The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) says suggestions to increase parliamentary seats should only be entertain with regard to rural constituencies.

CPD Executive Director Neo Simutanyi has challenged government to consider increasing parliamentary seats for rural constituencies only for effective implementation of developmental projects in rural districts.

Dr. Simutanyi charged that many rural constituencies in the country have been under developed because they are too vast for one Member of Parliaments (MP) to handle compared to those in urban areas.

He was reacting to proposals by the National Constitution making Conference (NCC)’s legislative committee that seats for Members of Parliament should be increased from the current 150 to 250 of which 200 must be elected, 40 from interest groups and 10 should be nominated.

Dr. Simutanyi told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, people in rural areas need more representation, adding that they face different problems that would need the attention of their area MPs.

He explained that the role of MPs is to effectively represent the electorates and bring development to their constituencies and consequently develop the whole nation therefore increasing parliamentary seats should only apply to rural areas.

Dr. Simutanyi added that government and other political parties in the country should ensure that their elected law makers deliver to the public by establishing close working relationship with people who voted for them.

He noted that it is for this reason that government during the 2011 general elections should consider reducing the number of urban MPs where as those of rural should be increased.

Dr. Simutanyi, who is also a political analyst, has observed that urban constituencies despite been developed has continued to have a large number of MPs.

He cited Lusaka and Copperbelt as some of the provinces which should have the number of parliamentarians reduced.

He further urged MPs to ensure that during parliamentary debates they concentrate more on issues that affect their constituencies and deliver on the promises they made during campaigns.

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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]

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]

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.

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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.

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