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.

ZANIS/JT/AM/ENDS

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.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

The National Constitution Commission (NCC) will submit its report and draft constitution to the Minister of Justice this year for onward transmission to parliament for adoption.

NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda said this morning that he was supremely confident that by July this year, the constitution-making body would have completed its task and submit its report and draft constitution as required by the NCC Act of 2007.

Mr. Banda was speaking when British High Commissioners to Zambia, Thomas Carter and Carolyn Davidson paid a courtesy call on him at his office today.

The NCC chairperson was pleased that the British government had offered to engage experts to assist with the editing of the final draft constitution.

He expressed confidence that this would add value to the NCC work.

He said six of the eleven NCC committees had already completed their work while the remaining five would complete theirs by next month.

Recounting the NCC calendar, Mr. Banda said the main conference would be summoned in April 2009 to consider and adopt the recommendation of all the reports in readiness for their submission to the Ministry of Justice.

“We are anxious to deliver a good constitution to the people of Zambia and we are sufficiently geared to deliver the task despite the challenges we are currently facing,” he said.

Some of the challenges included insufficient funds to translate the report and draft constitution into Zambia’s various local languages as well as publicizing the two documents for 60 consecutive days in the media as required by the NCC Act.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Thomas Carter said his government was committed to helping the NCC to draft its report and constitution.

On additional assistance, Mr. Carter said he would discuss the issue with donors and cooperating partners.

The meeting was attended by NCC vice chairpersons, Leonard Hikaumba and Faustina Sinyangwe as well as NCC Secretary, Russell Mulele and chief rapporteur, Davison Mendamenda.

ZANIS/PC/KSH/ENDS