Weekend in Pictures
An African Authority?
By Mingeli Palata
I somehow found myself in front of a TV on Monday and after switching through the channels I normally watch, I realized I didn’t want to be stressed with news on the war in Gaza so I tuned to the National Geographic channel and there was a program called ‘earth investigated’. Seeing as I was in some deep thought and only wanted something to keep me busy, I thought hey, here is something to watch! A few seconds into the program, the narrator said something that I found interesting, he said in the next 2000 years, all the continents would merge into one. Scary I thought, for a moment I tried thinking about what it would be like living with the Arabs and their friends the Jews, the Russians and the Chinese living right next to us. No. I stopped right there, we are better off left apart and far from each others evils. Now how much more the proposed United States of Africa?
About three years ago, when the Libyan Colonel was the Chairman of the African Union, I was privileged to be among a group of Youth advocates as we would fondly call ourselves. In Tripoli we joined other youths from the African Continent who had been called to talk about the possibility of one African Government. Aside from the fact that it was nice mingling with fellow youths from different African countries, making friends and all, this experience was also saddening. I realized the fact that Africa was divided and the possibility of one African government was merely Utopia. Allow me to highlight a few reasons why I think its ill devised.
I will begin with the person promoting the concept of one African Government, now I know you will find it weird that I actually like the colonels idea of democracy, I will tell you that I think the Green Book (A set of principles on which Libyan Authority is founded) is one of the most brilliant collections of thought on governance I have ever come across. Aside from central authority, the green book or the Libyan system promotes participatory democracy, in which people are more involved in making decisions on issues that affect them. For someone who believes in concept driven Governance, it was easy to like this guy. But maybe you could try out the fact that the man has built a country, he has gardens in the desert and the rest is cliché. He is a great man, a great man who idolizes himself. If you go to Tripoli today all you will see is pictures of the man. One of the pictures that really caught my eye was on in which he was depicting himself as the king or supreme ruler of the entire African continent. I paused and said look, isn’t this man thinking way too much of himself? Isn’t he up to pursuing a selfish ambition? I began to understand why other African leaders were opposed to the idea.
When it came to the actual youth parliament deliberations, I was more convinced that while the idea of an African integration was good, the motives and ideals behind it were rather crude. We had a rather wired system of voting. As soon as nominations started, the name of Gaddafi’s son was brought forward and before we knew it, everyone was clapping and at the end of the day, Gaddafi’s son was announced head of the African Youth Parliament. But wait? We didn’t vote? Clearly we were sort of duped or for lack of a better term forced into choosing a leader. For me, that was fore-glimpse of what kind of Democracy we would have in a United States of Africa. Then I thought of it from another point of view, a Ugandan friend told me that it was better for Gadafhi’s son to head the Youth parliament because then we would get the necessary resources. I didn’t think that was a reason enough for someone to be elected leader of what was to be an important African body. By the way, the Libyan Leader was believed to have paid for all the expenses incurred by the youth delegates. I found that odd.
Frankly, I just think this USA is nothing more than one man’s ambition to lead a continent. Hey, doesn’t the fact that it’s now being called an African Authority tell you something?
A Poor Zambian’s Prayer
Our God,
We thank you for having given us this mighty land of the Zambezi. You have given us plenty of natural resources from which we can generate our income as a country. We have a very good climate, abundant rivers and fertile land. Lord I do not understand why we have water shortages, load shedding and shortages of mealie meal. Lord why does it have to take a farmer from a foreign land to successfully farm the land.
Lord I do not understand why our country is so dirty and full of dilapidated buildings and pothole ridden roads.Open our eyes so we can see where we have gone wrong.Lord when our leaders travel abroad, give them eyes to see the beautiful infrastructure in other countries and may they not have peace until they improve the infrastructure and facilities in our land. Lord give us a leaders who will improve UTH. Our current leaders don’t see the shame in continuously sending sick government officials to South Africa.
Lord remove selfish leaders from power. Plunder the wealth of those who have stolen from us the poor Zambians.Please give us leaders who have this nation at heart.Give us leaders who will not blindly sell our motherland to foreigners in the name of “foreign investment”. We pray that our leaders will fervently and unselfishly work to improve the welfare of the less privileged in our society. Lord though we call ourselves a Christian nation, we are a very corrupt nation. From the Passport Office to the Tender Board, from the Police to Parliament our hearts are full of deception. I guess its poverty so Lord please teach us how to use the Land you have given us to produce wealth.
We thank you for the continued peace you have given this country but sometimes we take that for granted. We are still years away from uniting as “One Zambia One Nation”. We are sick of this ethnic group accusing the other of doing this or that. We pray that for once please make the Tongas to be Bembas and make them eat Finkubala and attend church on Sunday. Similarly, make the Bembas to be Tongas so that they experience what it means to be accused of being a tribalist. Make them speak Tonga on buses and in offices and experience the response they get from the public. Give the Bembas all the cattle that belong to the Tongas and see if they will sell them to buy clothes. Increase the intermarriages between Tongas and Bembas, perhaps then the tension will reduce.
Finally, Lord, we thank you that you will hear our prayers.
We pray all this in your name. Amen!
Speak to Your Mountains
Today’s Scripture
“And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done” (Matthew 21:21, AMP).
Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria
We’ve all had seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During those times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you received a bad medical report, or maybe you’re facing a financial obstacle. But the more you talk about something, the bigger it becomes in your mind. Instead, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “No, I am not going to give life to that defeat. I am not going to speak sickness over myself. I’m not going to speak lack. I’m not going to speak fear. I’m choosing a different report. I believe the report of the Lord which says I am blessed. I am favored. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am whole. I’m a victor, not a victim.”
Remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. You’ve got to speak to those mountains in your life and declare favor over those situations. Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is! As you speak to your mountains, they will be moved, and you will move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountains, so I can move forward in the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Renard Awaits Return of Prodigal Sons
Herve Renard has said the door is open for midfielder William Njobvu & defender Francis Kasonde to return to his CHAN team after their deal to join Armenian champions Pyunik Yerevan fell through.
However, Renard will be without defender Emmanuel Mbola of division 1 north club Mining Rangers who is set to agree terms with Pyunik after a two-week trial spell with the former Soviet republic club whom he has accompanied to the UAE on a pre-season training camp.
Kasonde of Power Dynamos and Njobvu from Lusaka Dynamos are both due back home on tomorrow, Saturday after their respective clubs rejected deals with Pyunik.
Renard said after Friday mornings training session in Lusaka that it was sad that 17-year-old Mbola was signing with Pyunik because he had hardly played any high-level football in the local league for more than two years.
All three players have missed the first two weeks of Zambia’s CHAN training camp that left Renard fuming at the lack of commitment for the inaugural tournament exclusively for home-based players to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire from February 22 to March 8.
Mbola makes the quantum leap to Europe from division 1 north football with his move to the minor former south-eastern Soviet republic enclave straddled between Iran and Russian.
“He (Mbola) is too young and only 17 years old and has never played in the Zambian premier league,” Renard said.
“He has not been playing for the national team for a long time and I think it is a mistake for him to sign with a club like that.”
Mbola made his Zambia debut against Angola in a CHAN qualifier on December 13 at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe that Renard’s side won 1-0 to qualify 3-1 on aggregate to the tournament.
He went on to receive three more caps with Zambia at the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup held in Uganda in January.
Mbola had prior to his move to Armenia had also been linked with 2-time league champions Zanaco.
Septic tanks threaten underground water, Dr Angel Mwiche
Sinazongwe District Health Director Dr Angel Mwiche has disclosed that all the boreholes in Maamba Township were contaminated and has called for improvement of the sewerage system.
Speaking at the District Epidemic Preparedness Committee meeting on Thursday, Dr Mwiche said all the boreholes that were tested in Maamba were positive except for the one at the Maamba Mine School for special education.
Dr Mwiche said it was better to set up a sewerage system than having septic tanks since most people depend on borehole water.
He said the situation would, in the long run, lead to the contamination of the underground water.
Dr Mwiche observed that the same scenario was also happening in Lusaka where more people have septic tanks.
“We are sitting on a time bomb because once problems occur it would be difficult to address them,” Dr Mwiche said.
The meeting also noted that the drainage system in Maamba Township was poor and urged the council to immediately work on it.
ZANIS/ENDS/TN/EB
Zambia developing measures to ease impact of global economic crunch
President Rupiah Banda said government is developing measures to mitigate the adverse impact of the global credit crunch on the mining industry.
President Banda said the measures are intended to address concerns raised by the mining companies in order to reduce job loses and develop a mechanism to salvage mining operations.
He said this in a speech read for him by Vice President, George Kunda, at the official opening of the 2009 African Mining Congress (AMC) in Livingstone yesterday.
Mr. Banda said although the economic meltdown has adversely affected the economy, particularly the mining sector, government will remain committed to get the country onto a firm economic base.
Mr. Banda said he was happy with the confidence from some investors who are willing to invest in the mining sector in Zambia despite the prevailing global economic problems.
He observed that despite the fall in metal prices, investors have not been deferred their investment plans in the country.
He said the long term view for the sector is that the world’s demand for the metals, mainly driven by India and China, is likely to rebound and bring back mining operations to normal.
The President said it is government’s policy to ensure that the business environment remains attractive for further investment in the country.
He said in the medium and long terms, Zambia will continue to attract investors in the mining sector due to its conducive investment atmosphere.
He noted that Zambia still offers some of the best incentives in the mining industry such as exemption from custom and exercise duty on all mining equipment and machinery imported for mining purposes.
President Banda has further expressed confidence that the congress would provide a framework for business people from southern Africa and other regions to discuss and share ideas on the future of the mining industry on the continent in the wake of falling metal prices on the world market.
He urged Southern African states and the continent at large to consider coming up with a common approach to issues of taxation and environment which are key to sustainable development of the mining sector.
He said the southern African region has much to gain from the development of their mining economies through employment, taxation and other benefits, adding that the mining sector will only be sustained through enhanced cooperation.
Mr. Banda said the decision to continue hosting the congress in Zambia is good for the region because it will help develop the mining sector and therefore contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of the people.
Earlier, AMC Chairperson, Michel Ashby, said the sector has continued to contribute positively to human needs.
She said despite the various downturns that the mining industry has gone through, there is still hope that it will still return to normal operations.
She said Zambia plays an important role in the production of minerals for the global market.
ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS
Speaker directs Dr. Chituwo to explain maize shortage
The speaker of the National Assembly has directed Agriculture Minister Brian Chituwo to issue a ministerial statement on the reported shortage of mealie meal especially in Southern Province.
Amusaa Mwanamwambwa said the minister should urgently make an inquiry into the reported shortage of the staple food and report to parliament quickly.
This followed a point of order raised by Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo who wondered whether the minister of agriculture was in order to remain quiet amid reports of mealie meal shortage in Southern province.
Mr. Nkombo quoting Friday’s newspapers, told the house that people had formed long queues at Mazabuka’s shoprite as early as 04 hours in attempts to buy mealie meal.
In his rulling the Speaker said although the point of order was unprocedural, the subject matter was of great concern as it involved people’s welfare.
Choma milling which is the main supplier of mealie meal in Southern Province has shut down its operations citing a shortage of maize.
Company managing director Jon Mackatos who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Choma said the plant stopped operating due to lack of maize.
Mr Mackatos said the milling plant had signed a contract with the Food Reserve Agency for the supply of 7, 000 metric tonnes of maize for the month of January but only 400 tonnes was received.
He said the 400 tonnes is only sufficient for one day’s production of mealie meal due to the plants big production capacity.
Mr Mackatos said it has become difficult under the present circumstances to continue running the plant in the absence of the raw material.
The milling plant is the only one producing mealie meal in the district and servicing surrounding district of Sinazongwe, Namwala, Kalomo and other southern province towns.
And district commissioner Laiven Apuleni told ZANIS in Choma the suspension of production is unfortunate and will impact negatively on the availability of mealie meal in the district.
Mr Apuleni said management at Choma milling had tried their best to source maize but have found it increasingly difficult.
He said has appealed to the Food Reserve Agency to act expeditiously because the situation has gone out of hand in the district.
A survey by ZANIS in Choma found that most retail outlets have run out of mealie meal while those found with the commodity had abnormally inflated the price of 25 kilgoramme breakfast bag to K 75, 000.
Several residents have now been gripped with panic over the shortage of mealie meal whose price is rising on daily basis.
ZANIS/CM/Ends/MM
Opposition MPs threaten not to pass budget
Opposition members of parliament have threatened not to pass the budget if government fails to increase the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Roan Member of parliament Chishimba Kambwili said opposition Mps will walk out of parliament if the CDF is not increased.
He said it is prudent for government to increase the CDF from its current K400 million to K1 billion.
Amid cheers from other opposition MPs, Mr. Kambwili said CDF should be increased because this is the money that benefits the grass roots.
He said CDF is also used to improve among other things road infrastructure in constituencies.
Mr. Kambwili has since urged the Minister of Finance to make an amendment to effect the increase.
And Katombola MP Regina Musokotwane also emphasised the need to increase the CDF.
ZNBC
DRC lifts Copper concentrates ban
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has lifted the ban on the flow of copper concentrates into Zambia.
This follows a meeting held in Lubumbashi attended by Katanga governor Moses Katumbi and Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima and finance Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe, Thursday.
Mr. Mbulakulima said there is need for the two countries to work together in the wake of the low copper prices.
He noted that the estimated copper production target is one million tonnes and currently smelters in Zambia are only treating five hundred thousand tonnes.
Mr. Katumbi said very soon smelters in Zambia will be flooded with about ninety five percent of copper concentrates from DRC.
ZNBC
This Week in Pictures
Council demolishes structures despite High Court injunction
The Livingstone City Council (LCC) has demolished structures at the Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society despite an injunction being issued by High Court Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe to restrain the local authority from destroying the premises.
And Legal Counsel for the Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society has made an application in the Livingstone High Court to institute contempt proceedings against Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Lemmy Kajoba, Livingstone Mayor Grace Shafik and Acting Town Clerk Clement Chisanga among others, for willfully disobeying an injunction issued by the High Court.
LCC Acting Town Clerk Clement Chisanga has however, defended the action to demolish the co-operative and denied being served with the interim injunction saying the document was served at the Livingstone Central Police.
Mr. Chisanga told ZANIS in Livingstone today that LCC in collaboration with police went ahead to demolish the allegedly illegal structures because there was no document to protect marketeers trading from the co-operative popularly known as Potters market.
The Acting Town Clerk said ample time was given to traders at the market to relocate to Libuyu Market as recommended by the Council, but they opted to disregard the notice given by the local authority.
He said the traders could not be allowed to continue trading from Potters Market because they had not applied for change of use and ownership to the council to enable them legalize their trade at the same premises.
Mr. Chisanga said no effort had been made by the Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society to approach the Livingstone City Council to outline their long term plans since the land in question was still officially part of a farm bloc.
But Board Chairman for the Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society Joseph Musole said efforts to serve the interim injunction on the Acting Town Clerk failed because the council had engaged police officers to prevent access to the council premises.
Mr. Musole accused the council and police officers of harassing them and refusing to accept the injunction when efforts were made to serve it on Mr. Chisanga.
He also revealed that all applications made by the co-operative to change ownership and use of their property had been rejected by the council for no good reason.
Meanwhile, John Kapepe Junior of Mak Partners, the legal counsel for Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society, said an application had been made in the Livingstone High Court to institute contempt proceedings against Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Lemmy Kajoba, Livingstone Mayor Grace Shafik and Acting Town Clerk Clement Chisanga among others, for willfully disobeying a court injunction.
Mr. Kapepe said the named officers had willfully disobeyed an interim injunction from the High Court and Justice Elizabeth Muyovwe was expected to make a ruling on whether leave would be granted for commencement of contempt proceedings.
He also said the inter-party hearing of application of injunction for the Council and Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society had been adjourned to next week Friday because the legal representative for the local authority failed to come.
Traders at the Tandabale Marketeers Co-operative Society have refused to relocate to Libuyu Market saying it was not conducive for business.
And some councilors have condemned the actions of the council saying matters concerning the Potters Market have never been brought before a full council meeting despite numerous applications made to the city’s mayor.
Akapelwa Ward Councillor Agreyprey Brill said it was an insult to ordinary people for the council to demolish Potters Market on grounds that it was illegal when Libuyu extension market where they were suppose to relocate to was also illegal.
ZANIS/AMM/ENDS/MM
RB confident of good results from new Permanent Secretaries
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
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
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