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MMD cadres petitioning the party leadership to appoint President Rupiah Banda as party president.
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.
“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.
Acting Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde dancing with his wife Veronica during Zambia Police annual ball in LilayiKASAMA central MP Saviour Chishimba and his counterpart from Luangeni, Angela Cifire leave national assembly buildings after a workshop on the budget processMEMBERS of the Zambia Army brass band blowing their instruments during the International customs day in LusakaZAMBIA Revenue Authority commissioner general Criticals Mwansa flanked by Environmental Council of Zambia acting director Chibesakunda Chibesa speaking during the international customs day in LusakaSOME Zambia Revenue Authority employees following proceedings during the international customs day in LusakaMMD cadres petitioning the party leadership to appoint President Rupiah Banda as party president. This was as the party's secretariate in LusakaTOO HOT TO HANDLE... MATERO MP Faustina Sinyangwe spotted at parliament buildings in Lusaka
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.
Mopani Copper Mines has offered two Tipper trucks and a Loader to the Copperbelt Solid Waste Management Company for use in garbage collection in Wusakile and Chamboli Mine Townships, where 12 more cases of typhoid have been recorded in the past two weeks.
Speaking during the District Epidemic Preparedness Committee meeting at the Council Chamber yesterday, Kitwe District Commissioner, Macdonald Mtine urged Copperbelt Solid Waste Management Company to use the equipment effectively and unblock all sewer lines in the area,to stop typhoid and dysentery from spreading.
Mr. Mtine said Mopani Copper Mines was also carrying out a public sensitization campaign to educate the residents in the two areas on the dangers of dysentery and cholera.
He further said Mopani was also distributing free chlorine to members of the public in the two area to ensure that the community had access to safe and clean drinking water.
And earlier at the same function Kitwe district Health Director Dr Chikafuna Banda the ministry of health in Kitwe has recorded 12 more cases of typhoid in the last two weeks.
Dr Banda said 67 other cases were recorded for the period beginning October, November and December from Chamboli and Wusakile Mine Townships.
He said the latest figures involved five females, 2 infants and five males all from Wusakile and the surrounding areas.
He called on residents of Wusakile Mine Township with symptoms of typhoid to rush to the nearest medical centre as drugs to treat the disease were available in all health institutions.
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?
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!
UNITED States Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth (R)
The United States (US) government says it will continue advising and assisting Zambia in the fight against HIV/AIDS in order to reduce the prevalence rate of the pandemic in the country.
US Ambassador to Zambia, Donald Booth, said his government was committed to the HIV/AIDS fight and has in this regard provided more than half a billion dollars to Zambia through the US Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS relief .
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Mkushi District Commissioner (DC), Mwila Kunda during his familiarization tour of Central Province yesterday, Mr. Booth said he was very impressed with the strategies put up by the Zambian government in its quest to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Ambassador, who was accompanied by USAID Director, Mellissa Williams and other US embassy officials, said in the few months that he has been in the country, he has noticed with great amusement the partnership that exists between government, NGOs and the church in the fight against the pandemic.
He said he was impressed that Zambia, through the support of his government and other collaborating partners, has made tremendous strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He added that he was deeply moved and inspired by those who, regardless of their HIV positive status, have come aboard and made contributions of different sorts to the HIV/AIDS fight.
Mr. Booth however said the fight against the scourge should not be left to the government alone but that every responsible citizen should participate in the fight in order for the country to emerge victorious in the war.
The Ambassador took time to inspect some USAID funded projects being undertaken in the area interacted with both the local community and his fellow nationals in the Mkushi framing block.
He observed that real Zambia lied in the rural communities hence his stay in the country would be incomplete if he did not tour the rural communities and interact with them.
He also observed that the spread of HIV/AIDS was quit rampant in rural areas hence the reason why USAID prioritized and strengthened its outreach projects in such areas.
Mr. Booth further applauded his fellow nationals for the contribution they were making towards the economic development of Zambia.
He said his country has enjoyed good relations with Zambia and that the two shall continue working as partners in development, even amidst the global economic challenges.
Mr. Booth also made a stop over at Tusekelemo Medical Centre run by the Mkushi White Farmers Association.
And speaking earlier, Mkushi District Hospital Director Rosemary Mwanza said the HIV prevalence rates have drastically dropped in the area following the consistent outreached programmes done by the hospital in conjunction with USAID funded projects such as CHAMP and Africare.
Mr. Mwanza said CHAMP and Africare have contributed immensely to the reduction of the spread of HIV in the area.
She said with the help of the two NGOs, remote areas such as Mboroma Ching’ombe and Chembe have been reached, adding that a lot of HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns as well as Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services have been tackled.
She added that the response among the people in the remotest areas of the district was overwhelming unlike those in the townships.
She said in places such as Mboroma, the hospital has recorded few or no cases of HIV positive people.
However, Dr. Mwanza noted that VCT was more prominent among the female community unlike their male counterparts.
She said the ignorance among the male community in the district regarding HIV/AIDS issues still remained a challenge and threatened the mitigation of the scourge in the area.
She said women actively participated in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns thereby contributing to the HIV/AIDS fight more than men.
And Dr.Mwanza said the major constraint that the hospital was currently facing was lack of qualified staff at rural health posts.
She said both the hospital and the rural health posts were understaffed due to lack of accommodation for health staff in the area.
She charged that lack of accommodation, coupled with high rentals demoralized heath workers and as a result they left the district for greener pastures.
Dr. Mwanza observed that the plight was even worse for those in the health posts because accommodation was limited and was not conducive enough for them.
She said a qualified nurse sent to a rural health posts definitely had an option between living in a grass thatched house with no electricity and working at a private clinic in urban areas.
She therefore appealed to government to consider constructing decent accommodation for health staff in order to boost their moral.
Dr. Mwanza said this will motivate the health workers as well as enable them to operate efficiently.
Meanwhile, Mkushi District Commissioner Mwila Kunda commended the US Ambassador to Zambia for visiting the district.
Mr. Kunda said the Ambassador’s visit was a clear indication that the US government cared about the plight of the rural community in Zambia.
He said the visit was especially important to the Ambassador as it would give him an understanding of how the donation which the US government was making to Zambia in the fight against AIDS was being spent.
He added that such visitations enabled the rural community, especially people infected with the virus to know who was supporting them.
Mr. Kunda expressed gratitude to the US government for helping reduce the HIV prevalence rate in the district as earlier indicated by Dr. Mwanza.
He hoped that the US government would continue helping Zambia even after changing government.
THE Chililabombwe District Joint Operations Committee (DJOC) against smuggling has intercepted over 500 bags of mealie meal which were about to be smuggled into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the last two weeks.
The committee, which comprises officers from the Zambia Police, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the Immigration Department, has also prosecuted and convicted six people during their intensified operations aimed at curbing mealie meal and maize smuggling.
Speaking when outgoing Coppperbelt Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Musonda, visited Kasumbalesa Border Post, DJOC Chairperson, Richard Kabwe, intimated that the committee had impounded 19 bicycles that were being used by smugglers.
Mr Kabwe, who is also Chililabombwe Police Officer in Charge, said the operations had also resulted into the arrest of 11 prohibited immigrants who have since been handed over to the immigration department.
He said about 300 bags of impounded mealie meal had been auctioned by the magistrates’ court while more court cases involving smuggling were yet to take off.
Last week, the committee impounded two Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mini-buses for allegedly smuggling mealie meal from Zambia through Kasumbalesa Border Post.
The committee also intercepted a Zambian and a DRC truck after they attempted to smuggle about 70 bags of mealie meal, concealed in cerelac baby food boxes that were being exported from Lusaka to the DRC.
And Ms Musonda commended the officers for their tireless efforts in curbing smuggling which posses a danger on the nation’s food security, saying the ban on maize and mealie meal exportation was still in effect.
Ms Musonda said the Zambian government was scheduled to hold a meeting with their DRC counterparts at which the issue of smuggling will be discussed with a view of finding a lasting solution.
She said the Consul General from the DRC offices in Ndola had officially apologized for the two diplomatic vehicles that were impounded in connection with mealie meal smuggling.
The outgoing Copperbelt Permanent Secretary reiterated the need for neighbouring countries to respect Zambian laws as well as the need for mutual respect and understanding among nations.
Herve Renard today named his 20-man squad to face South Africa in a friendly international on Tuesday at Super Stadium in Pretoria.
No foreign based players are in the team that is using the warm-up to prepare for the CHAN tournament that is a new Caf tournmaent for exclusively for home-based national team players that will be held in Cote d’Ivoire from February 22 to March 8.
The team includes two out of the four Zesco United players earlier called up for the match by Renard just 24 hour after the defending league champions refused to release any of their players due to their Caf Africa Champions League commitments next Saturday.
Zesco host Mathare United of Kenya next Saturday in Ndola in a Caf Africa Champions League preliminary round, first-leg match.
In the team from Zesco are goalkeeper Jacob Banda and defender Mulenga Nyambe while midfielders Jonas Sakuwaha and Jackson Mwanza have been withheld by the club.
Renard is set to hand first senior call-ups for Chambishi midfielder Patrick Kasunga, Red Arrows striker Aggripa Mbewe and Peter Chilemena of City of Lusaka.
There is also a recall for City defender Oswald Kalamba after four years in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, Zambia on Friday morning lost 3-1 in a training game to Zanaco at Barclays Banks sports complex in Lusaka.
Usually one wouldn’t read too much into such an informal match but it was the lackluster manner in which Zambia played in the first half that got even Renard heated up as he demanded reinforcements from Zesco after being left threadbare when five key players left for trials in Europe this week.
In the match, Zanaco took the lead thanks to two fine free-kicks delivered ala-Ashios Melu by midfielder Zebron Njobvu.
The first one rocketed through Zambia’s wall that looked more porous than a sieve hitting the inside of the post and it went in so fast after it seemed like it grazed the upright and out for touch.
Njobvu’s second, another thundering and accurate shot, accelerated so fast it left Davey Kaumbwa of Green Buffaloes riveted in his position.
Zanaco right-back Michael Bwalya sneaked in one goal in-between his club mates set-piece brace with a long-range drive to beat Kaumbwa.
City striker Makundika Sakala headed in Zambia’s consolation after the restart in which Renard’s side put up a much-improved display through they again lacked any character in attack.
And Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said the team leaves for South Africa on the eve of the match on Monday.
Meanwhile, South Africa have managed to secure the services of all their players for Tuesday match.
According the The Star newspaper, all the South Africa Premier Soccer League and SAFA have agreed to postpone all of next Wednesday evenings league matches to a date to be announced later.
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda (Zesco United),Davy Kaumbwa(Green Buffaloes),
Midfielders: Henry Banda (Zanaco), Lawrence Pondani (Young Arrows), Kebby Hachipuka (Green Eagles), Patrick Kasunga (Chambishi), Stanley Banda (Red Arrows), Kennedy Mudenda, Simon Bwalya, Joseph Sitali (All Power Dynamos),Allen Mukuka (Nkana)
Strikers: Agrippa Mbewe(Red Arrows), Elson Mkandawire Elson Peter Chilemena (City of Lusaka).
Low-cost housing water supply and sanitation project
Over K1.1 trillion is required to implement projects to satisfy the water demand for the country.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma, who confirmed the development in Parliament today, said over K1.1 trillion was needed to improve water reticulation in the country in line with the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and the Vision 2030.
Dr Puma was responding to a question raised by Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo who wanted to know what the water consumption for the country was and how much money was required to satisfy water demand in the country.
The local government and housing Deputy Minister further said that government had started working-out modalities aimed at improving water reticulation in the country.
He said the move to start implementing water projects was aimed at enhancing service delivery in the water sector as water consumption was increasing in the country.
Dr Puma however could not state when government through his ministry will meet water demand to satisfy the needs and aspirations of people in the country.
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amussa Mwanamwambwa exchange notes with President Rupiah Banda
Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa says any member of the National Assembly who will be found guilty of divulging information to the media will either be suspended or imprisoned for the period not exceeding 12 months or a fine.
Speaking in Parliament today, Mr. Mwanamwambwa said he is concerned with the behavior of some MPs who are giving out information contained in the proceedings to the media before tabling them in parliament.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa further said that he is concerned of some reports that he is receiving that some members of parliament giving out information contained in the proceeding before tabling them in the house to the media saying doing so was losing and diminishing the standards of the house.
He explained that Standing Order 15 of the National Assembly Act states that the Clerk should have custody of all votes or proceedings and that violation to the Standing Order 15 is gross contempt of the house and parliament respectively.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa said parliamentary documents must be treated confidential to the public until the proceedings are tabled before the parliament.
He warned that Members of the National Assembly who would be seen to be giving information to the media will be subjected to libel should there be remarks of defamation uttered from the public.
The Speaker further said that rushing to the media before proceedings are tabled in the house constitutes contempt of the house as Act 89 of the Constitution Cap 1 mandates all Members of Parliament to take an oath in order to preserve the constitution of the country.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa warned that any future violation of parliamentary rules and Laws will constitute stern action as it was the only way of restoring dignity and standards in the house.
He said stern action will include suspension of any Member of Parliament seen divulging information contained in parliamentary proceedings and votes before tabling them in the house as Act 87 provides privileges of the house without undue influence from the public.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa has since called on Members of Parliament to maintain rule and order in order to preserve the dignity and standards of the august house.
About 3,072 workers have lost their jobs in the country’s mining sector due to the global economic and financial crunch.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxell Mwale says 345 workers were laid off at Bwana Mukubwa while 1,716 and 1,011 workers lost their jobs at Luanshya and Chambeshi respectively.
Presenting a ministerial statement on the global financial crisis on the mining sector, Mr. Mwale said the mining sector, which expanded considerably due to the prudent government policies and the high metal prices on the world market, faced a lot of challenges that resulted in job loss.
He cited the inadequate power supply, apprehension over the new fiscal regime and the global economic crunch as some of the challenges that resulted in job loss in the mining sector and low demand for mineral commodities.
Mr. Mwale said despite the various challenges, the sector recorded growth of 4.9 percent in 2008 as compared to 3.6 percent growth recorded in 2007.
He said the sector recorded growth mainly due to the increase in copper and cobalt production.
Mr. Mwale said copper production stood at 480,901 tonnes as at October 31, 2008 which represented an increase of 3.6 percent higher than the 462,083 tonnes produced in 2007 during the correspondence year.
He further said that exploration projects in the mining sector have also been severely affected as the projects have no revenue streams and that there are mainly dependent on the stock exchange and loans from Banks for financing.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda says there is need to create awareness about the importance for adequate and decent shelter for the poor in society.
Mrs. Banda said the need for decent accommodation for all is important because access to shelter is a Human Right.
She was speaking at the Habitat for Humanity and Standard Chartered Bank building project in Chazanga today.
Speaking earlier, Habitant for Humanity National Director Petronella Shiaka said her organization will continue to build more houses for the less privileged in society.
Ms Shiaka noted that Zambia’s housing problems have been compounded by one of the world’s most devastating diseases, the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
She observed that 70 percent of urban population in Lusaka has continued to have no access to affordable and quality housing.
And Standard Chartered Bank Managing Director Muzinga Melu said the bank in partnership with Habitat for Humanity will also build eight houses in order to plough back to the community despite the global financial crunch.
Access Bank Zambia limited has embarked on a product promotion drive aimed at encouraging parents to open bank accounts for their children who are below the age of 14.
Access Bank Commercial and Consumer Banking Officer Isabel Chengo says there is need for parents to prepare for the future of their children by opening savings accounts for them.
Ms Chengo says with the current global economic crunch people should consider saving as the way they can prepare for the future and overcome economic problems.
In an interview with ZANIS shortly after presenting an account number to six year-old Maria Kuwani of Lusaka.
Ms Chengo explained that Maria is the youngest account holder with K1, 000,000 in her account which will accrue an interest of three percent per annual.
She stated that parents should explain to their children on the importance and the benefits of banking.
And Maria’s grandmother Josephine Mehl bemoaned the lack of interest in saving among youths in the county.
Mrs. Mehl noted that there is need for parents to ensure that they install a culture of saving in their children.
She said saving money was one of the ways children could contribute to the economic growth of nation.
Mrs. Mehl has since called on other parents and guardians to take advantage of the new bank product and ensure that the future of their children was secured by opening bank accounts for them.
