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Zambia to remain a Christian nation

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Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha
Information and broadcasting minister Ronnie Shikapwasha

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, says Zambia will continue to be a Christian nation and that Zambians should continue to lift their country before Jesus Christ.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services said this yesterday in Lusaka at Cathedral of the Holy Cross at the 17th anniversary of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.

Lt.Gen. Shikapwasha said Zambia had been spared the turmoil and instability that has rocked her neighbours and other countries in Africa because she has made a covenant with God.

“Despite the difficulties that surround some neighbours and other countries in Africa, Zambia has not been

Dr Chiluba arrives for prayers to commemorate the 17th anniversary of Zambia's declaration as a Christian nation at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka
Dr Chiluba arrives for prayers to commemorate the 17th anniversary of Zambia

touched by any turmoil. We must therefore be glad and continue to rejoice in the Lord because even your government says Zambia will remain a Christian nation,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Chiluba urged politicians to know God so that they could see issues from a guided point of view.

Dr Chiluba said by declaring Zambia a Christian nation, he had reversed the curse that befell Zambia for voting to isolate Israel in 1973 at the United Nations General Assembly.

He said when he stood by the pillars of State House in 1991 and declared Zambia a Christian nation, he did not understand Christianity the way he now understood it.

The former president said he was happy that he had been used as a vessel to reclaim the lost blessings for the country.

He said even as he went through life, he would continue to smile as he stood on a rock that could not be crushed by anyone.

Dr Chiluba prayed to God to see the country through the global recession and safeguard the jobs of the Zambian people.

Dr. Chiluba engaged in prayer
Dr. Chiluba engaged in prayer

Lt.Gen Shikapwasha also stated that President Banda had followed the footsteps of both his predecessors by stating that Zambia would remain a Christian nation.

He thanked God for using former President Frederick Chiluba as a vessel to declare Zambia a Christian nation on December 29, 1991, shortly after he became President.

The minister thanked Dr Chiluba for promoting him to the rank of General in the Zambia Air Force, saying this appointment also made him a General for God.

Responding to some of the requests made by Dr Chiluba and other speakers, Lt.Gen. Shikapwasha said Zambia would consider declaring December 29 a public holiday to give every Christian an opportunity to celebrate this day.

He said government would also consider opening an Embassy in Israel, saying God had a covenant with the Middle East country.

Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said it was prudent that as Zambia continues to uphold the declaration of a Christian nation, she also strengthens relations with Israel.

He said government would also consider establishing a Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Meanwhile Living Waters Global Ministries overseer Bishop Bernard Nwaka said Zambia was built on a bedrock of Jesus Christ and the Bible reigned supreme over everything that took place in the country.

He said Zambian Christians should be proactive and help in the governance of the nation.

“Christians must become involved in the governance of the nation. Politics is not dirty, it is dirty people that join politics,” Bishop Nwaka said.

He said government should not see the Church as the opposition but embrace it as a healing and uniting factor.
Zambia Daily Mail

Mufulira council ponders cutting jobs

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Mufulira Town Clerk (TC) Charles Mwandila says the bad work culture at the council has affected revenue collection for the local authority.

Mr. Mwandila told the council during a special meeting held to consider estimates of income and expenditure for 2009 budget that the bad attitude of members of staff has cost the council K11 billion in uncollected revenue.

He said it was shocking that with the labour force of about 400 workers, the performance of the council was below par.

He noted that other councils that had as low as 200 workers such as Livingstone City and Chingola Councils were able to collect revenue which was twice as much as what the Mufulira council was collecting.

“The council collects K189 million in rate charges per month,” Mr. Mwandila said.

He has since appealed to the council to consider reducing what he said was a blotted labour force next year so that the local authority could meet the expectation of the 2009 budget.

Mr. Mwandila said the council should source for money to engage job evaluators to access the performance of workers, noting that those that will not perform will have to appear before the relevant council committees which will decide course of action.

He wondered why the council manages to collect more revenue when it engages school leavers to assist in revenue collection than what permanent workers collect.

The Town Clerk disclosed that the wage bill of permanent workers is K7 billion per annum, which he said did not commensurate with the service delivery provided to the residents.

He said the council and Zambia United Local Authority Workers Union (ZULAWU) should look at ways of striking a balance between the demand for improved workers salaries and quality of service delivery to the public.

During the same meeting, Council Director of Finance, Zakeyo Mbao said the council owes statutory institutions K3.9 billion in un remitted workers contributions.

Mr. Mbao said these institutions include NAPSA, ZULAWU, ZCTU, LASF and workers compensation fund.

He also said other creditors such as ZESCO and the water company are owed K150 million in unsettled service charges.

ZANIS/PS/EML/KSH/ENDS

Let’s support RB, pleads Minister

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda clad in shorts chats with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin in Mfuwe
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda clad in shorts chats with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin in Mfuwe

Northern Province Minister Charles Shawa has advised Zambians to give President Rupiah Banda and his administration ample time to address the challenges facing the country.

Mr. Shawa made the call in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama yesterday.

He said it was totally unfair for some people to heap the blame on the government for the current problems that have hit various sectors of the country’s economy.

Mr. Shawa said the fact that some mining companies on Copperbelt province were laying off workers did not mean government was sitting idle over the matter.

He has since urged Zambians to rally behind President Banda’s administration in order to collectively overcome the hardships facing general citizenry.

He further said government was fully committed to addressing the social ills such as poverty and disease facing the country so that its citizens could live better lives.

ZANIS/WS/KSH/ENDS

Goods and service providers asked to reduce prices

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Authorities in Northern Province have called on service providers and the business community in the region to immediately effect reduction of prices of goods and services in view of the drop in the cost of fuel.

Provincial Minister Charles Shawa said it was unfair for the business houses and transporters to continue charging exorbitant prices and fares on goods and services when the pump price of fuel has drastically reduced in the country.

Mr. Shawa said in Kasama yesterday that consumers needed to benefit from the reduction in the cost of fuel by accessing goods and services at a cheaper price.

The minister said there was need for the price of essential commodities such as mealie meal and transport to be reduced in the province so that people could afford them.

He said it was saddening to note that the price of mealie meal produced within the province was as expensive as that coming from outside the area.

Mr. Shawa has since urged local millers to make the price of their commodities affordable to the poor people.

He further explained that since the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has reduced the price of maize, milling companies should also reciprocate the gesture by reducing the price of their mealie meal.

And Bus operators in Mungwi district in Northern province have been asked to reduce bus fares for the distance between Mungwi and Kasama district following the reduction of fuel pump prices by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) last week.

The call to reduce the fares between Mungwi and Kasama was made by Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) District Secretary, Andrew Chungu today.

Mr. Chungu told ZANIS that minibus owners should urgently reduce fares from K8, 000 to K5 000, adding that failure to do so would mean stealing from the people.

Mr. Chungu, who praised government for reducing fuel prices, said the labour movement in the district was concerned about some transporters who did not want to reduce fares even after government has reduced fuel prices.

He wondered why transporters were not effecting the changes when they were always excited to increase the fares when the country experiences an increase in fuel prices.

He said bus operators in the district should not wait to be told to reduce fares because they were aware of the economic implications that their failure to do so might have on the district which he said was predominantly taken for peasant farmers.

The ZNUT district secretary also pointed out that since the Chitila-Kanyanta road has been rehabilitated, transporters should soon reduce the bus fares.

ZANIS/LS/KSH/ENDS

Kabompo plunges into darkness

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Kabompo district in North western province has been plunged into darkness following the breakdown of the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) thermal power plant.

The thermal power plant was shut down due to a breakdown of the only generator at the plant, causing a total electricity blackout in Kabompo town and Manyinga township.

Kabompo acting District Commissioner, Felix Ngoma confirmed the development to
ZANIS in Kabompo today.

Mr. Ngoma said Kabompo district and Manyinga mission hospitals were the worst hit by the electricity blackout forcing doctors and nurses to work under difficulty conditions.

The health institutions are using small generators to attend to emergency cases only.

A survey by ZANIS this morning also revealed that some government offices and business houses has since resorted to using small generators while institutions that did not have generators have their operations paralyzed.

Two concerned residents spoken to, George Munyingu and David Kapwepwe appealed to government to urgently send two new generators to the district in order to address the constant blackouts.

The machine broke down yesterday in the morning and efforts to get a comment from ZESCO district manager failed by press time.

A ZANIS crew could not be allowed entry into the ZESCO premises by security guards manning the plant.

ZANIS/MK/KSH/ENDS

Chambishi Copper Smelter to begin full operations next month

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The Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, ZCCZ, has set aside substantial sums of money to secure operations at the Chambishi Copper Smelter in the wake of the global financial crisis.

ZCCZ, Board Chairman, Tao Xinghu, said adequate financial resources have been mobilized to ensure operations at the Copper smelter remain afloat despite the declining Copper prices and overall global financial crisis.

Mr. Tao, who spoke through an interpreter, told ZANIS in Mfuwe today that the smelter is set to begin full operations next month.

Mr Tao explained that construction works of the project were not affected by the global economic crunch.

About US$300 million has been injected in the Chambishi Copper Smelter construction project, which has an estimated production scale of 100, 000 metric tones of Copper concentrates per year.

Over 1, 200 job opportunities would be created for local people when the smelter begins its full operations.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS

Parents go mute to protect pedophilia Senior church member

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Concerned residents in the Lubwe area of Samfya District have raised alarm over the decision by parents to a 12 year-old girl to keep as a secret a case in which their daughter has been allegedly defiled by a senior member of the Catholic Church in the area.

The residents, who stormed the ZANIS offices in Samfya today to register their displeasure, charged that a senior member of the Catholic Church of a local parish has allegedly confessed to defiling the 12 year-old girl on a number of occasions.

It is however alleged that the suspected defiler has managed to convince the parents to the girl that he has had no penetrative sex with the girl, but admits having fondled the girl’s private parts.

The emotionally charged residents said the parents to the minor have since decided to keep the matter as a secret.

The residents said the only request the parents of the girl have made is an HIV test on the girl and the suspected defiler.

The girl has since been taken to Kasaba Hospital, run by the Catholic Church, for an HIV test.

ENDS/IMD/AM/ZANIS

Street lighting project kicks off in Nakonde

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The street lighting project which was unveiled last week by Local Government Deputy Minister Crispin Musosha at a colourful ceremony held at Nakonde council rest house has finally taken off.

Nakonde district council secretary Francis Nkhoma said the project which will gobble over K500 million on completion kicked off yesterday and phase one of the project would be completed before the end of January, 2009.

Mr. Nkhoma said phase one of the street lighting project will cover two kilometres stretching from the Zambia Revenue Authority [ZRA] customs yard to the civic centre.

Mr. Nkhoma said his council has so far purchased materials worth over K141 million and these include 36 steel poles, cables, fittings and lights.

He said other works remaining which will cost K75 million include photo cells, transformer, starter panel and other accessories.

Mr. Musosha, who unveiled the prestigious project which would add to the beauty of the town upon completion, announced that the government had channelled K50 million towards the street lighting project in Nakonde.

Mr. Musosha, who commended the local authority for embarking on the project, said the district had the capacity to become a municipal by 2015.

The vision of Nakonde district council is become a municipal council by 2015 and projects such as street lighting is one of the bench marks.

ENDS/ JM/AM/ZANIS

Adamant bus operators should be blacklisted – ZACA

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Lumumba bus stop
Lumumba bus stop

The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has called upon government to quickly intervene in matter of bus operators in Lusaka who have refused to reduce bus fares despite fuel prices being reduced.

ZACA Executive Secretary Muyunda Ililonga says the decision by bus operators not to lower fares is aimed at exploiting consumers who have continued to pay exorbitant fares for both intra city and long distance routes.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that operators should not cite the depreciation of the local currency as the reason why there will not reduce fares adding that bus fares reduction is determined by the reduction in fuel prices.

“Lusaka bus operators are just displaying their selfishness to say they will not reduce fares because the kwacha has depreciated that is not true, fares are reduced when there is a reduction in fuel prices.” he said.

Mr. Ililonga explained that operators do not buy buses on a daily basis to this effect he has cautioned them to find other means of creating abnormal profit and not by exploiting people who use public transport.

He however, said the there is also need for government through the Ministry of Transport and Communication to put up a deliberate policy of blacklisting operators who do not comply to the laid down procedure of increasing and reducing transport fares.

Mr. Ililonga note that through government’s intervention, consumers can be assured that they are protected in all areas of development in the country.

He point out that though it is a liberalized economy consumer must be protected from all manner of exploitation in the hands of service providers.

“Government should now put in place a deliberate policy and ensure that all those that fail to comply to rules are black listed so that consumers are protected for the development of the country,” he added.

Mr. Ililonga further appealed to government to seriously regulate the transport sector to ensure that both consumers and transport operators benefit from the recent fuel price reductions.

He was reacting to a decision by Lusaka Bus Operators committee that they may not reduce bus fares because the Kwacha has depreciated.

ENDS/MM/AM/ZANIS

President Banda happy with South Luangwa National Park

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda looks on as Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin signs a visitors book at Chimfule Lodge in Mfuwe
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda looks on as Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin signs a visitors book at Chimfule Lodge in Mfuwe

President Rupiah Banda  said he was happy with the status of wildlife in the South Luangwa National Park adding that more foreign and local tourists should be encouraged to visit the park and other game parks in the country.

Mr. Banda, who is in Mfuwe on a working holiday, said more effort would be channeled at encouraging investments in areas surrounding national parks as a measure of increasing foreign exchange earnings from the wildlife industry.

Mr. Banda was speaking in an interview with ZANIS when he viewed game in the South Luangwa National Park yesterday.

The President viewed the wildlife in the accompany of his wife Thandiwe, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Li Qiangmin, Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala and Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Director General Lewis Saiwama.

President Rupiah Banda, said his administration is working hard to enhance the tourism policy framework in an effort to promote growth of the industry.

President Banda said the policy would be enhanced to facilitate the effective management of wildlife as part of the effort in  developing the sector.

He said government was would not re-invent the strategy that other countries had successfully applied of using wildlife as a driver to tourism growth and overall economic development.

ZANIS

Mealie-meal shortage looms in Mazabuka

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A shortage of mealie-meal is looming in Mazabuka following the shortage of the commodity at Choma Milling depot and some leading super markets in the district.

The situation is similar at Mazabuka’s largest market ,Nakambala, where retailers do not have the commodity in stock.

A survey conducted by ZANIS in Mazabuka today revealed that Choma Milling Company, Mazabuka depot, ran out of the commodity four days ago.

Milling Depot Manager, Goodson Daka, told ZANIS that his depot ran out of the commodity four days ago because of a shortage of maize in the district.

Mr. Daka, who could not state when the situation would normalize, said only the company top management could answer such queries.

And Bhagoos Group of Companies Director, Suleman Bhagoos, disclosed that his super market has been without mealie-meal for over six days.

He urged the millers to quickly address the situation before it degenerates into a crisis.

At Shoprite staff talked to by ZANIS said only a few bags of National Milling brand are in stock.

The staff said the quantities in stock will only last for about three days.

But Kapinga Milling Company Manger Grant Mwankontami said his company will offload mealie-meal at its depot tomorrow.

Mr. Mwankontami however said his company will only sell a bag to each client.

He said the move is aimed at striving to serve as many clients as possible.

ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS

Man killed by elephant

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A man of Sandwe village in chief Malama’s area in Mambwe District in Eastern Province has died while another has been badly injured after being attacked by an elephant.

Both Mambwe District Commissioner John Chilowa and Zambia Wildlife Authority Regional Manager (ZAWA) Mathews Mushimbalume confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Mambwe today.

Mr. Chilowa disclosed that both Benjamin Phiri, the deceased, and Fanwell Zulu of Kapepa village were attacked at Chileka village in the early hours of yesterday.

He said Zulu was nursing wounds at Kamoto Mission Hospital.

Mr. Chilowa said the two were on their way to Sandwe village in chief Malama’s area as they were coming from Senior Chief Nsefu’s area when they were attacked by the elephat.

And Zambia Wildlife Authority Regional Manager (ZAWA) Mathews Mushimbalume said the incident happened within a Game Management Area (GMA).

He said ZAWA officers had not yet found the elephant that attacked the two but stated that they were still trying to track it.

Cases of human-animal conflict in the area are a source of concern among residents in Mambwe district.

ENDS/HN/AM/ZANIS

Government is working hard to enhance the tourism- RB

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda looks on as Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin (r) signs a visitors book at Chimfule Lodge in Mfuwe
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda looks on as Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin (r) signs a visitors book at Chimfule Lodge in Mfuwe

President, Rupiah Banda, says his administration is working hard to enhance the tourism policy framework in an effort to promote growth of the industry.

President Banda said the policy would be enhanced to facilitate the effective management of wildlife as part of efforts of developing the sector.

Mr. Banda was speaking in an interview with ZANIS when he viewed game in South Luangwa National Park yesterday.

Chinese Ambassador Mr Li, who arrived in Mfuwe yesterday to deliver Chrismas greetings to the President, offered to conduct more promotions to encourage Chinese tourists to visit Zambian destinations.

Mr. Li said he was impressed with the way Zambia has managed the wildlife sector as it is significant to the conservation of the environment in the wake of rising concerns of climate change and global warming.

Meanwhile, President Banda today took time off his holiday, to pay courtesy on traditional leaders of Mambwe district.

Among the six chiefs were Senior Chief Nsefu, Chiefs Msoro, Malama, Mnkhanya, Jumbe and Kakumbi all of the Kunda people of Malambo district.

The President held private talks with the traditional leaders.

President Banda started his 10-day holiday on December 23.

Among other prominent people who have so far visited President Banda at Chichele Lodge to deliver Christmas greetings are Bank of Zambia former Governor, Jacob Mwanza, and UNZA former Vice Chancelor Professor Robert Serpell.

ENDS/SJK/AM/ZANIS

Speak out on national issues – Bishop Kamukwamba

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Second republican president Kenneth Kaunda folking out bank notes from his pockets during the Offering at ST Paul's UCZ church when Lackson Chibuye was being inducted as Bishop for Lusaka
First republican president Kenneth Kaunda folking out bank notes from his pockets during the Offering at ST Paul's UCZ church when Lackson Chibuye was being inducted as Bishop for Lusaka.

A Clergyman has called on the church not to shy away from speaking out on national issues.

Anglican Diocese Central Zambia (ADCZ) Bishop Derek Kamukwamba says participating in national issues would help government perform better.

Bishop Kamukwamba says the church and government should be partners in national development.

He said this at the induction ceremony of Bishop Lackson Chibuye at Lusaka’s Saint Paul’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Kabwata today.

Bishop Kamukwamba also challenged the church to get involved in matters of the environment.

He said the church should be in the forefront to talk on environmental issues such as preserving forests.

And newly inducted Bishop Lackson Chibuye thanked members of the UCZ for bestowing him with the title of bishop.

Zambia to celebrate the declaration as a Christian nation

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Zambians in the country and Diaspora has been called upon to mark the 17th Anniversary of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation differently by putting aside political, religious and any other divide and mark the day with a sense of oneness.

Reverend Churchill Lombanya, an advocate of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, says the momentous event to which the First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba, the Mwanawasa family, President Rupiah Banda and the church leadership have been invited is meant to be a platform for national unity.

Reverend Lombanya said the anniversary which falls on December 29, and is slated for the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka at 14: 00 hours to 18: 00 hours, should bring together all Zambians to worship and thank God that Zambia has remained an oasis of peace on the continent.

He said those that will attend what he described as a very special event to dress in Zambian traditional colours such as those depicted on the national flag.

Reverend Lombanya explained that this is meant to display patriotism and cultivate the pride of being a Zambian.

He explained that the church service will be preceded by a match past at 12:00 hours from Freedom Statue to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross led by Army Brass Band.

Meanwhile, Reverend Lombanya has wished the First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba, the Mwanawasa family, President Rupiah Banda, the church leadership and all Zambians compliments of the season.
ENDS/TK/AM/ZANIS

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