President Rupiah Banda was today among Heads of State and Government that attended a special session on the union government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The closed-door session was among others, discussing the establishment of a unified Africa to give African people a stronger bargaining power at international forums.

The process towards the formation of the union government has followed decisive steps.

In January 2005, the fourth AU summit in Abuja, Nigeria, the leaders decided to set up a committee of seven heads of state under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to examine the proposal in all its ramifications.

This was after reviewing the proposal of creating certain ministerial portfolios for the union.

In July the same year, the fifth AU summit held in Sirte, Libya, affirmed that the ultimate goal of the union was full political and economic integration that would lead to the United States of Africa after reviewing the report submitted by the committee.

The committee had recommended that there was need to work towards the formation of a union government for the continent.

A year later, in 2006, a committee of seven African heads of state submitted a report to the AU summit. The report, known as the “Study on an African Union Government towards the United States of Africa”, outlined a roadmap of forming the United States of Africa by 2015 in three phases.

In November 2006, the AU Executive Council concluded that all member states should accept the United States of Africa as a common and desirable goal, but differences existed over the modalities and time frame for achieving this goal and the appropriate pace of integration.

In July 2007, the AU summit met in Accra, Ghana to debate the plan for an African union government.

Meanwhile, President Banda held private talks with British Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations at the UN building in Addis Ababa today.

Mr. Banda also held one-on-one closed-door talks with Vice President of the World Bank at his presidential suite at Sheraton Hotel.

And, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati told ZANIS here that African countries should act regionally to address infrastructure and energy deficits on the continent.

Mr. Mutati said African countries should move collectively forward to face some of the pressing challenges facing the continent.

He announced that Zambia would in April this year, host a financing conference for the development of the North to South corridor.

Mr. Mutati said the conference will aim at identifying bottlenecks in sourcing and accessing funds for development.

ZANIS/AM/KSH/ENDS

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the film industry and encouraging its growth in the country.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS), Ronnie Shikapwasha, said it was government’s desire to make the Zambian film industry reach the levels which other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries have attained.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha explained that if the film sector was properly supported, it would supplement government’s efforts of creating job opportunities for the local people.

In a speech ready on his behalf by Director for Press and Planning at the ministry, Juliana Mwila, Gen. Shikapwasha said in this years budget, government has allocate some funds for the growth of the film industry in a bid to attract more players to the sector.

He was speaking at the closure of the National Association of Media Arts (NAMA) workshop and launch of the NAMA website in Lusaka last evening.

He pointed out that his ministry would support all programmes that were aimed at capacity building towards the development of the local film producers.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, has meanwhile disclosed that his ministry has licensed eight privately owned television station, which aimed at promoting the local film productions.

He explained that the television and film industries in any country play an important role in economic development through remitting tax to government.

He added that his ministry was in the process of repealing the theatres and cinematography Act and that it will amend the copyrights and performance Act.

The minister said these pieces of legislation will protect the film industry and artists from piracy.

General Shikapwasha has since thanked the Finnish government for supporting local film producers and has appealed to the corporate world to help government develop the sector.

And speaking earlier, Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila, said culture should be regarded as one of the resources for national development.

Mrs. Antila explained that it was for this reason that her government was committed to promoting and supporting the global strategy for world heritage.

She disclosed that the Finnish government has a local cooperating fund policy through which civil society development and projects dealing with culture were funded.

She further said the Ministry for Foreigner Affairs of Finland was also sponsoring the cultural exchange productions between Finland and Zambia in order to encourage film producers in the two countries.

The Finnish envoy said this in a speech ready on her behalf by the Programmes Officer at the Finnish Embassy, Melissa Saila.

And National Arts Council Chairperson, Mulenga Kapwepwe thanked the two governments for supporting the development of the film industry, adding that this would go along way in improving local film production in Zambia

ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS.

The neighbour to the deceased couple, Muyoya Chibiya, said his family noticed the fire on the neighbour’s house at around 04:00 hours this morning.

Mr. Chibiya said he then informed the fire brigade, who quickly responded.

He said it took about an hour for the fire fighters to extinguish the fire, which also destroyed all household goods in the living and other rooms in the house.

The eyewitness said after putting out the inferno, fire fighters and other people retrieved the two bodies which were charred beyond recognition.

A family friend to the deceased couple, Satisha Khumar expressed shock at the accident saying the death of the couple was a great loss to the Indian community living in Zambia.

The bodies have since been taken to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary.

ZANIS/KSH/ENDS.

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