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The Zambia National Farmers Union -ZNFU- has warned of higher mealie meal prices for the next two years if the government does not further subsidise prices of fertiliser this year.
ZNFU President, Jergis Zimba, says government should subsidise fertiliser prices further to benefit both small scale and commercial farmers.
Mr. Zimba says if this is not done, maize production will dwindle compelling the government to import the commodity.
The ZNFU president was speaking when he made submissions for the 2009 national budget before Finance Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, in Lusaka on Thursday.
Dr. Musokotwane also met officials from the Zambia Association of Manufacturers who submitted that government should not tax manufacturers before production.
Mealie meal prices in the country have been increasing in the last few weeks.
On Wednesday, Bank of Zambia Governor, Caleb Fundanga, called on the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to start selling maize to millers in a bid to address the rising prices of mealie meal.
Zambia is to receive US$269.2 million to support comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programmes this year from the United States Government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Last year, Zambia was given US$216 million but US President George Bush has since decided to increase the figure towards scaling down the HIV/AIDS prevalence rates that considerably vary from one town to the other in the country.
This is according to a press statement released by the US Embassy in Lusaka and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The statement states that PEPAR has partnered with the Zambian government to expand the number of VCT sites providing ART to help improve quality of care and increase ART uptake among children and adults.
The statements indicates that a total of 151,900 Zambians have so far this year benefited from PEPFAR and they are receiving ART and that 59, 708,000 condoms were shipped from America to Zambia towards the HIV/AIDS fight.
Zambia is experiencing a generalised HIV/AIDS epidemic with a national HIV prevalence rate of 15.2 percent among adults aged 15 to 49 whose primary modes of HIV transmission is through heterosexual sex and mother to child transmission.
The Zambian government through the National HIV and AIDS Strategic 2006-2010 framework has prioritised making anti-retroviral therapy (ART) available to all the people in need.
But the major challenge government is faced with is inadequate human resources for counseling, testing and treatment related care, gaps in supply of drugs in the public sector and low pay among the Zambian workers.
Other challenges includes the high levels of stigma which hinders people from seeking treatment and care, lack of information and high levels of misinformation.
At least 600,000 children were left orphaned by HIV/AIDS last year and Zambia is being robbed off the productive age group unless people change their life styles to the killer disease.
Zambia is one of the beneficiaries of PEPFAR in 15 countries world-wide.
Several years ago I was privileged to meet former president Levy Mwanawasa in Washington DC when he attended the annual United Nations Security Council Meeting. This was the year that Mwanawasa had just ascended to the highest office in the land. During the semi-formal meeting at the Zambian embassy in Washington DC, the President encouraged the many Zambians present to come back home to contribute to the rebuilding of the economy.
At the time I was doing my last year at one of the universities in the area. With the passion I have for my country, I took the president’s appeal very serious. A few years later I packed my belongings and came straight home to help in the rebuilding of my country. I had been gone to the United States for nine years and during that time had never come back home. I experienced reverse “culture shock” from the dilapidated infrastructure around the city to the many people standing around street corners with nothing to do. It was then it really hit home in my mind on how real and high unemployment rate was in my country.
The next day after arriving I went straight to work—applying for a job to various businesses, government, and non-governmental organizations where I thought my education and experience would be taken advantage of. I have never been offered a job to this day although I was able to attend a few interviews. I must mention here that at my last count I had applied to roughly 260 places over the period of a year and half.
I guess the big question is; Should Zambians Abroad Come Back Home? Or to rephrase the question; Are we ready for Zambians Abroad to come back home? During my stay abroad, I attended meetings of various African politicians and Zambians politicians who continue preaching about creating jobs and appealing for the Diaspora to come back home. Unfortunately, little is being done on the ground to prepare it for these people when they come. I find it frustrating to struggle like this in my home country. In the United States the employers rushed to offer me a position when they looked at my qualifications. On the other hand, employers here don’t seem to appreciate the education and experience I have. Not to mention that I graduated on the top tier of my class in Business Administration and Marketing. My experiences have included working as a manager for one of the largest financial institutions in the world. Not to mention that in all my marketing position I have won awards for best performance. Not to mention that I went to one of the best private universities in the United States. Not to mention that I also got another degree in communication from an elite private school.
If I was an employer here in Zambia and a CV that looked like this came to my desk I would be wanting to talk to this person. Businesses in Zambia must realize that Zambians educated abroad are not a threat to their teams but an asset that they must take advantage of. The world in becoming more and more integrated into one marketplace. Businesses with personnel who have a worldview approach and a global touch to business will stand the chance to benefit. Employees with a global view bring a wealth of experience including the ability to work well with different people from other cultures as well as people of different ages.
Government has absolutely failed in changing the unbelievably high unemployment rate in this country. They have failed the Zambian people in having poor labor laws that disadvantage many Zambians. For example, why hire a South African to be a cook at a hotel, or an American to work as a marketing manager, or a Chinese (who can hardly speak English) to work as a secretary? Needless to say that companies go to great lengths in acquiring work permits and other immigration papers for these people. Moreover these people are often paid three times or more what a more qualified Zambians is willing to take home. Is there any business sense in this other than the fact that these business owners have identified our weak labor laws and will relentlessly take advantage of them?
If government will attract the Zambian Diaspora to return home they need to even the playing field for everyone. As a matter of fact, the playing field should advantage the Zambians. Foreigners come to Zambia with little or no capital but within years they get wealthy. Of course they get wealthy since they get the huge government contracts, don’t have to queue for anything, and easily get business loans to start their businesses. Why advantage foreigners over your own citizenry? Do you think this would happen in Canada, Germany, Botswana or India? Of course not. The government, therefore, has an obligation to create an environment suitable for a poor woman in Solwezi to establish her business favorably the way an Australian will. It has an obligation to contract a Zambian owned business in Maamba over a Chinese owned business. It has an obligation to employ a returning Zambian student from the United Kingdom over an unqualified South African.
Sometimes, there is a stereotype that Zambian who come back have money—actually they don’t. Many of them worked hard in their host countries to acquire the little they had. Thank God at least many times they were recognized and appreciated for their hard work. Saving money was not so easy because of the demands that come with living in a foreign country. Therefore, when they come home they equally need to be empowered by giving them opportunities to get loans and establish businesses if they are to be self-employed. The Citizens Economic Empowerment Fund is a great initiative, however many Zambians don’t even know there is such a fund let alone how to access it. The application papers are unavailable and have to be bought at high prices. The application paper itself is complex with financial jargon for a graduate even. How will this help empower Zambians?
As I sit on my computer and put these thoughts to paper, I wonder of how things will be different for me a year from now. Will I find a job—just any job? Will my business pick after accessing that loan? I wonder about the blind lady on the fly over bridge on Church Road or the crippled lady across from Central Park. How will their lives change a year from now? Will their luck to have a meal continue to be in the hands of passer-bys in these tough times? Or should it be in the hands of the government? I wonder.
The Youth Movement for Inter-party Reconciliation has proposed that only two presidential candidates should contest the 2011 elections.
Organisation Executive Director Patrick Samwimbila said this is to prevent vote-splitting and election of a minority president.
Mr. Samwimbila said the organization also desire that the 50 plus one majority votes be be implemented in 2011 even in the absence of a clause in the republican constitution
Addressing the press in Lusaka today, Mr. Samwimbila has since urged the opposition political parties to start working towards an electoral pact.
Mr. Samwimbila further said the move would go a long way in encouraging people to vote.
Meanwhile, Mr. Samwimbila has said political differences can only be resolved through dialogue.
He said violence would only bring about chaos and instability in the country.
Police in Chipata had a tough time to control a crowd which besieged the police station this morning after word went round that a taxi which was impounded by police was later found with a coffin placed on top.
Scores of people went to the police station as early as 07 hours to have a glimpse of the coffin which was said to have been placed on top of a vehicle.
One of the residents, Charles Phiri, said the driver of the said taxi was detained after the vehicle he was driving was impounded by police but later on, the detainee disappeared from the cell.
Mr. Phiri who allegedly saw the coffin said that police were shocked to discover that the driver was not in the cells and when they checked where they had placed a driving license which was confiscated from him, it was also not there.
He noted that the continued search for him by police led to the discovery of the coffin which was allegedly placed on top of a vehicle.
But Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Mary Chikwanda, said it was not true that a vehicle had turned into a coffin.
Ms. Chikwanda said the coffin in question was used by police from the traffic section to carry bodies of people who died in Road Traffic Accidents ( RTAs ).
She said the coffin was always being kept at the police station but officers just forgot to take it to the place where it was always kept, when they moved it outside.
But some residents interviewed who were still moving about around the police station by mid-day, did not agree with Ms. Chikwanda, arguing that it was not true that police were keeping the coffin for the purposes of carrying bodies of road traffic accident victims.
They wondered how police would carry more that one body from an accident scene using one coffin if it was true that the coffin was being kept for that purpose.
A grade twelve pupil in Kalulushi who was found with Biology papers last week on Thursday is in police custody awaiting investigations.
Both Chairperson for Examination Security Committee and the Zambia Police in Kalulushi confirmed the examination leakage to ZANIS in Kalulushi today.
Chairperson for Examination Security Committee Mr Joshua Mutisa said the boy whose name has been withheld was found with a Biology Paper One and Two, a day before the examination.
Mr Mutisa added that the paper was confiscated from the boy tallied on Monday as the committee wanted to compare the paper which came out exactly.
Mr Mutisa who is also Kalulushi District Commissioner said that the Zambia Police and other security wings were carrying out investigations for possible prosecutions in the culprits.
”We will not rest until we get to the source of the case.” Mr Mutisa said.
He said that pupils found with examination leakages risk their examinations being nullified and should not cheat themselves.
Mr Mutisa warned that whichever government officer would be found wanting would not only be fired, but prosecuted too.
President Banda flanked by incoming local government minister Ben Tetamashimba and Defence minister George Mpombo
PARLIAMENT has scrapped the responsibility allowance for constitutional office holders and drastically reduced the special and utility allowances in the revised emolument bills that were approved yesterday.
This was when the House passed the three amended emolument bills that seek to increase salaries and allowances for the president, ministers, deputy ministers, members of Parliament and other constitutional office holders.
The amended bills, which were subjected to a vote electronically, saw a significant reduction of the utility allowance while the salary still stood at 15 per cent increment.
The three bills, which had earlier passed through the House, were sent back after President Banda wrote a letter to the Speaker on November 7, asking Parliament to reconsider the bills, as they were costly to the Government in their old form.
Presenting the amended bills, Vice-President George Kunda said the treasury had insufficient funds to implement the earlier proposed allowances, hence the need to amend the bills.
Mr Kunda said the Government had spent huge sums of money to conduct the October 30 presidential election and expenses towards the State funeral of late president Mwanawasa.
According to the amended Presidential Emolument Bill number 18 of 2008, the President’s special annual allowance of K157,210,523 had been reduced to K59,194,734 while the annual responsibility allowance of K150 million was scrapped.
The salary of the president has been increased by 15 per cent and would now annually be pegged at K164, 120, 016.
The vice-president’s annual salary would be K99,227,544 while the special allowance had been reduced to K33, 886,567 from K 94, 119, 870. The responsibility allowance of K90 million has been scrapped and the utility allowance was now K26, 680,000 from K66,400,000.
The deputy speaker, Cabinet minister, the chief whip, leaders of opposition would get an annual salary of K75, 117, 124, special allowance of K26, 382, 673 instead of K64, 412, 182. The utility allowance for the same category of officers is now K26, 680,000 from K66, 400,000.
Back benchers would get an annual salary of K70,161,239, special allowance at K19, 165,615 instead of K66 million. The utility allowance annually was pegged at K26, 680,000 instead of K66, 400,000.
Deputy ministers would get an annual salary increment of K70, 953,196, the special allowance of K24, 107,904 instead of K61, 448, 092 and utility allowance of K26, 680,000 other than earlier proposed K66, 400,000.
The constitutional office amendment Bill now states that the secretary to the Cabinet would get an annual salary increment of K159, 340, 959 and a responsibility allowance of K48, 300,000 annually instead of K80 million.
The Attorney General would get annual salary increment of K135, 485,950 and responsibility allowance of K41, 400,000 annually instead K80 million.
And the Speaker of the National Assembly told the House the three bills were passed with more than two thirds of the majority votes which was done electronically.
Morocco on Wednesday evening crushed Zambia 3-0 in a friendly match played at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
The Atlas Lions roared to a 2-0 lead into the break after taking a 3rd minute lead through midfielder Houssine Kharja of Italian Serie A side Siena.
Porto striker Tarik Sekitioui scored his second goal against Zambia in as many friendly matches this year with a 25th minute penalty.
His Spanish based team mate and striker Nabil Baha of Malaga completed Morocco’s win over Zambia heading in the hosts third goal just three minutes after the hour-mark.
The results stretches Zambia’s winless streak away against Morocco to three friendly games after losing there 2-0 in Fez this past January and 1-0 in 2001 in Rabat.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s fellow 2010 World Cup Group C qualifiers opponent Egypt swept aside Benin 5-1 in their home friendly match played on the same night.
Hosny Rabou put the African champions ahead on 25 minutes before Emad Moteab struck twice in the 27th and 41st minutes.
Mohamed Aboutrika gave his side a 4-0 halftime lead on 43rd minutes and before adding his second of the day in the 74th minute.
Benin scored their consolation goal through striker Razak Omotoyossi just five minutes from fulltime.
Parliament heard today that government spent over K400 million on identifying 363 talented sportsmen and women in rural areas.
And parliament heard today that this year government has set a Talent Identification and Steering Committee that is being administered by the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ).
Sport, Youth and Child Development Deputy Minister Christopher Kalila said out of the K1.4 billion allocated in this year’s national Budget, K430,754,247.20 was spent on talent identification for 2011 All Africa Games (AAG) to be hosted in Zambia.
He further said that the Committee comprises of officials from his ministry, the Ministry of Education, and the National Sports Council tasked to tap talent in all the sport disciplines in rural Zambia.
Dr. Kalila said rural talent was tapped from football (10), netball (65), volleyball (81), table tennis ( seven ), as well as Zambia Athletics Amateur Association (ZAAA) ( nine ).
Others include Badminton Association of Zambia (18), basketball (46) chess (40) and a total of 87 athletics from the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) respectively.
Dr. Kalila who is a nominated MP was responding to a question by Mfuwe MP (PF) Mwiimba Malama who wanted to find out what government is doing in tapping talent in rural areas and how much was spent from 2007 to-date.
And Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu said government has plans are underway to develop the infrastructure in the country to prepare participants participating to the AAG in 2011.
This was in response to the supplementary question by Mwense MP (PF) Jacob Chongo who lamented that lack of infrastructure in rural areas is detrimental to operate on.
A multi billion kwacha expansion of the Zambia Revenue Authority [ZRA] yard in Nakonde district in Northern Province will start before the end of 2008.
And construction of 28 low cost houses for junior officers operating at Nakonde border is progressing well.
District commissioner Edwin Sinyinza has confirmed the development in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services [ZANIS].
Mr Sinyinza says the multi billion kwacha expansion of ZRA Nakonde border check point will commence before the end of December.
” All is set for the commencement of the multi-billion expansion project of the Nakonde ZRA yard and construction works are expected to start before the end of this year,” Said Sinyinza.
Mr. Sinyinza said all the clearing agents and other people operating from containers placed outside ZRA yard have been directed to ensure that all the containers are removed within the next 48-hours.
He said the containers and other make-shift shops should be erected at other designated places approved by the district council.
He however, said he was happy that the move to relocate the containers has been well received by all the stakeholders who have since started moving containers and other make-shift shops to other designated places.
The district commissioner disclosed that a bull dozer from Kasama was expected to arrive any day to start demolishing structures and prepare the land for the commencement of the expansion exercise.
Mr Sinyinza said the government was expected to hand over the site to the contractor immediately after all the unnecessary structures have been pulled down.
” The expansion of Nakonde border check point follows the upgrading of the station that has seen remarkable increase in the revenue collection,” Mr Sinyinza added.
Nakonde is currently the second largest collector of revenue after Chirundu in Zambia.
And construction of 28 low cost houses for junior officers operating at the border is progressing well.
District commissioner Sinyinza said the contractor has just finished laying the foundation and will start working on the super structures.
” Yes, I can confirm to you that the construction of low-cost houses for junior officers operating at Nakonde border check point is progressing well and moving on schedule,” Mr Sinyinza said.
He said once completed, the houses which are located along the Nakonde/ Malawi international Road in Katozi area will be allocated to officers under the Drug Enforcement Commission [DEC], ZRA, Police and the Immigration department.
This is the phase one of the project in which a total of 100 houses are to be constructed at the end of the project.
ZANIS/JM/ENDS/MM.
A Concerned Citizen from Kabwe has taken a swipe at Transparency international President Ruben Lifuka’s recent remarks on the October 30 Presidential polls.
Mr Richard Chella said in a release to ZANIS, Tuesday evening , that Mr Lifuka is being biased because the T.I president at first supported the opposition during the campaigns but has now switched to speak positively for the ruling MMD after it won.
Mr Chellah , who is and adent MMD supporter said that he can only take Mr Lifuka seriously if his organisation declares the just ended elections as free and fair in line with what other local and international organisations have done.
He asked if the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) have equally come out in the open that elections were free and fair, who is Mr Lifuka to remain adamant that the elections were not free and fair.
Mr. Chella has since urged Mr Lifuka to condemn the biasness by a named tabloid newspaper he alleged was transferring and manufacturing pictures to depict that a certain presidential candidate was more popular.
Further,the concerned citizen challenged Mr Lifuka to strongly condemn what he called the shameless lie reported by the same tabloid that traditional leaders in Southern province had shunned President Banda during the campaigns in total contrast to what was televised on ZNBC.
ZANIS/AH/ENDS/MM
Parliament heard today that 29 geological blocks in Chama and Lundazi districts in Eastern province have so far been demarcated for prospective oil explorations.
Mines and Mineral Development Minister Maxwell Mwale told parliament that his ministry has invited exploration companies to bid for the oil and gases that show positive indications of the mineral resource in the province.
Mr. Mwale, who is also Malambo Member of Parliament (MP) told the house that 153 soil samples were collected in Chama while 211 others were collected in Lundazi to determine the quantity and availability of the two minerals.
He said to this effect, government has replaced the Mineral Act of 1985 to favour more prospectors to freely conduct mining activities in the country.
The Minister said that three other provinces namely North-western, Luapula and Western have shown signs of oil and gas while Southern province has prospects for gold. He said exploration works would soon commerce in the said provinces.
Mr. Mwale was responding to a question by Nyimba MP Forrie Tembo who wanted to find out the latest oil and gas exploration in Chama and Lundazi districts by government.
Bwangweulu Patriotic Front (PF) MP Joseph Kasongo asked the government as to when it would start exploring the gold deposits in his constituency.
Mr. Mwale assured that the exploration of oil and gases is an on-going and that government has since embarked on land demarcation exercise to potential prospecting firms.
Government has approved over K46 billion for the tarring of a 26 kilometer stretch of Township roads in Chipata district of Eastern province.
Acting Town Clerk Noel Muchimba disclosed to ZANIS in an interview that Sable contractors will soon commence works before serious rains begin.
Mr. Muchimba stated that the first road to be worked on will be Kapata/Navutika road via Katopola.
He has since appealed to residents in the district cooperate with the council and the contractor by removing structures that are within vicinity of the roads.
