President Rupiah Banda today officially opened the third session of the tenth national assembly at a colorful ceremony that was characterized by a mosaic of activities.

Mr. Banda who was accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, arrived at parliament grounds around 10:00 hours and was met by Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusa Mwanamwambwa.

The occasion was also attended by First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Cabinet Ministers and their deputies, some opposition leaders and members of parliament.

The others in attendance were members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Zambia, heads of missions and government institutions.

Before addressing his official address and opening of the national assembly, President Banda inspected a guard of honor mounted by the Zambia Army, followed by a fly-past by the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) and a 21 gun salute.

The Speaker of the House later led President Banda and the First Lady into the national assembly, amidst a variety cultural performances staged by a number of cultural groups including the MMD choir, before he officially opened the third session of the national assembly.

After the official opening, Mr. Banda was accorded the fourth Presidential salute by the guard of honor before his motorcade drove away around 12 hours.

SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS

ECONOMY AND POLITICS

President Banda has unveiled an economic vision for 2009 with a call for increased unity among Zambians to achieve the national agenda of combating poverty.

President Banda assured that government will address concerns raised by stakeholders irrespective of political affiliation on issues of national importance.

Mr Banda also reiterated his call for reconciliation among all political parties in the interest of fostering national peace and economic development.

On the economic front, President Banda said his administration would continue to implement prudent fiscal monetary policies to achieve a Gross Domestic Product, GDP, target of 5 per cent and single digit inflation this year.

He said poverty reduction and employment creation as outlined in the Fifth National Development Plan, FNDP, would remain key areas of focus by government.

He observed that the current global economic downturn has resulted in severe job loses in the mining sector following increased operational costs triggered by declining prices of Copper and other metals on the international market.

He said government will channel more efforts towards diversifying the national economy as a measure of cushioning the effects of the global economic crunch on the national economy.

AGRICULTURE

President Rupiah Banda has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to intensify its crop marketing system this year by ensuring that the agency concentrates in buying crops from the remotest parts of the country as the private sector concentrates in districts and urban areas.

President Banda said concerns have been raised that the FRA has not purchased maize in the outlying areas, concentrating instead on the district centres.

Mr. Banda said government understands the concerns and will therefore strengthen the operations of the agency immediately.

He said government is aware that the FRA has not performed well in the its operations hence governments is committed to strengthen agency.

Mr. Banda further said the fertilizer support programme, FSP, will continue to support small scale farmers in the country.

The president however noted that the cyclical price irregularity of fertilizer affects all farmers, small and large.

Mr. Banda said government would like to see the price stabilized, thereby benefiting all farmers adding that efforts would be made to achieve this in time for the 2009/10 season.

He said procurement and countrywide distribution of fertilizer will now be done earlier than in the past.

And Mr. Banda has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to ensure that from 2009, the Agriculture Extension Service begins to perform.

He said the Agriculture Extension Service has not performed to people’s expectation and this has led to low productivity by farmers despite government’s efforts to subsidize fertilizer and seed.

ENERGY

He assured the nation that government would also ensure that there was more supply of fuel on the market with reduced prices of the commodity this year.

The President said by reducing fuel prices , this would attract a lot of investors in the country

Mr. Banda said in order for the country to achieve its 2030 vision, there was need for the private sector to work closely with the government of the day.

President Rupiah Banda said that he will constitute a Petroleum Committee to spearhead the exploration of gas and oil in the country.

President Banda said his administration has started working out modalities aimed at ensuring that there is constant supply of fuel in the country.

Mr. Banda said the move to constitute a Petroleum Committee was also aimed at addressing the various challenges associated with the high prices of fuel in the country.

He said feasibility studies in the Lake Bangweulu, Lake Mweru Wantipa and Zambezi River had started and that the project would be completed soon to pave way for the exploration of oil and gas exercise.

President Banda further announced that his government has completed working on the Rural Electrification Master Plan which he said would guide the implementation of the rural electrification programme.

He said his administration was also putting in place measures aimed at addressing load shedding in the country.

LOAD SHEDDING

Mr. Banda reiterated government’s commitment to improving the sector by upgrading the existing power stations and investing in new ones in a bid to scale up electricity generation.

Mr. Banda said load shedding had minimized in some areas in the country and government will see to it that load shedding continues to minimize by up grading the energy generators at the Kafue Gorge.

Mr. Banda, who also expressed concern at the high levels of load shedding in some parts of the country, assured the nation that his administration was doing everything possible to address the problem as it was hampering on the economic development agenda of the country.

He cited the rehabilitation of existing energy power stations and the construction of new power plants as some of the measures that his government was implementing in a bid to minimize the effects of load shedding in the country.

Mr. Banda said his government was looking at ways of increasing power supply in the country with a view to ensuring sustainability in the country’s development agendas.

FOREIGN INVESTORS

Mr. Banda said his government has started putting in place interventions aimed at taking further amendments in the Mines and Minerals Act.

He said the move once completed would seek to woo foreign investors in the country’s mining sector and help to increase foreign direct investment portfolios into the country.

Mr. Banda further said that despite the many challenges in the country’s mining sector, his administration was working-out special modalities to introduce new approaches and interventions aimed at safeguarding jobs in the mining sector.

He said although the mining sector had largely been hit from the effects of the global economic and financial crunch and the fall in copper prices at the international market, government would endeavour to implement new programmes that would ensure sustainability in the country’s mining sector.

DEFENCE FORCES

President Banda has directed defence forces in the country to remain royal and dedicated to duty with a view to enhancing security in the country.

He said defence forces in the country has an obligation to maintenance of national peace and security and ensure that foreign policy on defence and security was maintained through the participation in the international peace and security in the world.

MINING

Mr. Banda said the fight against poverty remains a top priority despite the global economic meltdown.

Mr. Banda observed that Zambia was endowed with rich natural and human resources hence the challenge was to harness such resources.

He sounded the warning that the global economic meltdown should not be used as an excuse to lay off workers as a cynical attempt to cut on operational costs.

President Banda said laying off workers should be the last resort after exhausting all other avenues.

Mr. Banda said government has put in place a task force that is handling the problems the mines are facing in a bid to find a lasting solution.

He said mining companies that would be seen to be laying-off of its workers at the expense of the economic down turn risked having its mining operating licence revoked to pave way for other new investors.

He has since advised mining companies to meet the stipulated guidelines when they want pull out of the industry.

He however said the country was now looking to other minerals such as uranium adding that government has taken cautious approach to ensure that the mining of uranium is in line with the international regulation.

He said government has taken international standard with regards to transportation, handling and issuing uranium licenses.

WOMEN

President Rupiah Banda retaliated government’s commitment to increasing the number of women in decision making positions in the country.

President Banda said government will ensure that more women in different sectors of the economy hold important positions and contribute to the economic growth of the nation.

Mr. Banda emphasized that the appointment of women into decision making positions should be done on merit for them to execute their duties at any level with excellency.

President Banda also said that government has made considerable improvements in addressing issues concerning Gender Based Violence(GBV)in the country.

He further said that government is working hard to ensure that appropriate Gender Based Violence legislation is quickly put in place.

He said the quick implementation of the necessary gender related legislation will help the country to put prioritize women issues.

He further added that Zambia, being a signatory to the gender protocol, should start embracing issues concerning women.

EDUCATION

Mr  Banda said education is a vital tool in ending poverty in the country and said that his government it is committed to increasing enrollment at all levels of in the nation education..

In his opening speech of the third session of the 10th National Assembly, at Parliament buildings in Lusaka today, the President reiterated government’s commitment to providing quality education by employing more teachers in order reduce the teacher pupil ratio.

Mr. Banda said that, in a bid to improve the standards of education in the country, government last year recruited about 5,000 teachers and increased the number of secondary and basic school classrooms to 1,000 and 2,000 respectively.

He said his administration will this year renovate all the dilapidated infrastructure to increase the enrollment levels in tertiary education institutions.

He cited Mulamupikwa Police College in Chinsali district as one of the institutions earmarked for rehabilitation, which will be turned into a teachers college.

President Banda further said government also intends to turn the Copperbelt Teachers Training College into a university.

He commended the private colleges and universities in the country for supplementing government’s efforts in proving high quality education in the country.

He said private colleges and universities are helping government to deliver high standards of education, which in turn is contributing to sustainable economic development in the nation.

President Banda further said that government is in the process of finalizing the higher education national policy.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS

Editor’s Note: Parliament Opening Photo Gallery to follow soon

Government says it is saddened by suggestions from some sectors of society that it is rejoicing over the suspension of Zambian Airways operations.

Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha said contrary to the suggestions, government is studying various options for assisting companies whose operations are struggling due to the financial global melt down.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha said government is also waiting for a full report from Zambian Airways on the challenges that resulted into suspending the airlines operations.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha who is also Chief government spokesperson said this in statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The Minister said government is discussing with companies that intend to lay off workers as a result of the financial crisis.

He said government is equally saddened by the suspension of Zambian Airways operations because this could affect the jobs of many Zambians.

He said the development does not please government because it is not line with government policies of job and wealth creation.

And Lt. Gen Shikapwasha also said the failure by bus operators to reduce fares following the reduction of fuel should not be blamed on government adding that it was out of defiance because bus operators are paying very little for fuel.

Meanwhile, the Minister has since reiterated government’s commitment to fight Cholera in the country by empowering Local authorities with enough resources.

He has since called upon all Zambians to keep their surroundings clean and observe high standard of hygiene.

Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) Executive Secretary, Muyunda Ililonga is quoted in one of the Tabloids were he advised government not to rejoice over problems affecting the airline.

ZANIS/CM/AJN/MKM/ENDS

Zambia has acquired four concessional loans and a grant worth K326.9 billion from the Chinese government.

The concessional loans include K139 billion for the completion of conference facilities at the Government complex in Lusaka and K109 billion for an ultra modern stadium in Ndola.

President Rupiah Banda, cabinet ministers and other senior government officials witnessed the signing of the loan agreements at State House in Lusaka, Thursday.

Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane who signed on behalf of the government, explained that the loans are meant to improve the welfare of Zambians.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at State House, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said his country is determined to further strengthen its relations with Zambia.

Mr. Deming said there is need for China and Zambia to strengthen their unity in the wake of the global financial meltdown which has not spared the two countries.

He said that his country is confident that Zambia like China will overcome the negative impact of the global financial crisis under President Rupiah Banda’s leadership.

Mr. Deming said his team is also in the country to further establish other areas of cooperation and help finance some projects in the country.

He expressed delight that ten companies have so far established economic zones in the country with an investment of over 700 million dollars creating thousands of jobs in the country.

Mr. Deming disclosed that China’s trade with Zambia recorded a total of more than 810 million dollars with Zambia recording over 540 million dollars in exports to that country.

And speaking after the signing ceremony Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane explained that the concession loans and grant agreements will go towards construction of infrastructure and technical support.

He said 63 billion kwacha of the funds will go towards the construction of new grain storage facilities to increase food security in the country while approximately 110 billion kwacha interest free loan will go towards the construction of an ultra modern stadium in Ndola.

Mr. Musokotwane said the third concession loan of approximately 140 billion will go towards the completion of an international conference center at Government complex building with a capacity of hosting two thousand delegates.

He said 20 million US dollars grant will be used for other projects to be agreed upon with by the two governments while 1. 6 million Chinese Yuan will go towards providing agriculture technical support.

Mr. Musokotwane disclosed that China will dispatch a team of experts in agriculture to offer technical expertise in irrigation and other agricultural services.

And the Finance Minister noted that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will secure more grain for the country’s food security once the new grain facilities are constructed.

Mr. Musokotwane said the sports infrastructure will significantly contribute to sports infrastructure with a bigger capacity to hosting more games.

He urged investors to construct hotels to complement the infrastructure that will be constructed with the funds that have been provided.

Mr. Musokotwane noted that the country will increase its capacity in hosting international games and conferences with the construction of the stadium and conference center.

Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda has commended the Chinese government for the gesture.

Mr. Banda said he was happy that the Chinese government has helped finance various developmental projects in the country.

He said China and Zambia has continued to share and strengthen long standing relations that have resulted in various developmental projects including the Tanzania-Zambia Rail line.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS
Under the financing agreements, the Food Reserve Agency has also been given K63 billion for up-grading and construction of grain storage sheds.
ZNBC

THE draft of the new Zambian constitution will be published by July this year, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has revealed.
And NCC spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis says no one has the power of altering the draft constitution once adopted by the NCC.

Mrs Zaloumis was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

She said once the draft constitution is published, it will be in circulation for 60 days to allow for public comments before the adoption of the final version.

“The NCC secretariat wishes to register its appreciation for the interest that a good number of people of Zambia have shown and continue to show in the constitution-making process.

“We hope that the NCC will receive useful public comments when the draft constitution is published this July and we can assure them that all their comments will be taken on board,” Mrs Zaloumis said.

She said six of the committees concluded their work last year. These are the citizenship, public service, public finance, judicial, local government and democratic governance committees.

Mrs Zaloumis said the remaining five NCC committees were currently meeting to debate and make recommendations on parts of the contents of the
Mung’omba draft constitution.

The committees are the general constitutional principles, human rights, executive, legislative and land and environment.

Mrs Zaloumis said issues discussed and debated on by the committees which concluded work last year included the 50 per cent plus one for a winning presidential candidate and the composition of board members of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

She said these and many other recommendations were awaiting approval and ratification by the conference.
She said the process will be completed by March this year, after which the conference will be convened to approve the work of all the 11 committees that were constituted by the NCC under statutory instrument No. 25 of 2008.

Mrs Zaloumis said the NCC would endeavour to complete the constitution-making process within the stipulated time-frame of 12 months after it started deliberations last year.

“The constitution-making process was temporarily curtailed last year due to the death of Dr Mwanawasa and the presidential election that followed. However, we shall ensure we finish the process within the time-frame,” she said.

And Mrs Zaloumis said there was no provision in the NCC Act for the executive to alter the constitution to be adopted by NCC members.

She said the NCC was saddened with negative criticism being perpetuated by some opposition political

party leaders over the constitution-making efforts.
Mrs Zaloumis said Zambians should realise that the adoption of the constitution through a popular body such as the NCC was a fundamental departure from the previous mode of adopting the constitution through the government White Paper.

“Contrary to what is being speculated in some quarters of the media, I wish to emphasise for the general information that there is no provision in NCC for anyone to alter the constitution once adopted by the NCC.

“The criticism is aimed at denying the people of Zambia an opportunity to have a good constitution that will stand the test of time,” she said.

Mrs Zaloumis said the constitution to be adopted by the NCC would not be a recommendation to the Minister of Justice but rather a final submission to either the national referendum or Parliament, depending on the decision of the conference in accordance with section 25 of the NCC Act.

“The adoption of the constitution is being made by various stakeholders both in Government, non-governmental organisations, the church, civil society and the private sector and I can assure members of the public that no stakeholder will prevail over others over the constitution-making process,” she said.

And Mrs Zaloumis says it is wrong for opposition
Patriotic Front president Michael Sata to agitate for the dissolution of the NCC when the process received blessings from all political parties.

She said the agreement to have the NCC constituted arose from the summit of all political party presidents who are members of the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue.

“Therefore, it is unpatriotic for the same people who supported this idea from the onset to raise dissent.
Such people should know that propagating for the discontinuation of the NCC will only deny Zambians a chance to have a constitution that can enhance our current multi-party democratic environment,” Mrs Zaloumis said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]