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.

ZANIS/PK/KSH/ENDS

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.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/CLM

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.

[Press release by CDP]

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

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.

[ZNBC]

All the Provinces have endorsed President Banda as MMD president and are confident that he will unite the party.

MMD has advised members wishing to contest positions at the 2010 convention not to start campaigning now.

Speaking on behalf of all the party provincial leaders in Lusaka yesterday, North-Western Province MMD chairperson James Katoka said Mr Banda was the right man to lead the party.

“I would like to confirm that our programme has succeeded. We are happy because we did not want someone else to take over and divide the party,” he said.

Mr Katoka was confident that Mr Banda would strengthen the party further.

“As provincial leaders, we feel that we must maintain the power that we have as a party,” he said.

Northern Province MMD chairperson Griever Sikasote said he was happy that the President had started on a high note by working hard.

“We have seen the President in Kasama…he has been to Kasaba Bay. He has also been travelling outside the country on official assignments.

“This shows that he is committed and determined to develop the country. He has shown the spirit of hard work and commitment,” he said.

Mr Sikasote said Mr Banda was working to ensure that the country came out of poverty.

“We are motivated by the fact that Mr Banda was unanimously picked as party president. As provincial leaders, we will put in everything to support Mr Banda now that he is both Republican and party president,” he said.

He said the MMD provincial leadership was pleased that President Banda had focused on development issues.

Mr Sikasote commended Mr Banda for placing Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) in the care of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).

He was confident that ZCCM-IH would operate effectively until a strategic partner was found.
And Eastern Province chairperson Kennedy Zulu welcomed President Banda’s election as party president.

Mr Zulu said Mr Banda had experience and was dedicated to the cause of the Zambia people.
“We wish him well and we will give him total support,” he said.

Copperbelt Provincial chairperson Joseph Chilambwe said the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) proved critics wrong by remaining united.

“We know that some people expected a lot of divisions but we were all supportive of Mr Banda. With the election of Mr Banda as party president, we see the beginning of unity in the party,” he said

The MMD NEC on Saturday elected President Banda as its acting party president until their next convention due next year.

Meanwhile, MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba has said it would be premature for anybody to announce their candidature ahead of next year’s convention.

“Announcing our intentions now will not be in the best interest of the party because it will bring disunity instead of focusing on other development issues,” he said.

Mr Tetamashimba said it was now time to unite the party and forget any differences that may have arisen in the past.

“It is time to put our differences behind…lets bring order and sanity to the party,” he said.

[Zambia Daily mail]