President Rupiah Banda has congratulated his Nigerian counterpart Alhaji Umaru Mussa Yar’Adua for winning an election petition in the Supreme Court which was filed by the opposition parties.

President Banda said the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of President Yar’Adua confirmed the existence of a democratic dispensation in Nigeria in which the rule of law reins supreme.

He said this in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

President Banda hoped the court ruling will help President Yar’ Adua to enhance his noble efforts to unite and steer Nigeria to sustainable development and prosperity.

“In this regard, I wish to convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes on your victory” President Banda said.

He added that Mr. Yar’ Adua’s victory should further inspire Zambia and Nigeria to work closely together to strengthen the two countries’ bonds of friendship and cooperation for the mutual benefit of their people.

The Nigerian Supreme Court on December 12, 2008 ruled that President Yar’Adua was duly elected to the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after the opposition challenged the results of the presidential elections.

By Mingeli Palata
Just as well I was discussing the possibility of having a serious new and youthful candidate relish the prospects of presidency in the 2011 election with some youth leaders the other day. In our discourse, a number of issues came out. Of course by serious youthful candidates I don’t mean the likes of New Revolution whatever it’s called and the other self proclaimed doctor.

At this juncture, it is imperative to note that the role of the youth in politics world over has been that of agents of revolutionary change, if you look at most independence struggles and major political upsets, you will glean that the youth have played a major role in its outworking. This notorious fact is both are an asset and a misfortune for the youth. It can be used either for or against the youth as will be highlighted in the course of this article.

Today the youth are mere cadres and tools used to propel other people’s political expediency- it’s a sad state of affairs. We need not to emphasize on how the youth are sidelined in the Political realm as this has already been dealt with in the earlier article. But let’s look at this from a different perspective, what are the youth themselves doing to take a more serious role in the future of Zambian politics?

We have established that the youth are powerful forces of change; this means the onus to either be a factor or not rests entirely on us. Human beings by nature designed to be free moral agents with a free conscience- choice. Indeed the power of reasoning and choice is what differentiates us from animals. Now if the majority of the youth have chosen to be used by cunning politicians, if they have decided that it is better to drink from 6 to 6 and if they have succumbed to the dictates of politics as usual, then that is not anyone’s problem. In this case we the youth have no one to blame but ourselves because we have allowed ourselves to be used. Why do we expect the government of some super natural force to put or involve us in important national matters when we ourselves have not shown the ability or the willingness to lead?

A lot of colleagues in the various youthful circles have mooted pushing for deliberate legislation that will serve to ensure that the youth have a certain representation in key government structures such as Parliament and cabinet guaranteed. My contention is that on principle we don’t need to create space or positions for any group or association just for the sake of doing it. We already have constitutional provisions that allow each and every Zambian- man, woman, youth, disabled to participate and be represented in government structures. You can vote when you are 18, you can be a member of parliament when you are 21 and you can go for Nkwazi house when you are 35, isn’t that enough?

Yet the fact that the youth are not a factor in Zambia’s political realm is not entirely our fault. In the recent years we have seen a stronger bond between money and politics develop, the two seem to complement each other. The obviously smaller financial muscle power that most youths have has placed them at a disadvantage. The youth cannot compete on a fair and equal ground with older and much more established politicians. Sadly the marriage between money and politics is a grim reality that will continue to hinder the progress of the youth in Politics.

The challenges that face the youth in their quest to partake in the national cake are real and if let unsolved will continue to impact negatively of youth development. Until the youth wake up from their 44 year old slumber and take center stage in the affairs of this country, the situation will remain the same. The way I see it, this country is not going anywhere until, we ‘the leaders of tomorrow’ do something about the bleak fate of our country. The future is in our hands!

Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane said the Government would encourage private sector participation by removing bureaucracy and making it easy for people to start doing business.

Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) chairperson, Yusuf Dodia urged the Government to avoid borrowing from banks next year so as not to create more pressure on the financial sector.
Mr Dodia said the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) should be merged so that they could assist Zambians in starting up businesses.

Another businessman, Jeremiah Dauya said the Government should give local businesses incentives to enable their products to compete with imported items.

Meanwhile Dr. Musokotwane said donors have pledged to fulfill their budgetary commitments in next year’s Budget despite the global financial crisis.

Dr Musokotwane said on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television programme, “National Watch” monitored yesterday that donors contributed 25 per cent of Zambia’s national Budget.
He said that because of the global crisis there were fears that donor countries who were most affected would cut their support but most of them had confirmed their contribution.
“So far most donors have indicated that they will fulfill their pledges and the only worry will be about the job losses in the mines,” he said.

He said Zambia should not be scared to attract foreign investment because it accounted for the positive economic trends in countries such as China and Thailand.
“We should not be scared to attract local and foreign investment but we should just ensure that people benefit,” he said.

He said Zambia had not attracted sufficient foreign investment, especially that it came from a “commandist” economy and that since it had a small market the option was to export in order to earn foreign exchange.
He added that Zambia was not the only country that was facing job losses in the mines and the Government was monitoring mines while looking at measures of protecting jobs.
Dr Musokotwane said President Banda recently visited Luanshya Mine because the Government was concerned about the job losses.

He also assured that next year’s Budget would address how Zambia would pull through out of the global financial crisis.

Times of Zambia

1. Just for today I will be happy. People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

2. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

3. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

4. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

5. Just for today I will have a programme. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurrying and indecision.

6. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do – just for exercise.

7.Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize no-one, nor find fault with everything and try not to regulate nor improve anyone.

8. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

9. Just for today I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love, love me.

by Sibyl Partridge

Vice President George Kunda has assured the nation that government will not s

pare any efforts aimed at mitigating challenges associated with the global economic crisis.

Mr. Kunda says government has started working out modalities aimed at minimizing effects that may arise from the global economic and financial crisis.

The Vice President was speaking in Kabwe, Sunday, when he addressed MMD party officials and government heads of departments.

Mr. Kunda said although the effects of the global economic and financial crisis had started impacting on the Zambian economy, government under the leadership of President Banda was addressing the challenges with due attention.

He said government had devised a mechanism aimed at rationalizing expenditure to respond to some of the challenges that may be associated with the global economic and financial crisis and the soaring mealie-meal prices and other essential commodities in the country.

On government’s decision for Zambia to withdraw from hosting the 2011 All Africa games, Mr Kunda said the reason was to ensure that resources which were meant for the event were channeled to other development programmes such as the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP).

He explained that it was going to cost Zambia over K1 trillion to host the continental games, a situation he said was going to frustrate government efforts of implementing other development programmes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda has appealed to MMD leaders at the grassroots to strengthen the party structures in readiness for the 2011 general elections.

Addressing party leaders in Kabwe today, Mr.Kunda said MMD members should not be complacent but start preparing themselves for the next presidential and parliamentary polls in 2011.

The Vice President further called on Zambians to concentrate on growing more food rather than resorting to holding demonstrations saying that the escalating prices of mealie-meal prices and other essential commodities were a global challenge.

Mr. Kunda said growing more food was the only measure aimed at addressing the various challenges associated with the soaring mealie-meal prices and other essential commodities that the country was facing.

Speaking at the same function, Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa urged MMD party members to explain to the nation the various development programmes that government has and was implementing.

Professor Lungwangwa said there is need for the MMD party officials to play a leading role of explaining to the people of the various government programmes that it has and was implementing.

He further disclosed that government through his ministry has from 2006 to 2008 spent over K600 billion on the construction exercise of modern high schools in the country.

Professor Lungwangwa also disclosed that over K200 billion has been spent on the procurement of school learning materials adding that a total sum of K31 billion has also been spent on the procurement of vehicles for the District Education Boards (DEBS).

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Brain Chituwo said government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) will in the next coming two months offload 60, 000 metric tones of maize.

Dr Chituwo said the move taken by government to offload 60, 000 metric tones of maize was aimed at addressing the challenges associated with the escalating prices of mealie-meal in the country.

And MMD District Chairperson George Kangwa appealed to government to address the soaring prices of mealie-meal in the country.

ZANIS/TK/ENDS

Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu says his council will comply with Government directives that has nullified Mayoral elections.

Mr Chingangu told ZANIS in Mazabuka, Sunday, although the mayor elect, Shaderick Mwiinga had been given the instruments of power, his administration will have nothing to do but to ask him to surrender them to former Mayor, Edmond Cheelo.

He said the local authority will abide by the minister of local government’s directives to extend the tenure office for the Mayors and their deputies although official communication has not yet been issued.

Mr Chingangu said the council has not yet received official communication from the Ministry of Local Government but will follow what is in the Press.

But Mayor elect Shaderick Mwiinga told ZANIS, as far as he is concerned his election is not affected by the statutory instrument signed by Local Government Minister.

Mr Mwiinga said he will only accept when the council receives official communication nullifying his election.

Meanwhile local government and housing minister, Benny Tetamashimba has said the Patriotic Front (PF) mayoral elections held at Kitwe and Chingola councils are illegal .

Mr Tetamashimba said in an interview in Lusaka  that the elections were illegal and should not be recognised.

He said the town clerk was supposed to have presided over the mayoral elections but that was not the case.

The minister wondered who could have conducted the elections because returning officers were not present to supervise the polls.

He said PF councillors were just trying to create anarchy in the country.

Kitwe Town Clerk, Ali Simwinga said as far as the council was concerned, there were no mayoral elections, maintaining that Divo Katete was still the mayor of the city.

Mr Simwinga said he was the returning officer and was not aware of any mayoral elections, saying the filed nomination papers were still valid.

“I am the returning officer and when I am not there, then the elections are illegal. As far as I am concerned, our mayor is Divo Katete,” Mr Simwinga said.

In Chingola, Musenga Ward councillor Steven Mubanga expressed disappointment at the behaviour of some PF councillors.

Mr Mubanga, who is MMD district chairman ,said he was disappointed because Government’s directive was clear.

ZANIS/HC/Ends/MM/Times of Zambia

Zambia’s troubled Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) has halted operations and will only restart if the price of copper rises, the firm’s chief executive officer Derek Webbstock said on Saturday.

Webbstock said mining operations ceased on Saturday and all 1,740 employees would be laid off.

“The mine is closed and all the workers will be laid off,” Webbstock told Reuters. “I don’t know when the operations will resume … it will only be after the price of copper is up again.”

Mines and minerals development minister Maxwell Mwale said the government would work to ensure operations of the mine resumed in the shortest possible time, but said the government would not step in and buy it.

“We cannot just come in because there are legal implications since this mine is a private property,” Mwale said. “But we are determined to make sure the mine begins to operate again because we don’t want job losses.”

Copper is Zambia’s biggest export and the mines, which are a major employer, are struggling with a fall in global metal prices.

Mwale said he held a crisis meeting with unions on Saturday but did not give further details.

LCM, a joint venture of International Mineral Resources and Bein Stein Group Resources, operates Chambishi Metals and the Baluba copper mine.

Chambishi’s cobalt smelter was shut down two weeks ago. But its roaster, which is used for copper refining, and the Baluba mine were still operational until Saturday.

LCM had already suspended its new $354 million Mulyashi mine proj ect while it reviewed its viability.

Mwale said LCM’s owners had not injected enough cash into the company after buying it from the government in 2003. Last week, the government said it was looking at ways of saving the mine from collapse.

Reuters