GTV-Zambia managing director, Chrispine Kagulurah, said in an interview yesterday that about 21,000 subscribers have been affected by the closure of the company.

The termination of services follows a decision by the London-based parent company, Gateway Broadcast Services, to go into voluntary liquidation due to the global financial crisis.

“Gateway Broadcast Services announced today (Friday) that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to liquidate the company. The current financial and global crisis has severely interrupted the company’s ability to secure further funding for the continued operation of the business,” a company spokesman said in a statement released yesterday.

“The company has worked extensively with external advisors and all internal resources to investigate, evaluate and analyse strategic alternatives for the company to further continue to operate. In determining to approve the company’s Plan of Liquidation, the board and management carefully reviewed the advice and findings,” he said.

Gateway Broadcast Services, which supplied the GTV service to subscribers across Africa, has over the last 2 years invested a total of US$200 million.

“The economic crisis that has emerged globally over the last few months has caused excessive demands on the business,” the spokesman said.

He also said that the company realised the negative impact this has had on customers, creditors and staff, and that efforts were made to keep the company going “but we are all the unfortunate victims of the current global economic crisis”.

Mr Kagulurah said that 22 countries in Africa were affected by the decision.

He said that decision was a particularly big blow for Zambia because the company was viable and growing. He said, however, that GTV-Zambia could not operate independently because its content was controlled by the parent company in London.

Mr Kagulurah said that the decision to terminate operations caught him by surprise as he and mangers in other countries were only informed of the decision at 16:45 hours on Friday through a tele-conference.

He said all the workers would be paid their separation packages but he could not commit himself on refunds to subscribers.

GTV subscribers expressed shock at the sudden closure of the station.

One of the subscribers, Mr Henry Ngulube, said Government should have measures to safeguard citizens from such abrupt closures.

Another subscriber, Mr John Mwansa said: “I hope GTV management will do something quickly in order to have this station back. Is GTV going to pay back our monies?

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Today’s Scripture

“Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19, AMP).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

If we are going to be all that God created us to be, we have to be open to change. Just because something worked five years ago doesn´t mean it´s still going to work today. We can´t get so set in our ways that we won´t try anything new. Many people today have lost their enthusiasm, or there´s no freshness in their life because every time an opportunity comes for change, for promotion, for increase, they shrink back because they´re not used to it. They don´t realize that´s what´s keeping them from going to the next level.

One thing I´ve noticed about successful people is that they know how to change with the times. They don´t get stuck in a rut doing the same thing, the same way, year after year. They´re constantly evaluating where they are and what they´re doing. They make adjustments so they can improve.

Decide today to stay open for the new thing God wants to do in your life. Remember, He´s promised to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Look for the new thing so that you can fulfill the destiny He has prepared for you!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, search my heart today. Remove any attitudes or thought patterns that would keep me from Your best. I will stay open to the new things You have in store for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen ministries

President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the twelfth ordinary session of the Summit of the African Union Heads of State and Government, which officially started on 26th of January and runs to the 3rd of February 2009.

The presidential plane carrying Mr. Banda and his entourage touched down at Bole International Airport at 12: 40 hours local time.

President Banda, who is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, and Special Assistant for Political Affairs Akashambatwa-Mbikusita Lewanika, was received by Ethiopian Labour and Social Affairs Hassen Abdella and

Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Patrick Sinyinza.

Also at hand to receive President Banda were members of his advance party that included Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, Energy Minister, Kenneth Konga, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati, Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma.

Others that welcomed Mr. Banda were African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Erastus Mwencha and Zambia’s envoy to the Great Lakes Region Siteke Mwale.

President Banda, who was given a twenty one gun salute by a battalion of the Ethiopian army, was immediately after arrival driven to Sheraton Hotel where he will be lodging until his departure back for Zambia on Wednesday, next week.

The theme for this summit is “Infrastructure Development in Africa”, with a particular focus on the transport and energy sectors.

The current global financial crisis will also be amongst the major topics of discussion during the 12th African Union summit.

The AU summit kicked off with the 17th ordinary session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which

ran from 26-27 January 2009 and was followed by the 14th ordinary session of the Executive Council (EC) from 29-30 January 2009, which will culminate into the 12th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government from 1-3rd February 2009.

Meanwhile, African Union (AU) foreign affairs ministers on Friday received the Commission’s analysis report in Addis Ababa, which outlined three different patterns for the setting up of a continental government.

Briefing the press, Senegalese Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio however, said the report was not debated during the executive committee’s meeting, which started on Thursday, because ministers decided to leave the question to the heads of state and government, who pledged to devote 1st February as AU government day.

Concerning the AU government, the report proposes as first option, the creation of nine cabinet posts in Health, Environment, Infrastructures, Peace and Security and Commerce, among others.

This government would be chaired by the president of the AU Commission, whose vice president would become his assistant.

The second proposal is about extending the union government to 16 members. This means that seven others important persons would join the nine commissioners to form a government chaired by the commission president to be assisted by his vice-president.

The last option, which has been endorsed by some countries, is to create a government composed of 53 ministers originating from the organisation’s member states.

And African Union Commission Chairperson, Jean Ping, has called on AU member countries to speed up the integration of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) into the African Union structures.

Addressing a NEPAD Heads of State and Government implementation committee in Addis Ababa today, Mr. Ping said this could be done by among others, appointing a new Chief Executive officer to head the NEPAD secretariat and its successor entity.

Mr. Ping however, pointed out that notable strides had been made to accelerate the integration of NEPAD into the AU which include the recent signing of the Host Agreement with South Africa, which now accords NEPAD Secretariat and successor entity the status of an African Union office outside the headquarters

He said work has also commenced on the implementation of the host agreement by the joint technical team of the South African authorities, the African Union Commission, the NEPAD secretariat and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

Mr. Ping said these achievements are important milestones in the on-going work of integrating NEPAD into the structures and processes of the African Union.

He stressed the need to fast-track the integration process so that Africa can face its challenges by speaking with one voice, particularly to its development partners.

ZANIS/AM/KSH/ENDS

The youth organisation, known as Generation Impact Foundation, complained that pornographic material was eroding the morals of people, especially the youth.

GIF founder and Chief Executive, Panji Chipeta has since called on government to stiffen laws against pornographic material y in order to protect the youths having their morals eroded and diluted with unpalatable acts.

GIF staged the protest from Lusaka main Post Office on Cairo road to the Cathedral of the Holly Cross on Church road.

Mr. Chipeta said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka that the protest was meant to sensitize the public against the use of pornographic material which he said increased to immorality in the country.

He said according to the study conducted by the organisation recently, there has been an increase in the number of people watching pornographic material the country.

He said the most effected people were the women, the youth and children although the materials are mostly brought in the country by men.

Mr. Chipeta feared that if nothing urgent was done to curb the availability and circulation of pornographic materials in the country, Zambian’s moral fiber would be completely destroyed, thereby increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

He observed that to a large extent, pornography contributes to rape and child defilement as women are degraded and are seen only as sexual objects by people who watch pornographic films and books.

He further said pornographic materials have destabilized marriages and destroyed families, adding that it has become a cancer that is eating up the Zambian society.

Mr. Chipeta said government, parliamentarian and the people sitting on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) should in their debates include the putting up of stiffer penalties on the people supplying the materials.

He also appealed to the Internet service providers and Internet café owners to put safety measures that will help put this vice to a stop.

The Generation Impact Foundation also since written to shop owners and video libraries dealing are supplying pornographic materials to stop the act of selling and lending obscene DVDs.

Mr. Chipeta said the foundation was looking at modalities of working with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the police and other stakeholders to help fight this vice.

He said since Zambia is a Christian Nation, there is need for stopping the supply of obscene material to secure the future of the youth.

ZANIS/GP/KSH/ENDS.

Government has called on the people of Zambia to support the 2009 national budget in order to enhance economic development in the country.

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said there was need for the people of Zambia to fully support this year’s national budget, which he said has placed much emphasis on the economic recovery of the nation.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He said as Members of Parliament and the public begin to debate the budget, there was need for them to support it because it has reflected a number of programmes that would promote economic development in the country.

He further said that the 2009 national budget had addressed a number of development programmes which he said will help to harness economic development in Zambia when implemented well.

General Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, cited the mining, agriculture, tourism, health, education and construction sectors respectively as some of the key sectors that needed the full support of Zambian people in order to enhance economic development in the country.

The minister further said people should be happy that the 2009 national budget was focusing on diversification.

He noted that diversifying the country’s economy would help address some challenges associated with the global economic crunch.

He said the budget was reflecting the country’s economic recovery as it was massively supporting education, health, agriculture and tourism sectors.

And General Shikapwasha has brushed aside calls by some opposition political parties that government should institute an independent body that will audit the National Constitution Conference (NCC).

He said there was no need for some opposition political parties to start calling for an independent audit body to audit NCC because the commission had not misapplied resources that were allocated for the exercise.

He however said Zambians and the opposition political parties were free to call on the office of the Auditor General to audit the National Constitutional Conference.

The Chief Government spokesperson said the Auditor General’s office was the right government organ to audit government institutions and departments.

He has since called on the opposition and the Zambian people to support NCC to enable it execute its mandate within the stipulated time.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Speaking today at the Lusaka International Airport shortly before departure for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 14th African Union heads of state and government summit, President Banda said his government would support the formation of the United States of Africa.

He said that since Zambia was a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), she would support efforts of the SADC organ to implement the United States of Africa.

Mr. Banda said the idea of a United States of Africa was to foster unity, peace, security and enhance economic development on the continent.

Meanwhile, President Banda has expressed happiness at the manner the ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were resolving political differences in Zimbabwe.

President Banda said he was overwhelmed to see the two political parties working towards forming a government of national unity, a move he said would end the political impasse in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

He said the Zambian government will support all efforts meant to resolve political differences in that country especially that Zambia had a lot to share with Zimbabwe.

President Banda is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, and he was seen-off at the Airport by Vice President George Kunda, Information Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha, Tourism Minister, Catherine Namugala, Home Affairs Minister, Kalombo Mwansa and other senior government officials.

Commerce Minister Felix Mutati, Energy and Water Development Minister, Kenneth Konga and Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande are already in Ethiopia.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS