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Imported maize to roll in

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) says the imported 110 metric tonnes of maize will start arriving in Zambia next month.

Executive Director Anthony Mwanaumo says the agency is this week expected to complete the signing of three contracts to facilitate the importation.

Dr. Mwanaumo said one contract has already been signed while the other remaining two will be signed by the end of this week.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka, Wednesday.

And Dr. Mwanaumo has appealed to millers that have accessed from the agency to pass on the benefits to consumers by reducing mealie-meal prices.

He said millers who have not yet reduced mealie-meal prices should emulate their contemporaries who have reduced the prices of the commodity to acceptable levels.

And National Milling Corporation says it will soon reduce mealie meal prices in line with the reduction in maize prices by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

Managing Director Peter Cottan said his company submitted a letter recommending a reduction in mealie meal prices to the minister of Agriculture, Wednesday.

Mr. Cottan explained that national milling delayed in reducing the price of mealie meal because the old contract it had with the Food Reserve Agency has expired.

He also told ZNBC that his company will start buying subsidized maize from FRA starting Wednesday.

Mr. Cottan said national milling will announce a reduction in mealie meal prices after getting a feed back from government.

The Food Reserve Agency last week announced a reduction in maize prices from 63 thousand Kwacha to 55 thousand Kwacha for a fifty kilogramme bag.

Chimanga Changa Milling Company became the first Company last week to reduce price of its Mealie Meal following the reduction in the cost of Maize from FRA.
[ZNBC]

Govt challenges boxing promoters to explore talent

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ESTHER Phiri (c), her trainer Antonty Mwamba (l) and National Milling managing director Peter Cottan during a press briefing on Esther's training programme in Europe

Sports and child Development minister, Kenneth Chipungu has challenged boxing promoters and the boxing board of control to expand the exploration of talent among the youth to gloom them into successful boxers.

ZANIS sports reports Sports, Youth and Child Development minister, Kenneth Chipungu said the youths in the country are faced with a lot of challenges adding that they must be encouraged to venture into sports to become productive.

He said doing so will inspire them to take up the sports and become heroes and that this will put Zambia on the world map as a flourishing boxing haven.

Chipungu said in Lusaka today at a media breakfast meeting hosted for Ester Phiri to welcome her from Denmark where she had gone for a coaching course.

He advised Ester to continue working hard and maintain discipline and good healthy in order to strive to be a life time champion.

He also thanked national Milling for promoting women boxing in the country and urged other companies to emulate them adding that investing in such ventures is of great importance to the citizen of the country.

Meanwhile national milling Managing Director, Peter Cottan, is facilitating to establish a training gymnasium to train sports men and women in different disciplines.

Cottan however said he will continue supporting sports in the country despite the current economic problems.

And Ester trainer Anthony Mwamba has described the outing to Denmark as successful adding that this will enable them open a sports academy in Lusaka to impart skills on others also.
ZANIS/GP/ENDS/MM

Fund ECZ’s continuous voters’ registration, FODEP

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The Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) has advised government to next year allocate sufficient funds to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to enable the commission carry out continued voter registration process.

FODEP president Stanley Mhango said lack of a continuous registration of voters has increased voter apathy during elections in the country.

Mr. Mhango said if the current voter apathy in the country remains unchecked, there might be political instability.

He noted that continuous voters’ registration would enhance political leaders’ eligibility to government because they would be elected on merit.

He said there was need to encourage the majority of Zambians to take part in choosing their leaders through registering people as soon as they reach the voting age.

Mr. Mhango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that many eligible voters were disfranchised due to the fact that they did not have voters’ registration cards.

He noted that there is need for the Ministry of Finance to increase the budget allocation to the ECZ for the exercise, adding that doing so would bring about development, good governance and democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, the FODEP president has called on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to quickly conclude the constitution making process and deliver what it has for the public.

Mr. Mhango point out that people have being expecting a lot from the NCC especially on issues of improving their welfare in the country and those aimed at enhancing development through democracy.

He however, expressed optimism that through the various committees that have been sitting, the country will manage to come up with a constitution that will stand the test of time.

He has also commanded opposition political parties and government for having a smooth transition of government during the October 30, 2008 presidential elections.

He said a smooth transition of government was a foundation of achieving democracy and political stability in the country.

Mr. Mhango further challenged political parties in the country to hold internal party elections to choose leaders and over come all their intra party differences for the betterment of the country.

ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS/MM.

More jobs coming in the tourism sector-Namugala

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Government says more employment opportunities would be created in the tourism sector as a measure of cushioning the impact of job losses in the mining sector.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Catherine Namugala, said government is focusing on measures of opening up more tourist destinations in Northern province and other parts of the country to promote growth in the industry.

She told ZANIS in Mfuwe today that efforts are being made to develop basic infrastructure in potential areas before they could be opened up for tourism activities.

She indicated intentions by government to open up the Northern circuit, which would create a passage for tourist visiting destinations in that part of the country.

Zambia is among other African countries that have suffered massive job loses in the mining sector in the wake of a global economic down-turn that has resulted in a decline in copper prices on the international market.

The slump in copper prices has forced many mining companies especially on the Copperbelt province to lay off some workers as a measure of scaling down production costs and sustain operations.

ZANIS/SJK/KSH/ENDS

Investors challenged to continue investing in Zambia

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Standard Chartered Bank says there is need for foreign investors to continue investing in Zambia because the global economic and financial crisis will only have a slight impact on the country’s economy.

Standard Chartered Bank acting Managing Director, Robinson Bairstow said since the global economic crisis would only have a slight impact on Zambia, there was need for investors to continue investing in the country which he said was an emerging economy.

He said investors should continue with their direct investment portfolios in Zambia despite the global crisis.

Mr. Bairstow further urged the Zambian government to address the challenges that the mining sector was experiencing.

He said the drop in copper prices and an increase in job loses in the mining sector would have a negative impact on the Zambian economy if left unattended to.

Mr. Bairstow, who was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, urged the Zambian government to diversify in its economic sectors in order to reduce dependency on copper.

He said diversifying to other economic sectors would promote growth in the Zambian economy and help the country to address the challenges which were associated with the global economic and financial crisis.

And Standard Chartered Bank head of Financial Markets, Stanley Tamele disclosed that the bank had started working out modalities aimed at launching new products on the market to attract new customers.

Mr. Tamele also announced that Standard Chartered Bank will next week open a branch in Livingstone.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

2008 is Zambia’s tragedy – RB

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The year 2008 will stand out in our nation’s history as a year when our Nation suffered a terrible blow when we lost our our third president, Dr Levy Partick Mwanawasa, President Rupiah Banda has said.

In his end of year address to the nation both on national radio and Television, Mr Banda the year 2008 has been Zambia’s worst year after losing Dr Mwanawasa due to death on duty.

The President added that the tragedy was compounded by the global financial crisis which he said negatively affected Zambia.

” Zambia’s tragedy in 2008 was made worse by the global financial crisis which negatively affected our country through the collapse of copper prices and the domino effect that this has had on effect,”President Banda says in the speech.

He explains that the falling copper prices and the the unplanned expenses of the presidential by – elections had put severe strain on the country’s budget resulting on the negative impact on the economy.

The President however paid tribute to Zambian citizens for the peaceful manner they mourned the late Dr Mwanawasa.

On the national economy, Mr Banda said his administration had continued to pursue prudent fiscal and monetary policies to sustain macro-economic stability.

In the agriculture sector, Mr Banda said his administration continued to pursue policies aimed at ensuring household food and national security.

” The country produced enough to remain food secure.This food security is however now threatened by the global down turn with its impact on food prices and the cost of agricultural impact,” the President said.

On the coming year 2009, the Republican President said the coming year was one of great challenges predominantly on the global economic down turn.

The down turn has a number of set including the falling copper-prices, weakened Kwacha, rising inflation, reduced economic activities and the threatened job loses.

” When I discuss and bring these situations to the attention of Zambian, I am challenging us all to unite in purpose and have resilience and determination to face and rise above the challenges,” said the President.

He however said he was not a defeatist as being suggested in some quarters saying by telling Zambians the truth and to call on them to unite to overcome these difficulties did not mean he was a defeated.

” It is of course easier to take the populist route and pretend that all is well and that there are easy solutions,” President Banda said.

He said his administration is aware as all Zambians should be that the global economic crisis means the expected revenue from the mining sector will not materialise at all.

He however said government was also concerned with the plight of the unemployed and the low income of most citizens adding that this was why his administration is putting emphasis on programmes to fight poverty.

Among these programmes are the citizens economic empowerment commission (CEEC) he said has started to disburse funds to ensure that Zambians meaningfully participated in the economic activities.
ZANIS/MM/ENDS

Given Lubinda joins GOPAC

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The Chairperson for the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption Zambia Chapter (APNAC-Z) Given Lubinda has been nominated as a board member of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC).

In Press Release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, APNAC Zambia Chapter Publicity Secretary Godfrey Beene disclosed that Mr. Lubinda was nominated during the third GOPAC conference which took place in Kuwait from 17th to 29th November, 2008.

Mr. Beene said the conference was attended by delegates from all regions in the world and had representation from different organizations.

Some of the organizations that were present are GOPAC chapters, members of the Civil Society, Transparency International, United Nations agencies such as the Drug and Crime (UNDC) and the United Nations Development Program among others.

He added that Mr. Lubinda was accompanied by two other members of the APNAC Zambia, Lazarus Chota and himself (Beene).

He said on the board, Mr. Lubinda will also be representing the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The GOPAC is an international network of parliamentarians dedicated to good governance and combating corruption throughout the world and has representatives in East Europe, Arab region, North and South America and Africa.

The theme of the conference was “Parliamentarians leading an Anti-Corruption Agenda”.

ZANIS/MM/KSH/ENDS

Zamtel lays 1,500 km optic fibre, but vandals pounce on it

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The Zambia Telecommunications Limited (Zamtel) has covered a total of 1,500 kilometers of the planned 4,000 kilometers of optic fibre cable installation across the country.

However, some unknown vandals have already vandalized portions of the new network, much to the dismay of the company.

ZAMTEL Public Relation Manager, Charles Kachikoti, told ZANIS in Lusaka today that it was unfortunate that some suspected vandals have already vandalized the network thinking they could get copper and other valuable minerals from the cables.

He said it was not true that there was copper and other valuable minerals in the material used in the optic fibre network.

He explained that the optic fibre cables were made of fibre glass and therefore, burning such cables, as is the case with copper cables, was an effort in futility.

Mr. Kachikoti said the risk that vandals run in tampering with the cables was of high magnitude with absolutely no benefit because there was no commercial material to extract from the cables.

Mr. Kachikoti has since appealed to members of the public to help maintain vigilance in an effort to stop disruption of telecommunications services and bring the culprits to book.

Mr. Kachikoti has said the installation of the optic fibre in all the distances which were divided into 17 segments starting from Lusaka, has continued simultaneously.

He said the priority in the exercise was the Lusaka-Copperbelt link because it has a shortage of broadband capacity.

The next link would be between Lusaka and Kazungula because it connects Zambia to other parts of the world through Botswana and South Africa.

Mr. Kachikoti said the third priority was the Lusaka-Nakonde link which will connect Zambia and Tanzania and other countries.

This will be followed by the Eastern and Western links.

He disclosed that the Lusaka-Rufunsa link along the Great East Road was almost complete while the Kapiri-Mpika link is only 30 per cent from completion.

Mr. Kachikoti further revealed that the Lusaka-Kabwe link will soon be commissioned and ready for commercial use while the Lusaka- Copperbelt link was expected to be completed for use by January next year.

The optic fibre network project is expected to provide unlimited broad capacity communication to cater for users in all sectors of the Zambian economy.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

Zambia Top Group B at Cecafa Cup

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Zambia took the early lead of Group B after beating Djibouti 3-0 n the two teams opening match of this years Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament in Jinja, Uganda.

A Given Singuluma brace today inspired Zambia to victory to see them top Group B on 3 points after Kenya and defending Cecafa champions Sudan drew 0-0 in their other game.

Singuluma gave Zambia the lead in the 25th minute in what is turning out to be a prolific last four national team matches in which he has scored in as many games.

Singuluma made it 2-0 five minutes before half-time before Zesco striker Jonas Sakuwaha was on target with Zambia’s third goal just three minutes after the latter found the target.

The 2-time CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup winners next Group B match is on Friday against Kenya at 15:00 Zambian time kickoff in Jinja.

Zambia: Jacob Banda, Nyambe Mulenga, Francis Kasonde, Elijah Tana, Emmanuel Mbola (Sub: Dennis Banda), William Njobvu (Sub:Kebby Hachipuka), Maonga Kabuku, Kennedy Mudenda, Jonas Sakuwaha, Roger Kola, Given Singuluma (Sub: Lottie Phiri)

LT 2008 Awards

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Man of the Year

This award goes to the Man who generated the  most comments and emotions from readers.

  • 1st place Late President Levy Mwanawasa
  • 2nd  place Mr.Michael Sata

Sports Person of the year

For winning two Gold Medals

  • Rachael Nachula.

Rumor Monger of the year

For mis-informing the world that  President Mwanawasa had died in July.

  • Malone Zaza

Most irritating phrase of the year

  • “The president is in a stable condition”

Most disappointment of the year

  • Presidential election results

Most disappointing personality of the year

  • Rev Danny Pule

Brave personality of the year

For standing up to the late President Mwanawasa over tribalism

  • Ms Christine Monga former MMD NEC member

Reconciliatory pact of the year

  • Friendship between Late President Mwanawasa and Mr.Michael Sata

Political illusion of the year

  • Gen Miyanda for exercising his right to stand for president.

Longest football comeback of the year

Two years after his drugs ban, and later playing for three clubs in one season: City, Power plus his controversial move to Golden Arrows

  • Francis Kombe

Most controversial football personality

  • Collins Mbesuma

Most active LT blogger user ID of the year

  • Maestro Hhehhehhehhe

Most hated LT blogger user ID of the year

  • Prof Mutengo Waminga LLB(UNZA) LLM MA PHd (Oxford)

Most respected LT blogger user IDs of the year

  • Mwiinga (Lusaka, Zambia)
  • PRAGMATIST
  • Free-Market Capitalist

Most useless LT comment post of the Year

  • 1, #1, number 1,  nambala wanu, numelo wanu

Most humorous  post comment of the year

http://www.lusakatimes.com/?p=4791

  1. 21.  your flag Hahaha

    Oct 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm Vote: Add rating 5 Subtract rating 1

    # YES FTJ DESERVES IT HIS ACHIEVEMENTS LISTED BELOW
    1) Brought Free Market Economy in Zambia
    2) Ended Food Shortages Zimbabwe Style
    3) Gave Housing Empowerment to Citizens
    4) Repaired Road Infrastructure which is crumbling under LPM
    5) Made it Impossible a single presidential candidate to win 50+1 % (True Democracy)
    6)Eliminated Transport problems in Zambia and gave rise to new transport industry
    7)Made it easy for Investors to bring in Money and take out money
    8)Last but not the least, brought the eclipse of the Sun in Zambia during his last term of office.

    Enjoy FTJ you deserve it

Most embarrassing picture of the year award

Wishing all our visitors happy and prosperous 2009

LT Team

Ps: Feel free to add more of your awards to this thread

Chungu fails to pay K500m, goes to jail

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INCARCERATED former Zambia Security Intelligence Services chief Xavier Chungu is trailed by a prison warder after a hearing at the Lusaka High Court
INCARCERATED former Zambia Security Intelligence Services chief Xavier Chungu is trailed by a prison warder after a hearing at the Lusaka High Court

LUSAKA Resident Magistrate, Charles Kafunda has up-held the issuance of the warrant of distress on former Zambia Intelligence and Security Services (ZISS) Director General, Xavier Chungu to six months in prison with hard labour following his failure to pay the K500 million he was asked to pay for jumping bail.

Mr Kafunda said the application made to the High Court could have not served as a stay on the issuance of the warrant of distress in the criminal case, thereby making the application incorrect.

“The true position is that the 14 days have since elapsed and the K500 million was not paid, and I see no reason why the application to the High Court should serve as a stay on this criminal case,” Mr Kafunda said.

He said this when making a ruling on an application by defence lawyer Nicholas Chanda to set aside the warrant of distress until the matter was heard by the High Court to consider the revision of the amount involved and also to grant Chungu bail.

During hearing of the application before Mr Kafunda, Mr Chanda said the issuance of the warrant of distress was defective and irregular because the request to grant the accused bail and the revision of the K500 million-bail fee had not been heard by the High Court.

“The impression being created that my client has been jailed for failure to pay the K500 million is not true because we made an application to the High Court seeking the review of the fee and ruling is coming up this afternoon (Tuesday),” Mr Chanda said.

He said the application was made before the 14 days elapsed, meaning there was a stay of execution on the warrant of distress because the application was before the High Court.

But Magistrate Kafunda dismissed the application, saying the issuance of the warrant of distress was not defective and irregular.

“In your application, you stated that the stay is effective before the matter is heard, but there is nothing like that in law and I have no reason why the warrant of distress should not be effective,” Mr Kafunda said.

Later, Lusaka High Court Judge Florence Lengalenga rejected an application to grant Chungu bail and also to revise the K500 million fee slapped against him for jumping bail.

Judge Lengalenga rejected the application by Mr Chanda when she delivered ruling on the request to grant Chungu bail and also to revise the K500 million.
High Court Deputy Registrar Jones Chinyama ordered Chungu to pay K500 million for jumping bail.

“I cannot grant you bail because of the past history when you attempted to flee the country using an aircraft and you actually fled the country later, and that betrayed the trust of the Courts,” Judge Lengalenga said.

On the application to have the K500 million revised, Judge Lengalenga said granting the application could have set a bad precedence in the country’s judicial system.

She said such a ruling could be used as an example by people who might jump bail.

“I cannot revise the K500 million bail fee because the accused signed and bound himself to the amount. Doing so will result in setting a bad precedence because my ruling will be given as an example,” Judge Lengalenga said.

She said if Chungu was not happy with the bail fee, he could have appealed against the amount four years ago and not after jumping the bail.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

I am feeling stronger and refreshed, RB

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President, Rupiah Banda, has pledged more commitment towards addressing economic challenges confronting the nation.

President Banda said the people should expect more commitment from him following a fruitful working holiday which ends this Thursday.

The President told ZANIS in an exclusive interview in Mfuwe that he felt even stronger and refreshed having taken the working holiday, which afforded him an opportunity to reflect on serious national issues.

He said he was happy that the holiday provided him a chance to meet his family and other matters before he could return to Lusaka to continue working hard on programmes of national importance.

“I am feeling stronger and refreshed having taken this holiday therefore the people of Zambia should now expect more and more commitment from me and my administration,” President Banda said.

“During the holiday I had the chance to meet my family, which I love so much, and of course we had time to sit and discuss issues,” He added.

President Banda used the time during the holiday to take physical exercises, which included every morning walking safari in the South Luangwa National Park and held working meetings with Principal Private Secretary, Austin Sichinga, Legal Advisor Joseph Jalasi and Economic Advisor Dr Chembe.

During the holiday, President Banda met Ambassador Li Qiangmin and Kunda Chiefs among them senior Chief Nsefu, Chiefs Jumbe, Mnkhanya, Malama, Msoro and Kakumbi.

Bank of Zambia former governor Jacob Mwanza and UNZA former Chancellor Robert Serpell all called on the President during his sats at Chichele Lodge in Mfuwe.

“It was a holiday, but as you saw for yourself I continued working even during the holiday,” he said.

South Luangwa National Park’s Chichele Lodge has been preferred holiday destination for Presidents. Presidents Kenneth Kaunda and late Mwanawasa are notable among those that featured prominently at the lodge during their respective reigns.

Mr Banda said he would use his vast political experience to promote democracy by allowing people to enjoy the right of expression, but emphasized that the right would be not allowed to damage national peace and interest.

“I am sure a lot of people would wonder why I don’t respond to many of the insults and statements from some section of society, its because my past service in political administration during the first republic gave me vast experience to handle these issues,” he said.

“I went through the necessary experience that gives the wisdom to allow every Zambian to have a say on some issues,” He added.

He called on Zambians to exercise a culture of discipline and condemn insults as they comment on issues of national interest.

President Banda said Zambia was capable of achieving the needed economic development like other countries provided the people became more hardworking and disciplined.

He called unity of purpose among the people as the country works hard to address various issues affecting various sectors of the economy.

Mr Banda said he was determined to leave behind a legacy of discipline and hard work.

He challenged the media to take a leading role in promoting a culture of discipline by discouraging politics of insults even in the wake of serious debates.

The President is confident that the ongoing constitutional making process, through the National Constitutional Conference, NCC, would be complete in good time before the next elections.

ZANIS/ENDS/SJK/MM

5 % increase recorded in 2008 grade seven examinations results

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EDUCATION Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa
EDUCATION Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa

Government has announced that a total of 197, 251 out of a total 301, 427 pupils that sat for the grade seven examinations in 2008 were selected to grade eight representing over five percent increase as compared to last year.

Speaking during the announcement of the results in Lusaka today, Education Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa said the total number of boys entered for the examinations was 181,515 while that of girls was 150, 764 bringing the total to 301, 427 as compared to 288, 708 in 2007.

ZANIS reports that Prof. Lungwangwa further said the figures of pupils selected to grade eight this year are showing a progression rate of approximately 60 percent for boys and over 70 percent for girls.

He said the total figures for both girls and boys reflected a progression rate of over 65 percent as compared to 60.33 recorded in 2007.

Prof. Lungwangwa said all the girls who sat for the grade seven examinations in North Western and Luapula Provinces have been selected into grade eight with Western Province selecting over 90 percent pass rate.

And the Education Minister said only one case of examination malpractices among the candidates across the country was recorded.

He added that the malpractice involved a head teacher who was found tampering with responses for five candidates in Social Studies and has since been suspended for the offence.

Prof. Lungwangwa also disclosed that a total of 30, 852 candidates were absent from the examination, compared to 26, 469 in 2007.

He said of the total number of absentees, a total of 16, 073 were boys while 14, 779 were girls.

He said Southern, Copperbelt and Lusaka Provinces recorded absenteeism rates of less than ten percent at 8. 53 percent, 7.02 percent and 6.46 percent respectively with the rest of the provinces recording absenteeism rates of over ten percent.

Prof. Lungwangwa said North Western, Western and Northern Provinces recorded the highest absenteeism rate at over 12 percent, 13 percent and 11 percent respectively.

He further stated that Copperbelt province recorded the highest with a total of 37, 738 while Lusaka was second with a total of 28, 942 with Southern Province coming third with a total of 26, 520.

Others are Central Province with 21, 244, Northern Province with 20, 206, Luapula with 18, 412, Eastern with 16, 440 while North Western recorded 14, 295 and Western with 13,462.

And the Education Minister has urged the public to obtain the results from respective schools where pupils wrote their examinations.

He said no results will be given from the Ministry of Education headquarters and the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ).

Prof. Lungwangwa has also announced that grade eight classes will also open on Monday 12th January 2009 and that the grace period will end on Monday 26th January 2009.

He cautioned that pupils who will fail to report at their respective schools by the end of the grace period will loose their places.

ZANIS/CM/ENDS/MM

ACC thanks government for support in 2008

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The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has thanked government and the public for the cooperation and support towards curbing the act of corruption in Zambia.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today Public Relations manager Timothy Moono said that the support from both government and the public is now bearing fruit and has impacted cooperating partners.

Mr. Moono said that as a result of the support, the ACC has successfully dealt with high and low profile graft cases in courts.

He said that fighting corruption is not easy therefore everyone needs to be involved in fighting against corruption.

Meanwhile Mr. Moono has  thanked the cooperating partners for their partnership that has helped in the fight against corruption.

ZANIS/SS/ENDS/MM

Mukombwe threatens to camp at Mazabuka dump site

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Southern province minister Daniel Munkombwe talking to farmers in Mazabuka
Southern province minister Daniel Munkombwe talking to farmers in Mazabuka

Southern Province Minister, Daniel Munkombwe has threatened to camp in Ndeke township in Mazabuka where Cholera has broken out if the Municipal Council does not collect the mountains of garbage that have blocked the flow of water in the drainages.

He said Government is concerned with the Cholera situation in Mazabuka and wondered why the equipment donated to the council such as the light trucks donated for the Keep Mazabuka Clean Campaign where not used to collect garbage in the townships.

Mr Munkombwe said he is ready to stay in a tent and share the problems the Ndeke community was going through as a protest to the council’s failure to collect garbage and provide safe drinking water for the residents.

The highly charged Minister who toured Ndeke township was disappointed to learn that the council had failed to collect the heaps of garbage that has led to an outbreak of Cholera in the township.

Mr Munkombwe has directed Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu to find a solution to what he termed as an ” I don’t care attitude” by some directors at the local authority.

Mr Munkombwe who was made to wait for close to an hour had to abort his official meeting at Mazabuka District Commissioner’s office after it became evident that management was playing hide and seek games.

The minister instead directed District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba and  Provincial deputy Permanent Secretary  to accompany him to the council offices and find out why they did not want to meet him.

However as the Minister walked to his official vehicle, Town Clerk Ekan Chingangu was seen talking to a head of department but upon seeing the minister, he immediately informed him that his director of engineering, Presto Chonde had just driven in.

Minister Munkombwe ignored Mr Chingangu and ordered that the meeting be held at the council offices.

Mr Munkombwe reminded the council that it was only him who could protect the council in the province adding that, had he invited Local Government Minister, the council could have been dissolved.

Speaking earlier, Mazabuka Central Ward Councillor, Lloyd Buumba informed the minister that his efforts to advise the council to remove the garbage had fallen deaf ears.

However Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu assured the minister that all blocked drains would be unblocked.

Mr Chingangu said the council is geared to remove refuse in the drainages as evidenced by the mobilisation of graders, Front end loaders and other equipment.
ZANIS /HC/Ends/MM

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