MMD’s Veteran politician and Government Chief Whip in parliament Mr Vernon Mwaanga told ZANIS in an interview that he has made tremendous improvement after undergoing a successful operation on his left ear at at Garden Court Morningside clinic in Johannesburg.

Mr Mwaanga will remain in South Africa until Thursday when he is due for a review. He is expected to return to Zambia on Saturday

Yesterday, president Rupiah Banda visited Mr Mwaanga, and Chief Justice, Enerst Sakala who is currently undergoing medical treatment in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Justice Sakala was discharged from Milpark Hospital a few days ago and is due for review this week.

The President also visited former Presidential Affairs Minister, Cecil Holmes, who arrived in Johannesburg on Friday for medical attention.

Mr Banda is also due to visit Science and Technology Minister, Peter Daka, who is also in South Africa for medical attention.

Meanwhile, President Banda is today expected to join other SADC Heads of State and government at an extraordinary Summit on Zimbabwe.

The Summit, which is scheduled to take place at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, has been called by South Africa, as current Chair, for regional leaders to try and find a durable settlement of the political stalemate in Zimbabwe following last year’s Presidential elections.

The meeting comes in the wake of the latest fruitless attempt by President Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to agree on the sharing of key ministerial positions, which has been the thorniest issue in the formation of a government of national unity.

High Commissioner, Leslie Mbula, told ZANIS ahead of President Banda’s arrival that Zambia was hopeful that today’s meeting will yield positive results in finding a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean situation.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS

Government has called on Zambians living in the diaspora to assist implement government’s efforts in addressing problems the country is currently going through.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga said government was committed to promoting Public Private Participation in order to enhance development in the country.

Mr. Konga said this yesterday during the launch of Europa Drilling Services (EDS), a new company involved in providing drilling services which is been spearheaded by Zambians living in the United Kingdom.

Mr Konga said EDS could not have come at a better time into the water sector than when the capital city is experiencing cholera outbreak due to lack of clean and safe drinking water.

He said the water sector remains critical to the social and economic development of the country and was optimistic that EDS will contribute positively to the water sector in the country.

Mr Konga said Zambia currently faces acute water scarcity because of the inadequate infrastructure in the water sector as a result, the country lacks water for irrigation, power generating, for energy, agriculture, domestic and other aspects of water use.

He said the issues of climate change has created droughts in the country and has resulted in the scarcity of the commodity in the country.

Speaking earlier, EDS Chief Executive Officer Nawa Sumbwanyambe said his company is responding to government’s call for people in the diaspora to come and implement government’s efforts in social and economic development.

He said EDS is bringing in the country a cutting edge drilling equipment which was made possible through collaboration between a leading UK based drilling company and EDS.

Dr Sumbwanyambe said the equipment will add value to people’s lives as it will help people in water blue areas to access clean and safe drinking water.

ENDS//PM/PK/ZANIS

Justice Sakala was evacuated to South Africa after a team of medical doctors recommended that his heart problem needed further investigations. The Chief Justice is hospitalized at Milpark hospital were he is receiving treatment. And Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga is also receiving treatment in South Africa.

The president, whose presidential plane and his entourage touched down at Oliver R. Tambo International Airport around 15:15 hours, is in South Africa for the extraordinary SADC heads of state summit which opens tomorrow in Pretoria.

Mr. Banda was welcomed by Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula and other senior government officials already there.

The President Banda was immediately after arrival driven to Sandton Southern Sun Hotel where he is lodging.

The SADC heads of state extraordinary summit has been called upon to discuss the fourth implementation of the power sharing agreement between Zanu PF leader Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai in Zimbabwe.

The agreement which was brokered in September 2008 provides that Mr. Mugabe remains Zimbabwe’s president while Mr. Tsvangirai becomes prime minister.

Mr. Mugabe has however been accused of failing to enforce the agreement by holding on to key government portfolios.

The Zimbabwean people and the Southern African region expect a positive outcome of tomorrow’s meeting for the once prosperous southern African nation.

ZANIS/SK/CM/ENDS

Zambia is hopeful that Monday’s extraordinary SADC Heads of State Summit will yield positive results in finding a lasting solution to the Zimbabwean political crisis.

And President, Rupiah Banda, is expected to arrive in South Africa today to attend the extraordinary Summit called to discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe, scheduled to be held at the Presidential Guest House in the South African administrative capital, Pretoria.

Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula, who confirmed President Banda’s attendance, said Zambia looks forward to a positive outcome from the Summit as peace in Zimbabwe is peace in Zambia and the region as a whole.

The South African government has called the extraordinary meeting, in its capacity as current Chair of the 14 member regional grouping, to try to break the ongoing impasse in the formation of a government of national unity following last year’s disputed presidential elections.

President Banda is expected to arrive at Oliver Thambo International airport about 14:45 hours on Sunday and will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, and his Permanent Secretary, Tens Kapoma, among other officials,.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to Botswana, who is also accredited to SADC, Reuben Musakabantu, is already in Pretoria ahead of the Summit.

Mr Mbula said the President is coming for a very serious meeting aimed at finding a lasting solution to the political impasse in neighbouring Zimbabwe, which has been going on for a long time.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have failed in their latest attempts to form a unity government brokered by SADC mediator former South African President Thabo Mbeki in which Tsvangirai is supposed to become prime minister while Mugabe stays as President.

The deal first faltered after the MDC accused Mugabe of wanting to take the most powerful cabinet posts.

The SADC extraordinary meeting follows a decision of the meeting held in Harare last Monday attended by SADC Chairperson, Kgalema Montlanthe, deputy chairperson, Armando Guebuza and Facilitator Thabo Mbeki with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and breakaway MDC leader Arthur Mutambara.

The political deadlock has worsened the problems facing Zimbabwean from Cholera epidemic, food shortages, skyrocketing inflation.

ENDS/SJK/PK/ZANIS

THE Movement for Multi-party democracy [MMD] in Nakonde district in Northern Province has joined other party cadres across the country in supporting the calls for President Rupiah Banda to become the party president.

The party cadres who marched in Nakonde today in support of the calls for President Banda to become party president appealed to the MMD National executive Committee [NEC] to urgently hold an extra ordinary meeting to table the issue of President Banda assuming the post of party president.

District chairman Billy Silwimba franked by his constituency chairman Joy Siame said the MMD in Nakonde is in full support of the calls by some party members to have President Banda take over the presidency of the party.

“As a party in Nakonde, we would like to add our voices in supporting the proposal of President Banda becoming party president,” Said Mr. Silwimba.

Mr. Silwimba added that the party in Nakonde wants President Banda to become party president so that he can combine well his duties as Republican president as well as that of party president. He added that the move would also bring peace and unite in the party.

Mr. Silwimba also called on the party cadres in the border town to remain united saying the ruling party has scored many achievements in various sectors of the economy mainly due to the unite exhibited at various organs of the party.

And party trustee Joseph Mayota who presented the petition to the district party chairman said the calls for President Banda to become party president are aimed at strengthening the party and prepare for the 2011 general elections.

Mr. Mayota said the party in Nakonde is confident that President Banda can successfully run the affairs of the party president adding that this was the reason why the calls have to be supported by all committed party members in the country.

MMD party national chairman Micheal Mabenga has been acting party president ever since President Levy Mwanawasa passed on in August last year.

President Mwanawasa who was third republican president and MMD party president died at Percy Military hospital in France after suffering a stroke.

ENDS/JM/PK/ZANIS

Today’s Scripture

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I John 4:4 NKJ).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

Are you facing a situation today that seems impossible? Even if you don´t see how things will work out, remember, you are created to overcome. As a child of the Most High God, the Greater One lives on the inside of you. There are seeds of faith planted in your heart, and the way you activate those seeds is by the words of your mouth. Begin to declare, “I am bigger than this problem. I am created to overcome. I am destined to live in victory because the Greater One lives inside of me.”

Friend, when you start speaking like that, all of heaven hears you and gets behind what you are saying. That´s why it´s so important to stir up the fire that God has placed on the inside of you. Don´t just sit back and be passive. That obstacle may look impossible, but God wouldn´t have allowed it in your life if He didn´t already know that you could overcome it! Quit looking at your difficulties as obstacles that are going to hold you back and start looking at them as opportunities that are going to push you forward into the live of victory He has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise of victory. Fill my heart with Your peace and joy today and help me to stay focused on You. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has urged women to change their mind set if they are to make it in business.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said modern women have failed to build on the rich background set by their mothers and grandmothers in order to grow and expand the involvement of women in business.

She said women have had to face many barriers and obstacles along the way but part of the problem has been their own mindset.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said women limit their level of business operations to safe areas saying few women have the courage to venture into challenging businesses such as in the manufacturing, construction, and transport sectors.

She said women need a paradigm shift in their scope of business, and should start thinking big if they are to compete meaningfully with men in business.

Mrs. Mwanawasa was speaking during the first ever Women in Business and Corporate Partnership Discussion Luncheon at Fairview Hotel in Lusaka today which was organized by Prime Innovators a team comprising seven ladies contesting in My Own Boss reality show.

And speaking at the same function, National Arts Council chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe urged women to use their brains in going about their business.

Ms Kapwepwe said challenges women face can be used as a vehicle to move forward, saying every situation whether positive or negative is an asset women can use to attain their business ambitions.

ENDS//PM/PK/ZANIS

By Wesley Ngwenya

It has always bothered me why ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, the vice president, police chiefs, air force chiefs, army chiefs, and other government officials go to the airport to wave their hands as the presidents gets on the plane to head somewhere. Every time the president leaves town government literally comes to a standstill for a couple of hours because every head of something heads to the airport. Is this really necessary or it is part of the job descriptions for these people?

Every time I personally drive to the airport I spend about K40,000 on gas in a small Toyota car. I wonder how much money is spent each time the president jets in or jets out at Lusaka International Airport. For arguments sake, lets say only about a hundred people, on average, go to welcome or say bye to the president and each of these “important” people drive their huge Toyota SUVs consuming about K80,000 worth of gas. That is K8 million spent on gas alone.

For some, K8 million may not seem to be a lot of money but this is money that could easily be saved and channeled to more deserving causes such as fire services, or ambulance services. Gas is not the only thing wasted when the president is escorted. There is probably cell phone usage and hundreds of government hours wasted. There are literally more than a hundred police men and women who parade the streets from Plot One to Lusaka International Airport several hours before the presidential motorcade drives by. That’s a lot of idle time for a poor country like ours.

Instead of all these ministers and government officials going to the airport to be part of the presidential cheerleading team I suggest that each time the president is leaving or coming–let them have mini-brainstorming sessions. It’s okay you can send one or two ministers to carry the president’s luggage but the rest of you need to be locked up in a meeting to brainstorm on real national issues. If you have never been in a brainstorming session please don’t worry just bring a pen and paper or your laptop. Brainstorm on how to revamp agriculture and use cost effective but efficient methods. Brainstorm about how you want to bring unemployment rate to maybe 30%. You do not have to admit this but, consider some of the opposition parties’ ideas and if you think they are brilliant then implement them. You will unlikely hear Sata or HH say, “hey wait a minute that was my idea, stop!” Instead they will work with you.

By the time the president comes back from Neverland, you would have come up not only with exciting proposals on these important issues but you would also have come up with implementation strategies. This, I hope, would excite the president and issue a decree that no more escorts to the airport.

Honestly, our leaders reduce themselves to be bootlickers to the appointing authority. If they know their job descriptions and capabilities vey well they do not have to parade the airport just to be recognized. During my years in the United States I really don’t remember seeing Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfield, Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice parading to shake hands before George Bush boarded Air Force One. Although Bush would probably have loved it but there were better things to do. Can our leaders too find better things to do instead of being on the cheerleading team of the president?

By Mingeli Palata

Not that I want to talk about the much acclaimed Obama inauguration seeing as most of the media has gotten the better of that story but just I want to say it was amusing to have my grand mother who isn’t really concerned with any form of politics glued to TV- she couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of the man on everyone’s lips. I have read all of his books and can really go on talking about the man or the joke that Joe Biden passed on the Supreme Court justice but this article is really about effective government. I mentioned Obama because news has it that he has introduced a new code of ethics for government officials in the capitol, I found that quite interesting and so I pondered to see how that move can apply to the local situation.

I find it funny that politicians in today’s Zambia view ministerial or political appointments as a reward for service or loyalty rendered to the President. And true to the word we saw how various politicians agitated over RB’s appointments. Yes political appointments for many today are but a conveyer belt to riches or a door opener to lots of opportunities. When you are appointed as a minister or an army chief its a chance for you to get some loot, loot loot the poor Zambian coffers. Shame!

I looked up the word minister and I found that it had interesting synonyms, some of which include servant. I would like to stop there. If we go by government for the people, by the people and of the people, we can arrive to a conclusion that ministers or government officials including the President are there to work for us- the people. Yet the contrary is true of today’s politics. Government officials are more of the upper class than our servants, they look  towards their interests other than our own.

Allow me to propose the following points which, in my view will help make our government run more effectively. For starters I have always told people that our government is the biggest government and if simple business theorem is anything to go by, the government should be closed- its too costly, we cant break even as a country. I think its time we considered a small government. Decentralize governance and reduce the number of ministries. They are too many and some of them can qualify as ministry departments, come on guys!

We need to deal with government work from a pragmatic point of view; yes we need to change our perceptions to suit the true meaning of service. Hence all vying for government posts should bear in mind that their job is to serve and they owe it to the people. That said I would like to add that government ministers should be chosen from outside parliament so as to ensure that only the best brains are recruited for national duty. Hiring ministers outside parliament will also ensure that MP’s concentrate on making laws and policies that take our country forward. This will improve checks and balances thereby breeding a more effective and efficient government.

Maybe all this might happen when we come up with a code of ethics for public servants unlike allowing a situation were people pursue selfish interests other than national interests. Maybe then we can have a government that believes in its own people and invests in its people than think that somehow some investor from Malaysia is the one that will redeem this country’s economic downturn. Maybe then we will have a government that will bail out Zambian Airways, so that we can move to and fro with ease and resuscitate Nitrogen chemicals so that our farmers can have their fertilizers.  Maybe we can have a government that is smart enough to takeover the mines now so that when the price of copper rises, they can channel the money towards alternative sources of energy such as biofuel and invest in sustainable agriculture. Maybe some day!