And Health Minister, Kapembwa Simbao, has described the condition of Justice Sakala as stable.
Justice Sakala was evacuated to South Africa after a team of medical doctors recommended that his heart problem needed further investigations.
The Chief Justice fell ill last week and was admitted to Lusaka trust hospital.
Meanwhile, Science and Technology Minister, Peter Daka, has been hospitalised at a private Hospital in Lusaka.
Mr. Simbao however declined to state his condition.
[ZNBC]
Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya, has reiterated government’s determination to improve the aviation industry in the country.
Ms. Siliya says government will continue to rehabilitate facilities at the country’s airports to ensure they meet international standards.
She says the move will also help to promote tourism in the country as more tourists will be able to visit various attractions in the country.
The minister was speaking in Lusaka at a cocktail organised by Kenya Airways.
And Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer, Titus Naikuni, said the airline is willing to partner with authorities in Zambia in the promotion of tourism.
The Zambian government has indicated that efforts are underway to re-introduce a national airline.
[ZNBC]
The Executive Committee of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has resolved that parliament should be mandated to ascertain the health of a sitting President to continue holding office.
The members agreed, that with one third majority, members of parliament should initiate a motion through the speaker to remove the President from office on medical grounds.
Committee members said in Lusaka on Tuesday that within 14 days after the motion has passed through parliament the speaker should request the chief justice to constitute a team of medical experts to examine the health of a President.
The members said within seven days of the appointment of the medical committee the President should appear before the doctors failure to which they would constitute a ground for impeachment.
During the debates commissioner, Daniel Monkombwe, argued that cabinet would not be the best group to determine whether the health of the President should be scrutinized.
He said this is because cabinet members are Presidential appointees who may be victimised in the process.
Commissioners Richard Kapita and Ernest Mwansa fully endorsed the proposal for parliament to initiate the impeachment process on medical grounds.
Reverend David Masupa also supported the proposal citing parliament’s role of offering checks and balances to the executive.
And Committee Chairperson, Michael Mabenga has appointed a sub committee to scrutinize the proposals for parliament to be mandated to initiate inquiries into the President’s health.
[ZNBC]
The number of Cholera cases in Lusaka has significantly reduced in the last two weeks.
Lusaka District Disaster Management and Mitigation Committee Chairperson, Christah Kalulu, has attributed the reduction to a number of interventions put in place by the committee.
Ms Kalulu, who is also Lusaka District Commissioner, cited community sensitization as a major factor that has led to a reduction in the number of Cholera cases.
She was speaking in Lusaka today during the Lusaka District Disaster Management and Mitigation Committee weekly media briefing in Lusaka today.
Ms Kalulu disclosed that her committee has released K162 million to go towards the erection of 18 water tanks in all cholera prone areas of the district to enable residents have access to safe and clean water.
She further disclosed that six water tanks would be mounted in Kanyama and another six in Chawama Compound.
Ms Kalulu said the committee has so far used K501 million for the distribution of chlorine and disinfection of surfaces in the affected areas, from the K2.4 billion budgetary allocation for disaster management.
She reiterated government’s commitment in assisting affected communities but urged the public to take precautionary measures such as proper disposal of waste and observing high hygienic standards to mitigate the further spread of Cholera.
Ms Kalulu has since commended the media for being pro-active in highlighting and reporting issues relating to Cholera.
ZANIS/JT/GP/AM/ENDS…
POLICE in Chililabombwe have impounded two diplomatic minibuses presumed to belong to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which were allegedly being used for smuggling bags of mealie meal from Zambia via Kasumbalesa border post.
The Police Officers manning Kasumbalesa border post also intercepted a Zambian truck and a DRC truck after they attempted to smuggle about 70 bags of mealie meal concealed in Cerelac baby food boxes that were being transported from Lusaka to the DRC.
Confirming the development, Chililabombwe District Commissioner, Timothy Musonda told ZANIS that the development was as a result of intensified border patrols aimed at curbing mealie meal smuggling which has become rampant through the boder area.
Mr. Musonda said the drivers of the two diplomatic minibuses allegedly belonging to the DRC government escaped with the keys of the buses, making it impossible for the Police to open them and determine the number of bags of mealie meal that were about to be smuggled.
The two minibuses bearing registration numbers 4CD 62Z and 4CD 44Z respectively, are currently packed at Kasumbalesa Police Post.
And police also impounded two truck at the same border. He said the two trucks were intercepted while the owners were off-loading the bags of mealie meal from the Zambian truck onto the Congolese truck on the pretext that the consignment was cerelac baby food.
The registration number of the Zambian truck is ABJ 7484 while that of the Congolese truck is KT BE 2161. Both trucks are packed at Kasumbalesa border post.
Mr. Musonda said the impounded mealie meal would be sold to the local residents. He hailed the Police for their tireless efforts in curbing smuggling which poses a threat to national food security.
ENDS/VM/PK/ZANIS
Government has told the Lusaka City Council to ensure that the new Lusaka City master plan addresses the persistent traffic congestion in the city.
Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani says the city master plan should provide a solution to the traffic congestion in central business district of the city.
Mr. Mangani also challenged the local authority to take into account the expansion of the province to avoid compounding traffic congestion challenge in the city.
He expressed concern at the inertia of the local authority to inspect the construction works taking place along the line of rail in Lusaka which has contributed to the traffic congestion in the city.
Mr. Mangani further pointed out that the construction of sub-standards buildings in the central business district of Lusaka was adding to the untidy look of the city.
He said this today during a stakeholders meeting convened to look at ways of trying to find ways of lessening traffic congestion in the city.
Speaking earlier, Acting Lusaka City Council Director of Planning Joseph Mukupa said the council was taking into account the social and economical dimensions in the new plans for the city.
Mr. Mukupa said these include construction of shopping malls away from the central business of the district in a bid to decongest the city.
He said the council was carrying out feasibility studies aimed at improving the flow of traffic in the city.
Mr. Mukupa disclosed that the council was looking at ways of creating by-passes on Dedan Kimati road, Lumumba –Kalamambo road junction and initiating a road network along the Zesco pylons.
And Commissioner of Lands, Fortune Kachamba, said the commission is considering repossessing unfinished buildings and idle land so that it can be given to serious developers.
ZANIS/JT/AM/ENDS
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has repositioned itself in a new plan to further boost the fight against corruption in Zambia.
The new plan is going to run for the next five years starting from this year.
ACC Valentine Chileshe said the new strategic vision was aiming at embracing many stakeholders and people in broadening the fight against corruption.
Justice Chileshe said the commission has recorded progress towards achieving a number of milestones which were aimed at improving its management and operational capacity during the just ended strategic period which ran between 2004 an 2008.
He expressed confidence that through the new strategic plan, the commission will be able to address the challenges it faced between 2004 and 2008, especially with government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
And Permanent Secretary for Management Development Division (MDD) at Cabinet office, George Kawatu, said the implementation of the strategic plan or lack of it will not only have an impact on the ACC’s capability to fight corruption but on the wider concept of governance.
Speaking at the same occasion same occasion, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Tom Carter said the international community regarded Zambia as a model in the fight against corruption.
Mr. Carter disclosed that the British government is ready to provide continued support to the commission through funding from the Department For International Development (DFID), which has since provided seven million British pounds to the ACC.
ZANIS/AC/KSH/ENDS
The United States government has pledged continued support and partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
US Ambassador to Zambia, Donald Booth, said the US government will continue to partner with the regional economic body in areas such as expansion of value added trade.
Mr. Booth said this when he presented his credentials to COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya as a special representative to COMESA in Lusaka today.
He said the American government is also committed to continue assisting and cooperating with COMESA in other new areas such as implementation of the body’s common investment area.
Mr. Booth stressed that his government will work in solidarity with COMESA member states in their efforts to improve people’s lives through good governance, trade expansion and economic growth.
He noted that regional economic integration and trade expansion is currently very important because of the global economic downturn.
Mr. Booth added that this is in order to preserve the economic advances which COMESA countries made in recent years in alleviating poverty.
He disclosed that his government has since 1999 provided approximately US$70 million to support COMESA and its regional integration efforts.
And speaking after receiving letters of credence, COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya said the regional body is looking forward to continue with warm relations under the in-coming administration of President elect Barrack Obama.
Mr. Ngwenya said the American support through the USAID has been instrumental in the development of COMESA programmes on agriculture, peace and security among others.
He said the cooperation between USAID and COMESA has further created opportunities for more cooperating partners to work with the regional group.
Meanwhile Mr. Ngwenya has congratulated American people for the unity of purpose they exhibited during the campaign, election and transition from a republican to a democrat administration.
He described the election of President elect Barrack Obama and his inauguration scheduled for tomorrow as a landmark event for the world.
ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS
Police and school authorities in Namwala District over the weekend rescued a 16-year-old girl from a plot to marry her off by her parents.
Both District Education Board Secretary, Munamukuni Shandele, and Simanje Basic School Head teacher, Contildah Bubala, confirmed to ZANIS today in separate interviews that, the pupil was forced by her father to stop school in preference to marriage.
Mr Shandele said his office in collaboration with Police Victim Support Unit, VSU, intervened to stop marriage arrangements following a petition by the victim to school authorities.
Mr Shandele explained that acting on this information, officers from the Zambia police VSU and education on Friday last week went to the victim’s home in Mbeza area but unfortunately the father bolted when he saw the officers.
He noted that it was sad that despite government’s efforts to improve levels of girls’ access to education, some parents have continued to frustrate efforts by forcing female pupils into early marriages.
“We are saddened by the increase in the number of parents forcing girls into early marriages,” said Mr Shandele.
He called on parents in the District to respect their childrens rights to education in order to help secure their future.
And Ms Bubala comfirmed to ZANIS that the girl was currently in her custody after fleeing home for fear of been beaten by her father.
ZANIS/FM/ENDS/SJK
A 53-year old employee of Nkana Water and Sewerage Company in Kitwe died on the spot on Saturday while a Chinese national had his arm amputated after the two vehicles they were traveling in collided head on along the Kitwe Chingola Road.
Coppperbelt police chief, Antoneil Mtetwa, told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Kitwe today that the accident happened after a Chinese national, only identified as Nick, who was driving a Land Cruiser ACD registration number 3169, hit into a Mazda ABD 3839 which was being driven by the deceased as he was trying to over take another vehicle.
Mr Mtetwa said the accident, which happened around 19:30 hours, also left two other people injured as they also bashed into the two vehicles which had collided.
He said Nick, who is currently admitted to Kitwe Central Hospital, had his arm amputated while another person, identified as Jeff Chetsn Rache, aged 36 years old, is admitted to Nchanga North Hospital in Chingola.
ZANIS/ENDS/CK/EB
Government says it attaches great importance to efforts of developing sports in the country.
Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Kenneth Chipungu, says government would provide relevant financial support to various sports activities as a measure of contributing to the development of the industry.
Mr Chipungu, however, challenged sporting academies to be transparent in the manner they utilize government grants meant for various sports projects.
He regretted that some sporting academies were in a habit of misappropriating government grants.
Mr Chipungu was speaking when he addressed coaches for various sports activities, from Chawama Youth Sports Academy in Lusaka today.
He called on the private sector to partner with government in the development of sports in the country.
He also advised youths in the country to actively participate in various sports activities as a measure of disengaging themselves in anti social vices.
ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/SJK
Zambia Under-20 midfielders Musonda Munaile and Nathan Sinkala have been overlooked in a provisional member-24 CHAN team that includes a shock call-up for unknown City of Lusaka striker Peter Chilemena.
Munaile of Young Zanaco and Sinkala from Green Buffaloes were the two outstanding players at the 2008 Cosafa Youth Championships and Sadc Games both held in South Africa last December but have both failed to make it on the CHAN team that goes into camp on Wednesday in Lusaka.
Chilemena, son of Faz executive committee member Marcha Chilemena, unlike Faz vice president Emmanuel Munaile’s son Musonda, has been drafted into the team from the blues with no distinguished and traceable junior international record.
Meanwhile, they are recalls in the team for ex-Under-23 defender Sanida Zulu from Chamibishi including his club mate and ex-Under-20 defensive midfielder Patrick Kasunga whose earlier promising junior career was hampered by injury.
Also recalled is Power Dynamos defender Perry Mubanga including his two club mates; midfielder Joseph Sitali and striker Elson Mkandawire.
Winger Allen Mukuka who recently joined Zanaco from demoted Nkana has also been handed his first recall since playing for Zambia in November 2007 in a 1-0 away defeat against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile the team is expected to leave for South Africa over the weekend ahead of a friendly match against Bafana Bafana to be played on January 27 at Super Stadium in Pretoria.
Team
Goalkeepers: Davey Kaumbwa, Mike Poto (Both Green Buffaloes), Rabson Mucheleng’ anga (Power Dynamos)
Defenders: Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Francis Kasonde, Perry Mubanga (Both Power Dynamos), George Chilufya, Elijah Tana (Both Nchanga Rangers), Sanida Zulu (Chambishi), Emmanuel Mbola (Mining Rangers), Mwelwa Sakala (Lusaka Dynamos).
Midfielders: Kebby Hachipuka (Green Eagles), William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos), Henry Banda, Allan Mukuka (Both Zanaco),Patrick Kasunga (Chambishi), Simon Bwalya, Joesph Sitali, Kennedy Mudenda (All Power Dynamos),Lawrence Pondani (Young Arrows).
Strikers: Roger Kola, Given Singuluma (Both Zanaco), Elson Mkandawire (Power Dynamos), Peter Chilemena (City of Lusaka).
The National Constitution Commission (NCC) will submit its report and draft constitution to the Minister of Justice this year for onward transmission to parliament for adoption.
NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda said this morning that he was supremely confident that by July this year, the constitution-making body would have completed its task and submit its report and draft constitution as required by the NCC Act of 2007.
Mr. Banda was speaking when British High Commissioners to Zambia, Thomas Carter and Carolyn Davidson paid a courtesy call on him at his office today.
The NCC chairperson was pleased that the British government had offered to engage experts to assist with the editing of the final draft constitution.
He expressed confidence that this would add value to the NCC work.
He said six of the eleven NCC committees had already completed their work while the remaining five would complete theirs by next month.
Recounting the NCC calendar, Mr. Banda said the main conference would be summoned in April 2009 to consider and adopt the recommendation of all the reports in readiness for their submission to the Ministry of Justice.
“We are anxious to deliver a good constitution to the people of Zambia and we are sufficiently geared to deliver the task despite the challenges we are currently facing,” he said.
Some of the challenges included insufficient funds to translate the report and draft constitution into Zambia’s various local languages as well as publicizing the two documents for 60 consecutive days in the media as required by the NCC Act.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Thomas Carter said his government was committed to helping the NCC to draft its report and constitution.
On additional assistance, Mr. Carter said he would discuss the issue with donors and cooperating partners.
The meeting was attended by NCC vice chairpersons, Leonard Hikaumba and Faustina Sinyangwe as well as NCC Secretary, Russell Mulele and chief rapporteur, Davison Mendamenda.
ZANIS/PC/KSH/ENDS
NITROGEN Chemicals of Zambia ( NCZ) is seeking for moral support from stakeholders to persuade government to fully fund the fertilizer production industry this year.
Members of the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers at NCZ, are currently going around the country to talk to traditional leaders, farmer groups and concerned citizens to rally behind the company in persuading government to release funds for the production of fertilizer.
Vice Treasurer of the union Soka Nyirenda, during a walk-in interview with ZANIS in Chipata today, said government should fully fund NCZ because the company produces quality fertilizer compared to other countries.
Mr. Nyirenda said the general citizenry was concerned with the fertilizer which comes from outside the country because it was not known what effects the fertilizer would cause to soils in future.
Mr. Nyirenda who was flanked by NCZ Shop Steward, Allan Sinyinza, said production of fertilizer locally would ensure reduced prices of the commodity and also enable small scale farmers access it in good time.
He said NCZ was a complex plant in the sense that there were various factories within the same plant. Mr. Nyirenda said NCZ did not only produce fertilizers but also Sulphuric Acid, gases and explosive grades which were used in mines.
He said the equipment in the fertilizer plant only needed minor repairs and if government could fully fund the institution, it would go back on its feet to start full production of fertilizer.
Mr. Nyirenda observed that all along, NCZ had been running on funds borrowed from financial institutions to produce fertilizers, saying, the grants which it received from government was erratic.
He said government had been getting fertilizer from NCZ which it distributed to farmers on a subsidized price under the Fertilizer Support Program ( FSP) but had not paid back to the institution on time, making it fail to meet operational costs.
ENDS/SM/PK/ZANIS
By Wesley Ngwenya
As I type these thoughts to my computer, there are about five Zambia Air Force jets flying over our neighborhood. They have been doing this for the last five days. At first, when I saw these jets flying over the city of Lusaka, I thought well maybe we were practicing in order to rescue our neighbors south or provide military support elsewhere in Africa. Then I was told the jets were getting ready for the opening on the National Assembly. What?
It is an absolute shock for me to see the government burning expensive jet fuel when there is so much poverty going on in the country. Kanyama residents are still stuck with floods in their front yards and cholera claiming their dear ones. Mazyopa residents are still living in tents after the government demolished their houses. Food is still expensive for many families across the country. Farmers have been unable to buy inputs because they are too expensive.
What is it about our leaders’ lack of vision? They are so shortsighted that they are always thinking about the now. What drives them to run for political office in the first place? It is no other than protecting their selfish interests over the interests of the majority of Zambians. These leaders cannot even distinguish between what belongs to the government and what belongs to their political parties let alone to themselves. Unfortunately, to them it is one and the same thing. They change their minds so often on important issues to fit their agenda. They have no morals and their work ethic leaves much to be desired.
What kind of leaders would see sense in spending taxpayers’ money flying jets in the sky for hours? I take it our money that is spent on their expensive SUVs, fuel, allowances, phone bills, girlfriends, and boyfriends is not enough. They are so addicted to abuse that they are always looking for opportunities to mismanage the resources entrusted to them.
In a couple of years let us show them that we have the power to hire and fire. Let us use the power of our vote to hire new and sober minded politicians. There are some good and well meaning politicians that we can count on. Let us take advantage of them. Let us even encourage people we know have exceptional leadership qualities to run for political office next time we have elections. They could save this country from total disaster since the current ones have completely failed.
© Lusaka Times
