources are limited, this government shows no intent to reduce its size, but continues to spend in what may be termed as “lavish”- considering Zambia’s fragile economic position. A responsible government would have immediately identified a reduction in government as a key measure to reallocate resources to strategic developmental projects which have an immediate positive impact on our citizenry, and also position Zambia for a better future. Alas and behold, the MMD government seems blind to this simple fact, and continues to spend money on a mammoth bureaucracy. Further, government continues to spend on redundant projects such as feeder roads, which require expenditure every single year for maintenance. We also have failed institutions such as the Food Reserve Agency continue to receive money, without an explanation on how this agency will reposition itself and perform better this year, in line with the funds it has been allocated. These are but a few of the pressing issues surrounding the practicality of the 2009 Budget.
Over 10,000 vulnerable but viable farmers in Northern Province have benefited from the Food Security Pack programme (FSP) since its inception in 2000.
Newly appointed Northern Province Permanent Secretary Walimu Simfukwe disclosed this yesterday when he officiated at the training workshop for Community Development Officers at the Provincial Development Center in Mungwi.
Mr. Simfukwe said in 2005 Northern Province weaned more than 10,000 Food Security Pack beneficiaries from the Government programme because of their improved livelihood and increased household food security.
He said small scale farmers have regained their productive assets lost due to recurrent adverse weather conditions and limited access to farming inputs.
The Permanent Secretary said the FSP implemented under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has achieved a lot in reducing poverty among most rural communities.
The PS says Government targeted 80 percent of the vulnerable but viable farmers in the country adding that so far the programme had greatly helped to reduce the levels of poverty in the country.
Mr.Simfukwe added that Government has chosen three provinces namely Northern, Central and Northwestern Provinces on a pilot basis for the implementation of Food Security Pack by the department of Community Development.
He urged employees under the department to show commitment and seriousness in the implementation of the programme.
The PS has also expressed happiness at the successful implementation of food security pack programme for 2008/2009 farming season.
Mr. Simfukwe further lauded the department of Community Development for ensuring that inputs were distributed in time to vulnerable but viable farmers in the province.
The four-day workshop for Community Development Officers has been called to equip officers with knowledge and skills in the implementation of major components of food security pack which include livestock management, conservation farming, basic accounting and work plan preparation.
[ZANIS]
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has warned of stern action against illegal operators of garages in the capital city.
Council Public Relations Manager, Chanda Makanta says it is unfortunate that some people were carrying out vehicle repair works at un-designated premises in contravention of the law.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the Council would not allow lawlessness to prevail in the city.
Ms. Makanta pointed out that carrying out vehicle repair works at un-designated places was not only illegal but an environmental and health hazard.
She explained that such actions left the roads greasy and oily thereby polluting the environment and poising a danger to motorists and other road users.
Ms. Makanta advised motorists to ensure that they take their vehicles to designated garages for repair to avoid facing the wrath of the law.
She further called on members of the general public to report illegal motor vehicle garages to the local authority.
Ms. Makanta said the consequences of illegal garage operations should be the concern of all residents.
She noted that the environmental and health hazards would affect all residents of the capital city.
The trend of carrying out vehicle repair works at un-designated premises is taking root in the capital city particularly along Freedom way.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete when he arrived for a state visit in Dar-es-Salaam
President Rupiah Banda arrived in the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam yesterday for a two day official visit to that country.
President Banda, who arrived aboard a challenger plane touched down at Julius Nyerere International Airport at 12:30 hours local time .
Mr. Banda was welcomed at the Airport by his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete, that country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe, and Minister of Infrastructure Development Shukuvu Kawambwa.
President Banda also inspected a guard of honor and was entertained to some colorful cultural dances at the airport.
A tight programme awaits President Banda, who is accompanied by Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya.
He was later expected to hold official talks with his Tanzanian counterpart Mr. Kikwete at State House.
Last evening, the President was expected to attend a State Banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Kikwete.
Mr. Banda is today expected to tour the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta Pipeline (TAZAMA) Tank Farm before touring Ministry of Finance and Economic Development port in Kurasini area.
President Banda is expected to depart Tanzania around 12:00 hours local time after winding up the programme
Zambia striker Jacob Mulenga of French Ligue 2 club Chateauroux is out of action due to injury.
Coach Herve Renard said today that it was still uncertain whether Mulenga would be fit for Zambia’s 2010 World/Africa Cup Group C qualifier away to Egypt on March 29.
Mulenga was not part of Chateauroux’s side that drew 1-1 away to Amiens on February 6.
“He (Mulenga) wasn’t in the team at the weekend so I called someone there to find out why had happened to him that was when I was told that he is injured,” Renard said today in Lusaka.
“It will depend on the time, he needs to take his time and start training slowly, because he is a player with a big muscle.”
Meanwhile, Renard is still expecting Power Dynamos defender Francis Kasonde and Lusaka Dynamos midfielder William Njobvu to report for CHAN camp ion Lusaka.
Kasonde and Njobvu returned home on Sunday night from unsuccessful trials with Armenian champions Pyunik Yerevan while Mining Rangers defender Emmanuel Mbola remained behind after securing a deal with the same club.
Mbola’s departure has seen Renard drafting Zanaco left-back Michael Bwalya into the team.
President Rupiah Banda has dismissed media reports suggesting that his son Henry, was involved in the recent importation of the banned Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Maize from South Africa.
Mr. Banda said although his sons have a right to participate and bid for any business, Henry had nothing to do with the imported GMO maize.
And President Banda said government will determine whether the GMO maize should be milled at the border post or returned to South Africa.
He said Vice President George Kunda and other ministers will determine the fate of the imported GMO maize impounded at some border post.
President Banda challenged Zambians to re-open debate on possible consumption of GMO maize meal as the case is in some countries.
Mr. Banda however, cautioned the country to be weary of the devastating effects of GMOs on seed banks.
He was responding to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure to Tanzania for a two day official visit.
A daily tabloid’s Saturday edition carried a story linking the President’s son to the recently intercepted GMO maize.
Meanwhile, President Banda has warned that he will not tolerate indiscipline as he takes charge of the MMD.
Mr. Banda who was on Saturday elected Acting MMD president said discipline is cardinal in any organisation particularly political parties.
The President disclosed that he will this week begin strategising on how best to strengthen the ruling party ahead of the 2011 General elections.
He said asertions that the MMD is deeply divided are wishful thinking by political opponents.
Mr. Banda will be in Tanzania for talks with his counterpart Jakaya Kikwete before proceeding to Malawi for similar engagements with President Bingu Wa Mutharika.
The President is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya and other senior government officials.
The death toll from a contaminated baby medicine sold in Nigeria has risen from 34 – recorded in early December – to 84, the health ministry has said.
There have been 111 reported cases of children who have fallen ill after being given teething syrup “My Pikin”.
The poisonous syrup was discovered last November when babies began dying of organ failure across the country.
Authorities have called on private pharmacies to turn over stocks of the paracetamol-based syrup to regulators.
The Nigerian-made mixture was found to contain engine coolant.
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) shut down the Lagos-based manufacturer and the main supplier of the medicine last year.
Nafdac has also appealed to parents to not treat their children with any type of teething syrup until it can find all the remaining stocks.
The dead children are aged between two and seven, Health Minister Babatunde Osotimehin said.
“Government will leave no stone unturned to find answers to the many questions being asked by Nigerians and also ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not occur again,” he said.
The name My Pikin means my baby in Nigerian pidgin.
[ZNBC]
President Rupiah Banda says government should be given a chance to package ZAMTEL and find a correct formula for its partial disposal.
The President disclosed that ZAMTEL currently has serious financial problems with a staggering K600 billion owed to its employees.
Mr. Banda was responding to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure to Tanzania for a two day official visit.
He however, said Communication and Transport Minister Dora Siliya should be given a chance to issue a ministerial statement in Parliament as directed by Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa.
President Banda said there is need to curb the leakage of confidential government documents to the press.
He was referring to a leaked document concerning Attorney General Mumba Malila’s legal opinion over the engagement of a private foreign firm to evaluate ZAMTEL’s assets.
President Banda said the leakage of the confidential documents constitutes indiscipline and lawlessness.
INFRASTRUCTURE at the Nitrogent Chemicals of Zambia is becoming obsolete.
By Wesley Ngwenya
A free market economy where government has less control and the market operates independently continues to sweep across Africa, Asia and Latin America in the last few decades. However, for a small and poor economy like Zambia one wonders what good the “free” market economy has brought to its citizens. Was the “free” market introduced seventeen years ago really free? What price are we paying now?
I grew up in Livingstone a border town in Southern Zambia. Livingstone at the time was a town that was filled with activities whose residents worked for state owned companies such as Livingstone Motor Assembly, Zambia Textiles, Zambia Railways, and the one my mother worked for–Zambia Cold Storage Corporation. At the time, the Livingstone residents were the tourists of their own town if you never mind the meaning of tourist. During weekends, we went to the Museums, Maramba Culture, the Victoria Falls, and other attractions in town. Life was good in the good old days until the day my vocabulary grew with a new term called “Free Market”.
Today Livingstone is like a ghost town. There are not many Zambians who really have good jobs unless they are working for the government or are business owners. The town is infested with foreigners who seem to be running the hotel and tourism industry there. The Zambians are the ones serving the whites. Have you ever been to the Livingstone Royal? That place makes you so uncomfortable in your own country.
Other than copper, today, Zambia produces nothing of its own. Before the free market economy we used to buy Zambian made blankets, shoes, clothes, bicycles, batteries, and even little Fiat cars assembled in Livingstone. Today, thank goodness for our free market economies like China (which is not a free market) are benefiting immensely. We have literally polluted our economy with cheap quality goods from China. While it is true that these goods are cheap can it be compared to the magnitude of people who have lost jobs?
Just a couple of weeks ago mines in Luanshya closed adding to the number of Zambians without jobs. A free market seems to be out of control here in our country. I think it was a big mistake for our politicians to have sold all major companies to foreigners. Zambia Commercial Bank, for instance, was sold to Robobank for a meager $25 million. I say that was a deal for the Dutch guys. Many other companies were sold at give away prices. What was the hurry for?
Today, we are seeing the problems that have come as a result of a free market. Unemployment rate continues to rise as more and more people lose their jobs. Crime continues to rise in many urban areas. Hunger is also on the rise. Corruption has been on the rise. Abuse of government resources has also been on the rise. With all these problems you would think that government would have a tangible plan to tackle them. I have not heard the current leadership address these problems head on other than the usual political rhetoric.
Government lost greatly on an opportunity to build its own industry. This industry could have been distribution powerhouse for goods and services in the region. Countries like Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Rwanda, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Angola could have been buying finished products from Zambia. We indeed have lost revenue because we lack a visionary leadership. Needless to say, tax revenue would have been generated from manufacturing, agriculture, banking, tourism, and communication industries. This tax revenue today would have translated to be hundreds and hundreds of million dollars—money well deserved to build our infrastructure.
It is not too late for government to revamp some industry and share costs with the private partners. This way, government will continue to regulate and monitor the industries and avoid their sudden total collapse. The country has a lot of competent people who are able to run these institutions. We need to ensure that there is economic activity within our borders to avoid looking elsewhere. Zambian Airways is one perfect example where government has to bail out the company. The airline has so much potential especially with the world cup coming to our backyard in less than 500 days.
Finally, the need to do something about the state of our economy is so urgent. In fact, it is not only the obligation of our leaders to address the economic and social challenges but it is also a moral obligation. While you enjoy the benefits of a “free” market economy remember that there are many of us who are paying heavily for your freedom.
