People whose maize was slashed on hill slopes in Chipata district on Wednesday will be compensated.

Chipata Central Member of Parliament, Lameck Mangani confirmed the development in a telephone interview. Mr. Mangani said that the Chipata District Disaster Management Committee will go to the hills and assess the damage to see how the affected families can be assisted, although he did not disclose the kind of aid to be provided.

The MP, who is also Lusaka Province Minister, however, warned that the move to assist the affected families is not an acknowledgement that people should continue cultivating on the hill slopes.

Mr. Mangani said that cultivating on hill slopes contributes to land degradation. He said that this is because the hills are left bare resulting in heavy current of water from the hill slopes, damaging property and roads in the townships.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mangani has condemned the move by the residents to stone his building in Nabvutika compound in protest against the council’s action.

The MP said that it was also unfortunate that the residents had intentions to go and slash maize at the republican president, Rupiah Banda’s farm along the Chipata-Mfuwe road.

He strongly condemned the action by the grieved residents, saying people should not take the law into their hands. The residents on Wednesday took to the street stoning the building belonging to Mr. Mangani, a shop for Nabvutika Area Chairman for Zone 3, Dauzen Mwanza and a house belonging to Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale.

This was in protest against the move by the council to slash their maize planted on the hill slopes. The slashing of maize has also sparked confusion between the mayor and the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD’s leadership, with the mayor facing disciplinary action.

ENDS/HN/PK/ZANIS

The Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution and Disputes( SACCORD) and Forum For Democratic Process( FODEP) has welcomed the collaboration  of  United Party for National Development UPND and Norwegian International Liberal Party.

SACCORD executive director Lee Habsonde said the collaboration of the two political parties is an important development that will help  UPND  learn  from the Rebel International Party on how to manage conflict within their political party.

He said  local political parties need to learn from these parties how to manage internal political affairs within themselves.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today Mr.Habasonde added UPND will be a more strengthened party.

Mr. Habasonde however urged other political parties in the country to find such partners who can assist their party to enrich the democratic process in the parties.

FODEP president Stanley Muhango stressed the need for political parties to build capacity such as the  exchanging of  ideas, sharing  of  experiences with other international parties on issues of democratic governance.

Mr Muhango said that it was important for the local political parties to merge with well known international parties that will not bring danger to the country.

He challenged the political parties to strengthen their political parties as a way of knowing how best to run a party and form a good government.

Meanwhile UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said the party signed a memorandum of understanding MOU with the Norwegian liberal party yesterday with a high power delegation led by their vice president who visited Zambia.

Mr. Kakoma noted that the UPND has entered into a working relationship with the Norwegian Liberal party to work on areas of capacity building between parties.

UPND is a member of the liberal interaction a group of all liberal parties in the world.

ZANIS/AH/MKM/ENDS

A Zimbabwean firm has expressed interest in investing Kasaba Bay with an initial investment capital of US$ 8 million.

The foreign company Matetsi Wild Life Enterprise has since engaged government into the possibility of investing in the Mpulungu based bay.

Company Director Charles Davy disclosed after the tour of the bay that his company was keen in investing in Zambia because of the country’s enabling investment climate and growing economy.

President Banda said such investment would go a long way in promoting the northern tourism circuit .

Mr. Banda said government will do everything possible to facilitate such meaningful investment.

He said government would work on infrastructure such as roads and airports in a bid to promote a good climate for investment.

Mr. Banda said tourism is key to the country’s economy particularly at a time when the country is trying to diversify its economy.

Meanwhile, speaking before departure for Lusaka, Mr. Banda said his administration would strive to ensure that all provinces got a fair share of development.

Mr. Banda, further, reiterated the support that Northern Province gave his candidature and the MMD party during the October 30 presidential elections.

The President said his administration would work to fulfill its election campaigns.

Mr. Banda was in Northern Province for a three day official visit during which he inspected the abandoned tourism infrastructure at Kasaba Bay in Mpulungu District.

President Banda also paid courtesy call on the paramount chief Chitimukulu in Mungwi district and also officially opened the Provincial Auditor General’s office

ZANIS/AM/MKM/ENDS

The Chipata Municipal council has suspended the slashing of maize on hill slopes until further notice .

The action follows the action by some Chipata residents who yesterday went amok and wanted to slash maize at President Rupiah Banda’s farm after Chipata Municipal Council slashed their maize fields.

Chipata mayor Sinoya Mwale said the council will not continue the program until it convenes a meeting with the affected residents.

Residents whose maize was slashed by the local authority yesterday went on rampage stoning a Hummer belonging to Chipata central Member of Parliament Lameck Mangani, a shop in Navutika and the house belonging to the mayor.

Quick action by Zambia Police who rushed to the area, prevented the irate residents that wanted to protest by slashing maize at the president’s farm.

A check by ZANIS found police officers manning the field around 16 hours yesterday.

Sources who chose to be anonymous said police had rushed to the farm when the residents threatened to slash the fields at the farm of the head of state.

Earlier, the affected residents stormed the office of the District Commissioner Nicholas Banda seeking for assistance to appeal to the local authority not to continue with the program of slashing their fields.

Mr Mwale has vowed to take action against the people that stoned his house in protest against the slashing of maize.

He told a local radio station during a phone in program today that he was aware that the move to stone his house was instigated by some members of the ruling MMD.

Chipata Municipal council took the move of slashing the fields due to concerns of the environmental degradation caused by rain water that runs from the hills which have been left bare due to farming activities.

Mr Mwale said the local authority has been sensitizing residents against cultivating on the hills since last October though the residents went ahead and cultivated.

ZANIS/PN/MKM/ENDS

President Rupiah Banda has returned to Lusaka from a three day official visit to the Northern Province.

Mr. Banda who came aboard a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane arrived at city airport at around 17:05 hours.

The President was accompanied by Community Development Minister Catherine Namugala, Home Affairs Minister Mike Mulongoti, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe.

Others were Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba, Office of the Vice President Deputy Minister Gaston Sichilima, and Presidential Advisor for Political Affairs Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika.

Mr. Banda was met on arrival by Vice President George Kunda, several cabinet ministers, service chiefs and senior MMD party officials. Below are pictures of his tour

The Zambia Direct Democracy Movement, ZDDM, has petitioned President, Rupiah Banda, not to consider extending the mandate of the Task Force on Corruption before investigations are done on its operations.

ZDDM National Coordinator, Edwin Sakala, said the Task force on Corruption should be investigated before it auctions property recovered from alleged plunderers.

In a letter dated January 2, 2009 addressed to President Banda and copied to ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr Sakala said the actions of the Task Force on Corruption should be thoroughly investigated to establish whether they were conducted in an objective manner.

Mr Sakala also suggested the establishment of a commission of inquiry to look into pending investigations of cases of alleged economic plunder being handled by the Task Force.

He said the Task Force on Corruption was formed outside the Constitutional provisions despite the presence of other security and investigation wings such as the Zambia Police Service and the Anti Corruption Commission, ACC.

He alleged that the crusade against corruption was vindictive and clouded with hatred.

Mr Sakala has since asked President Banda to consider disclosing to the nation the amount of money the Task Force on Corruption has used since its inception.

He said this would help the nation establish whether the institution has recovered more money than it has utilised in its operations.

ZANIS/CM/ENDS/SJK