Solwezi District Commissioner, Albert Chifita has welcomed the call by the District Child Welfare Committee to construct a centre for street children.

Mr. Chifita said the move is a welcome development.

He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Solwezi over the weekend. The Committee would mobilize resources through his office for use in constructing the centre where street children will be given training in survival skills to enable them become useful future citizens.

He said the fight against streetism should not be left in the hands of the few and government alone and called on the private sector to also compliment government’s effort.

Mr. Chifita said so many children have come to Solwezi from other parts of the province thinking that is where people have something to offer them due to the mining activities.

“If we don’t sit down to plan on how to arrest this situation in our town, then we are setting a time bomb. Crime will increase and all of us will be affected.” He noted.

Mr. Chifita appealed to parents to take full responsibility of their children and not to neglect them leaving the streets to take care of their children.

He said government is not amused by parents and guardians who neglect their children even when they have the means to support them, adding that parents should acquire survival skills to support their children

Mr. Chifita said it was sad to note that most people in the district have ignored other economic activities such as agriculture and only think of getting jobs in the mines.

“People must work hard on the land to produce more food, exploit the resource and engage in activities such as beekeeping so as to raise income for their families.” He said.

Mr. Chifita appealed to former street children who have been reintegrated  back into the communities to take school work seriously as it is a life time investment.

He advised parents to support the Committee’s initiative of making these children better citizens who can positively contribute to the development of their communities and the country as a whole and urged the media to strongly bring out the problem of streetism.

“You are the mirror of the society, highlight such issues so that people can realize how real and serious the problem is as this needs collective responsibility.” Mr Chifita said.

He assured Committee that the Government will render its support and urged them to work with serious commitment.

“Be transparent and accountable for all the finances in your committee because when people see this they will come in to assist you. I can see hope and development coming in terms of arresting streetism in the District.” Mr Chifta said.

ENDS/EC/PK/ZANIS

by Chilekwa Mumba

Reading the paper last week, I came across the news story, which reported the minister of labor Austin Liato being blocked from entering our mines. And the reason? Well it seems our esteemed investors require ample warning for a senior member of our government to inspect our mine.  This begs the very silly question, has an investor (whether foreign/domestic) got the right to reject an impromptu inspection of labour conditions of our citizenry?  The answer is obvious… preceded by an unprintable) NO!

Well seemingly, our investors have drawn enough influence from Zambia’s corridors of power to operate as they wish. In no way am I trying to castigate Hon. Liato. Clearly the man had right intent to check on the mine’s labour conditions, but he received a very unwelcome welcome (to put it mildly). Now this begs another question, what type of agreements is our government alluding to, for a foreign investor to have the audacity to treat the Minister in such a way?

It seems to me that someone in government has “reauctioned” Zambia, to the cheapest bidder. And I say cheapest, because it is common knowledge that our investors do not treat our workers with the dignity they deserve. And poor Hon Liato made a very fitting comment, to the effect that if they (the owners of the mine) could treat him like they did, what more the ordinary Zambian (and please forgive my word “ordinary Zambian” because there is nothing extraordinary about Mr Liato, or any other government official…I digress but please take note).

That incident has passed, now here is some food for thought. As the old adage suggests, one cannot cry about spilt milk. Nevertheless, there remains “milk” which should not be spilt any more considering the plight of the majority of our citizenry. Mr. Liato and the powers that be, should take this incident as an eye opener for how some of these investors regard us. Government should first of all ensure that this incident will not repeat itself. We need to draw a line between investors and authority. When we sign agreements as a country, we need to put our people’s interests first. Clearly from this incident, someone in government has given this investor the right to act in the manner they did. This “Mr Liato did you make an appointment?” saga proves that once again, our country has been compromised due to some spineless and selfish individuals somewhere. We need to get back to the drawing board before we sell our country’s future.

A Zambian was among the 155 survivors of the US Airways Airbus A320 plane that crash landed  into the Hudson river in New York on Thursday.

Joseph Moyo 45, of 51 Mosi-o- Tunya road in Livingstone survived along with other passengers of the US plane crash.

Mr. Moyo told the Zambian Embassy officials from Washington DC that he was on a business trip when the accident occurred.

He said he had not sustained any injuries during the crash landing adding that he had undergone medical examination just like everyone else..

Mr. Moyo is expected to travel back to Zambia next week.

First secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC Ben Kangwa disclosed the development to ZANIS in a press statement.

The US Air Bus A320 on Thursday made a crash- landing minutes out of LaGuardia airport , when both its engines apparently disabled by a flock of birds.

ZANIS/MKM/ENDS

by Chola Milambo

Ever since the election of November the 4th 2008, there has been much talk about the multitudes of people who will descend onto the capital city from far and wide to be a part of this historic inauguration – the swearing in of the first African-American as the President of the United States of America. The authorities have also announced the closure of several main roads and bridges into the DC (as they call the city), particularly from the state of Virginia which is to the south. So to get a glimpse of some of the preparations that were taking place, on Wednesday January 17, 2009 I decided to drive down with a camera in hand from Howard University which is not far from the main business district.

As expected, the city was buzzing with activity. More cars on the road, more people walking on the street and several people donned in different types of Barack Obama attire, from t-shirts, to hats, from watches to gloves. It was clear that the big event was around the corner. By the way talking about corners, there seemed to be a ntemba at almost ever corner selling anything that would fit the name ‘Obama’ on it, as I approached 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue where the White House is situated. 

The front of the White House was particularly busy with workers setting up an enclosure where the VIPs shall watch the parade that takes place there every four years. Several tourists paused for photographs in front of the White House even though the temperature was close to freezing point. Judging from the general mood and euphoria in the air, I doubt if the cool arctic air that has blown into the city will deter several others to be out on what could be a very frigid January 20. On that day, over a million people shall converge in the three-kilometer-long lawn that stretches between the Capitol Hill, where the swearing will take place, and the Lincoln Memorial. This gathering is certain to invoke the memories of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that took place on August, 28 1963, when civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I have a Dream’ speech. With that in mind, off to the Lincoln Memorial I went.

At the Lincoln Memorial, I found a stage and large speakers were being put in place for a live concert where several celebrities shall perform. This is just one of the many events scheduled for the inauguration week. It has been a long tradition of the inaugural period that several galas are attended by the newly sworn in President dating back to early years of the Nation. But as I stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, my thoughts were not on the long history of inaugural celebrations, but in rather on the long journey people of color have had to travel to gain a fair standing in the United States.

I thought of how their ancestors were brought in from  distant lands as slaves, some sold by their fellow Africans. I thought of the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the cry by northerners such as Abraham Lincoln that all men are created equal. I pondered upon the Civil War that ensued and the emancipation of African-Americans. I imagined the struggles of Frederick Douglas in the late 1800s as the first black Vice-Presidential Candidate for a political party in the country, almost 100 years before the signing of the National Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices. I admired the courage of Rosa Parks and the resolve of Malcolm X. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who would have been 80 years old on January 15, told the world he dreamt of a time when man would not be judged by the color of is skin but by the content of his character – a message which found resonance with many African freedom fighters of the time such as our own Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

What a journey. The lone black United States Senator of the 110th congress will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America at the US Capitol, a structure built with the brawn power of black slaves.

The significance of this moment cannot be made light. The message it shall send to countries in which minority groups continue to be marginalized is powerful and one of hope. That freedom prevails in time.

As I drove through the crowded roads of the central business district and back to Howard University, I was convinced that I had joined those who believe that a multitude shall gather for this event. During my short tour, I saw excitement from all races; black, white, Asian and Latino. There a general sense of hope of a new day here in DC, and it seems to be contagious. In that respect, I can say I am now more certain of another thing – change has come to America!