Zambia and Malawi have renewed their commitment to work together in developing the economies of the two countries.

President Banda said he and his Malawian counterpart Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika have agreed on various developmental issues which need urgent implementation for the benefit of the two countries.

The two leaders agreed that priority should be given to infrastructure development such as roads, telecommunication and electricity which they emphasized should be achieved as soon as possible to better the lives of the people in the two countries.

President Banda also stressed the need for the two countries to grow more food so that they help each other in times of poor harvests by one of them.

“It is important that Malawians grow more food to feed us and vise versa in times of food deficit,” he said.
This was said at a joint news conference yesterday to mark the end of his two-day official visit to Malawi.

President Banda said the concerned technocrats and ministers have to work hard in translating the resolutions of the two heads of state into tangible results in order to speed up development in the two neighbouring countries.

On the closure of some companies and resultant job losses, President Banda said Zambians should understand that this is not a fault of government as the problem is a result of the on-going economic crisis which has engulfed the whole world.

He called on Zambians to be prudent and be less extravagant in the wake of the current economic challenges.

The President said the late President Mwanawasa had succeeded in attracting huge investment in the mining industry which helped rekindle the growth of the country’s economy.

Unfortunately, the current global crisis has reversed the positive economic strides with the country losing up to 60 per cent of revenue from copper.

But government is working hard to see to it that where jobs have been lost, alternative ways are found to keep the people in employment.

The President disclosed that to this effect, government has found an investor wishing to take over Luanshya Copper Mines which has been placed under care and maintenance with thousands of workers laid off.

But he said long term solutions lie in he diversification of the country’s economy from dependence on cooper to other sectors such as tourism, manufacturing and agriculture.

Earlier, President Banda visited the Mausoleum located in Lilongwe City centre where Malawian founding President, the late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda is buried.

President Banda was accompanied to the Mausoleum by Foreign affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya, Energy and Water Development Minister, Kenneth Konga, Political Advisor Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Malawi Joshua Simuyandi and other Zambian and Malawian government officials.

He laid a wreath on the grave of the late Kamuzu Banda and later signed a visitor’s book against a backdrop of solemn music by the Malawi defence force brass band.

He said he was deeply touched by what the people and government of Malawi have done by erecting a mausoleum in honor of their late founding President.

President Banda said government wishes to replicate the same on the late President Mwanawasa’s grave at the Embassy Park in Lusaka.

President Banda has since returned home after a two-day official visit to Malawi.

He was seen off at Kamuzu International airport by his host, Dr. Wa Mutarika and scores of enthusiastic Malawian and Zambian nationals.

ZANIS/PK/KSH/ENDS.

President Rupiah Banda  has urged members of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) to stop discussing matters pertaining to who would stand for party presidency for the 2011 presidential and general elections.

He said members of the MMD should instead concentrate on matters affecting the nation now.

The president was speaking upon arrival from his two day official visit of Malawi and Tanzania respectively.

Mr. Banda said it was too early for the party to start discussing the issue of the 2011 presidential elections when his administration was only three months in office.

He encouraged MMD party members to unite and start recruiting more members in readiness for the 2011 presidential general elections.

The president  also called on Zambians not to politicize the prevailing global economic crunch in order to win what he termed as cheap political mileage because the global economic down turn was a global phenomenon which needed a disciplined people for it to be addressed effectively.

The President further said there was need for Zambians to be disciplined in order to address the many challenges associated with the economic credit crunch.

President Banda  advised opposition political party leaders in the country to dialogue with him in order to resolve challenges affecting the economy of the country.

Mr. Banda observed that there was need for the political leaders to approach him and advice him on various issues in order to enhance development in the nation.

He said it was not necessary for politicians to concentrate on politicking at the expense of promoting programmes which his administration was implementing.

He has also described his visits to Tanzania and Malawi as successful saying he discussed a lot of issues affecting the region with leaders from the two countries.

The President has since called for enhanced cordial relations between the two countries with a view to enhance economic development in the region.

President Banda was accompanied to the two countries by Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya, Energy and Water Development Minister, Kenneth Konga and his Political Advisor, Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika, among other officials.

ZANIS/PC/TK/KSH/ENDS

The Lusaka Magistrates Court has sentenced prominent musician Maiko Zulu, formerly known as St Michael, to six months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for one year on one charge of trafficking in five balls of cannabis weighing 17 grammes.

Passing sentence on Zulu, 39, of house No. 15, Libala Stage 2 in a packed courtroom yesterday, Magistrate David Simusamba said Zulu, while serving his sentence, should not engage in any offence related to drug trafficking, failure to which he would be slapped with a custodian sentence.

“I have considered facts in mitigation and it is apparent that the offender is a house-hold name and a chief breadwinner of both his family and extended family.

“I will, therefore, impose a jail sentence on you, Maiko Zulu, of six months with hard labour and a suspended sentence of 12 months in which you will be required to visit 10 high schools in Lusaka, perform at Government functions and public holidays for free,” he said.

The magistrate said Zulu, in his community work, would be required to visit 10 high schools in Lusaka Province to speak about the dangers of drug abuse.

Mr Simusamba said Zulu deserved lenience because he was a first offender and an icon in championing child labour issues in communities.

Facts before the court were that on February 3, 2009, Zulu did traffic in psychotropic substances namely marijuana contrary to the laws of Zambia.

The sentence means Zulu would serve the 12-month sentence outside prison but should not commit a similar offence within the stipulated time.

In mitigation, Zulu through his lawyer, Sugzo Dzekedzeke, said he prayed that the court did not give him custodial sentence because he had not wasted the court’s time and taxpayers’ money by admitting the charge without delay.

Zulu said if the court meted out custodial sentence on him, his dependants would suffer because he was not just the chief breadwinner of his household but also of his extended family, which included his mother and eight children from his deceased siblings.

He said he had two school-going children who would suffer if he was sent to province.

Zulu said he was International Labour Organisation (ILO) ambassador against child labour and also an ambassador of the courts of law through his day-to-day activities.

He said he was also coordinating a programme on behalf of ILO meant for creation of employment for youths in the country.

Zulu said should a custodial sentence be slapped on him, the ILO programmes would be affected.

He said he was also the coordinator of a football team in his community that sought to identify talent and prevent youths from engaging in dangerous activities.

Local musicians that attended Zulu’s judgment included Angela Nyirenda, Saboi Imboela, Danny Peddle, Mozegeta, Mathew Tembo, James Chamanyazi and Moses Sakala.

Comedian Bob Nkoshya was also present.
[ Zambia Daily Mail]

President Rupiah Banda and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania have agreed to explore the possibility of a concession on the Tanzania-Zambia Railways (TAZARA) as a way of improving its performance.

The two Presidents have also agreed to cooperate in the rehabilitation of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) at the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) pipelines in order to enhance the flow of oil to Zambia.

This is contained in a communique issued in Dar-Es Salaam following the official visit of President Banda to Tanzania.

According to the communique, the two Heads of State have agreed on the immediate and long term strategies to address the logistical chain from the port, to TAZARA until final destination.

And the two Presidents have urged the relevant ministries to convene a meeting of experts to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the One Stop Border Post concept.

Speaking earlier, TAZAMA Pipelines Regional Manager Abraham Saunyama said TAZAMA was failing to operate to its full capacity due financial problems that had dodged the institution.

Mr Saunyama bemoaned the fact that the equipment was old but noted that rehabilitation has been underway since 1986.

He appealed to the governments of Tanzania and Zambia to help recapitalise the company whose facilities have been in existence for over 30 years.

Mr Saunyama said the equipment at TAZAMA currently posed both economical and environmental challenges hence the need for the two governments to agree to finance the rehabilitation of the equipment.

He appealed to the Zambian government to make it possible for the company to borrow so that its facilities could be protected in order for them to continue to serve and contribute to the economic development of the two countries.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga echoed the sentiments of Mr Saunyama adding that the facility was the ‘blood vessel’ for the Zambian economy.

And Tanzanian Minister of Energy and Minerals Adam Malima said the concerns raised by TAZAMA Pipelines Regional Manager Abraham Saunyama would be looked into and see how they could be resolved.

Mr Malima said issues considered as bottlenecks from Tanzania would be attended to and a consensus would be reached as soon as possible.

The two Presidents also discussed issues relating to the supply of power to Rukwa region in Tanzania as well as transport facilitation under the One Stop Border concept.

The two Heads of State who exchanged views on the performance of various key institutions and sectors such as TAZARA, TAZAMA and the Port of Dar-Es- Salaam also emphasised the importance of revitalising the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC) between the two countries in order to create a platform in which issues of mutual benefit could be dealt with speedily.

President Banda and President Kikwete further re-affirmed their commitment to ensuring that the 9th session of the JPC of cooperation is held.

With regard to regional issues, the two Presidents pledged to continue to work together to address matters of mutual concern in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)region and the continent as a whole.

”In this regard, they exchanged views on the situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe,” reads the communique in part.

The two Presidents also expressed hope that the problems facing DRC and Zimbabwe would be resolved so as to ensure peace, security, stability and development in the SADC region and the continent as a whole.

Earlier, President Banda toured TAZAMA Pipelines tank farm and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Port of Facilities.

Mr Banda assured management at TAZAMA after he toured the facilities that he would work closely with his Tanzanian counterpart to see how the problems affecting the company could be solved.

”I have had useful discussions with President Kikwete and have reached agreements that will see us move forward. Our forefathers President Kaunda and Julius Nyerere were very wise to embark on joint ventures such as TAZAMA and TAZARA which have greatly benefited our two countries,” he said.

Mr Banda called for increased investments between the two countries and thanked the people of Tanzania for looking after the joint facilities with care.

Later President Banda toured the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Port Facilities and expressed satisfaction at the operations of the company.

”Iam pleased to see what is happening here which signifies the cooperation between our two countries. This is the way we should go as Africans and if we do more of joint ventures, we will get quickly to the concept of African Unity,” he said.

And President Banda who was in Tanzania for a two day official visit has since left Tanzania for Malawi.

Mr Banda was seen off at Juilus Nyerere International Airport by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and other senior government officials.

He is accompanied to Malawi by Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and other senior government officials.
ZANIS/ENDS/FM/CLM