The Lusaka Magistrates Court has sentenced prominent musician Maiko Zulu, formerly known as St Michael, to six months imprisonment with hard labour, suspended for one year on one charge of trafficking in five balls of cannabis weighing 17 grammes.

Passing sentence on Zulu, 39, of house No. 15, Libala Stage 2 in a packed courtroom yesterday, Magistrate David Simusamba said Zulu, while serving his sentence, should not engage in any offence related to drug trafficking, failure to which he would be slapped with a custodian sentence.

“I have considered facts in mitigation and it is apparent that the offender is a house-hold name and a chief breadwinner of both his family and extended family.

“I will, therefore, impose a jail sentence on you, Maiko Zulu, of six months with hard labour and a suspended sentence of 12 months in which you will be required to visit 10 high schools in Lusaka, perform at Government functions and public holidays for free,” he said.

The magistrate said Zulu, in his community work, would be required to visit 10 high schools in Lusaka Province to speak about the dangers of drug abuse.

Mr Simusamba said Zulu deserved lenience because he was a first offender and an icon in championing child labour issues in communities.

Facts before the court were that on February 3, 2009, Zulu did traffic in psychotropic substances namely marijuana contrary to the laws of Zambia.

The sentence means Zulu would serve the 12-month sentence outside prison but should not commit a similar offence within the stipulated time.

In mitigation, Zulu through his lawyer, Sugzo Dzekedzeke, said he prayed that the court did not give him custodial sentence because he had not wasted the court’s time and taxpayers’ money by admitting the charge without delay.

Zulu said if the court meted out custodial sentence on him, his dependants would suffer because he was not just the chief breadwinner of his household but also of his extended family, which included his mother and eight children from his deceased siblings.

He said he had two school-going children who would suffer if he was sent to province.

Zulu said he was International Labour Organisation (ILO) ambassador against child labour and also an ambassador of the courts of law through his day-to-day activities.

He said he was also coordinating a programme on behalf of ILO meant for creation of employment for youths in the country.

Zulu said should a custodial sentence be slapped on him, the ILO programmes would be affected.

He said he was also the coordinator of a football team in his community that sought to identify talent and prevent youths from engaging in dangerous activities.

Local musicians that attended Zulu’s judgment included Angela Nyirenda, Saboi Imboela, Danny Peddle, Mozegeta, Mathew Tembo, James Chamanyazi and Moses Sakala.

Comedian Bob Nkoshya was also present.
[ Zambia Daily Mail]

President Rupiah Banda and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania have agreed to explore the possibility of a concession on the Tanzania-Zambia Railways (TAZARA) as a way of improving its performance.

The two Presidents have also agreed to cooperate in the rehabilitation of the Single Point Mooring (SPM) at the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) pipelines in order to enhance the flow of oil to Zambia.

This is contained in a communique issued in Dar-Es Salaam following the official visit of President Banda to Tanzania.

According to the communique, the two Heads of State have agreed on the immediate and long term strategies to address the logistical chain from the port, to TAZARA until final destination.

And the two Presidents have urged the relevant ministries to convene a meeting of experts to expedite the conclusion of an agreement on the One Stop Border Post concept.

Speaking earlier, TAZAMA Pipelines Regional Manager Abraham Saunyama said TAZAMA was failing to operate to its full capacity due financial problems that had dodged the institution.

Mr Saunyama bemoaned the fact that the equipment was old but noted that rehabilitation has been underway since 1986.

He appealed to the governments of Tanzania and Zambia to help recapitalise the company whose facilities have been in existence for over 30 years.

Mr Saunyama said the equipment at TAZAMA currently posed both economical and environmental challenges hence the need for the two governments to agree to finance the rehabilitation of the equipment.

He appealed to the Zambian government to make it possible for the company to borrow so that its facilities could be protected in order for them to continue to serve and contribute to the economic development of the two countries.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga echoed the sentiments of Mr Saunyama adding that the facility was the ‘blood vessel’ for the Zambian economy.

And Tanzanian Minister of Energy and Minerals Adam Malima said the concerns raised by TAZAMA Pipelines Regional Manager Abraham Saunyama would be looked into and see how they could be resolved.

Mr Malima said issues considered as bottlenecks from Tanzania would be attended to and a consensus would be reached as soon as possible.

The two Presidents also discussed issues relating to the supply of power to Rukwa region in Tanzania as well as transport facilitation under the One Stop Border concept.

The two Heads of State who exchanged views on the performance of various key institutions and sectors such as TAZARA, TAZAMA and the Port of Dar-Es- Salaam also emphasised the importance of revitalising the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC) between the two countries in order to create a platform in which issues of mutual benefit could be dealt with speedily.

President Banda and President Kikwete further re-affirmed their commitment to ensuring that the 9th session of the JPC of cooperation is held.

With regard to regional issues, the two Presidents pledged to continue to work together to address matters of mutual concern in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)region and the continent as a whole.

”In this regard, they exchanged views on the situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe,” reads the communique in part.

The two Presidents also expressed hope that the problems facing DRC and Zimbabwe would be resolved so as to ensure peace, security, stability and development in the SADC region and the continent as a whole.

Earlier, President Banda toured TAZAMA Pipelines tank farm and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Port of Facilities.

Mr Banda assured management at TAZAMA after he toured the facilities that he would work closely with his Tanzanian counterpart to see how the problems affecting the company could be solved.

”I have had useful discussions with President Kikwete and have reached agreements that will see us move forward. Our forefathers President Kaunda and Julius Nyerere were very wise to embark on joint ventures such as TAZAMA and TAZARA which have greatly benefited our two countries,” he said.

Mr Banda called for increased investments between the two countries and thanked the people of Tanzania for looking after the joint facilities with care.

Later President Banda toured the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Port Facilities and expressed satisfaction at the operations of the company.

”Iam pleased to see what is happening here which signifies the cooperation between our two countries. This is the way we should go as Africans and if we do more of joint ventures, we will get quickly to the concept of African Unity,” he said.

And President Banda who was in Tanzania for a two day official visit has since left Tanzania for Malawi.

Mr Banda was seen off at Juilus Nyerere International Airport by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and other senior government officials.

He is accompanied to Malawi by Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and other senior government officials.
ZANIS/ENDS/FM/CLM

President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambians living in border areas with Zimbabwe not to be restrictive but to sell mealie meal to their Zimbabwean brothers and sisters who are passing through hard economic times.

Addressing Zambians resident in Lilongwe, Malawi today, Mr. Banda, who is on a two day official visit to Malawi said he was happy that at long last, a government of national unity was being established in Zimbabwe so that efforts can now be directed to rebuilding that country.

President Banda also urged Zambia professionals working abroad to contribute to the development of the country by ploughing back part of their incomes into various investment ventures back home.

He said Zambia has a yawning potential in tourism, agriculture and other sectors which can help grow the economy of the country.

Mr  Banda  also assured Zambians in Malawi  that government is working hard to address the country’s economic challenges brought about by the current global economic meltdown.

Mr. Banda said government has put in place a wide range of measures aimed at attracting investment in tourism and other sectors of the economy in order to create jobs and wealth for Zambians.

He said government was working towards transforming the northern circuit and Luapula into one of the country’s leading tourist destinations.

President Banda noted with concern that copper prices have plummeted from US$8,900 per ton to US$ 3,400 at the moment, a situation he said was not favourable for the growth of the Zambian economy.

He however said government was doing everything possible to address these challenges by diversifying from the dependency on copper mining to agriculture, tourism and other sectors.

He said Zambia has a lot to learn from Malawi which has succeeded in subsidizing and distributing agriculture inputs to small scale farmers leading to that country’s improved national food security in recent years.

President Banda said it was important for him to visit all neighbouring countries in order to create a stable economic and political environment for continued peace and stability in the region.

He has so far been to Angola, Tanzania, now in Malawi and will proceed to the rest of the neighbouring countries.

Foreign Affairs minister, Kabinga Pande, Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya and her counterpart for Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga attended the meeting.

President Banda returns home tomorrow in the afternoon.

ZANIS/PK/KSH/ENDS

The shortage of Mealie Meal has become serious in Choma in Southern Province following suspension of production of the commodity by Choma Milling Company.

The situation has resulted in a sharp increase in the price of mealie meal
on the black markets where a 25 kilogramme bag of roller meal is now
fetching K 75,000.

A survey by ZANIS in Choma this morning found National Milling
Company mealie meal brands on display for sale along Winston Street in the
town centre where vendors, mostly youths, are cashing in on the shortage of
the commodity.

Bags of National Milling Company mealie meal were also found on the open
market at Makalanguzu market.

Some, traders from surrounding districts of Sinazongwe, Monze, Namwala and
Kalomo have been flocking to Choma in the hope that Choma Milling Company
will resume production.

Meanwhile, long winding queues this morning had formed up as early as
06.00 hours at Spar Choma after word went round that the chain store had
received mealie meal from National milling Company.

By 08.00 at the opening of business, management at Spar had a tough time
controlling the crowds that had besieged the premises wanting to buy mealie
meal.

District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni told ZANIS in Choma today (Tuesday)that most
residents seemed to have gone into panic buying because of the uncertainty
surrounding the availability of mealie meal following the suspension of
production by Choma Milling Company due to lack of maize.

Mr Apuleni expressed fears that the situation might result into hoarding of
the commodity in homes.

ZANIS/ENDS/CM/CLM

After much deliberation on the 2009 Budget, CDP (Citizens Democratic Party) takes note that the INTENT of the 2009 budget as presented by the MMD government is good and can be said to be “on point”. However, reading further into the budget, the party finds that put into practice, this budget puts up a dismal reaction, to the extraordinary economic situation we currently face.

Government should NOT bury their heads in the sand, and blame every inadequacy, on what is going on in these challenging economic times. We believe that our country can put up a fight in this storm and prevail, with intelligent use of our country’s resources.

The 2009 Budget matches the character of past budgets, which have failed to counter the various challenges our nation faces. This budget is a repetition of expenditure on “tried and true” failures in terms of redundant projects and programs. To put it in Zambian terms, the MMD government has “stuck to the formula”, by simply plugging in figures by default, in the same old pattern to address Zambia’s challenges.

At a time when the economic resources are limited, this government shows no intent to reduce its size, but continues to spend in what may be termed as “lavish”- considering Zambia’s fragile economic position. A responsible government would have immediately identified a reduction in government as a key measure to reallocate resources to strategic developmental projects which have an immediate positive impact on our citizenry, and also position Zambia for a better future. Alas and behold, the MMD government seems blind to this simple fact, and continues to spend money on a mammoth bureaucracy. Further, government continues to spend on redundant projects such as feeder roads, which require expenditure every single year for maintenance. We also have failed institutions such as the Food Reserve Agency continue to receive money, without an explanation on how this agency will reposition itself and perform better this year, in line with the funds it has been allocated. These are but a few of the pressing issues surrounding the practicality of the 2009 Budget.

[Press release by CDP]