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Protect natural enviroment – Namugala

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Tourism minister Catherine Namugala inspects stacks of confiscated ivory at Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) ofices in Chilanga
Tourism minister Catherine Namugala inspects stacks of confiscated ivory at Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) ofices in Chilanga

Government says it will intensify sensitization campaigns to the public on the importance of preserving forests in the country in order to foster national development.

Tourism, Environmental and Natural Resources Minister, Catherine Namugala, observed that there could be no sustainable development in the country if the natural environment was not protected.

Ms. Namugala said this when she launched the 2008 national tree planting month on the Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) in Lusaka today.

The theme for the tree planting period is, “Community participation in tree planting; a key factor in mitigating the effects of climate change for sustainable development”.

She said planting of trees would help reduce global warming, which has been identified as a factor behind climate change, adding that global warming was now a reality that could no longer be denied.

Ms. Namugala warned that if the current use of fossil fuel continued, it might result in further environmental degradation which will have serious environmental consequences.

She said environmental degradation would decrease economic activities especially for the rural population.

She said government has so far put in place intervention measures through the forest reforms, adding that citizens should complement such efforts by planting more trees in their areas.

Ms. Namugala has since called upon the media to help intensify sensitization campaign and ensure citizens were educated on the importance of forests to the environment.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

Zimbabwean authorities arrest 2 Zambian officers

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Two Zambian immigration officers from Kariba border post in Siavonga have been arrested by Zimbabwean security authorities at Chirundu border post after they allegedly tried to smuggle fish from that country into Zambia.

The duo is alleged to have tried to escape from that country while transporting several tonnes of fish bought from Zimbabwe.

The two named officers, a Mr. Banda and a Mr. Lunga from Kariba immigration office, were nabbed by Zimbabwe security officers who were manning Chirundu border post in the early hours of Friday.

The officers were allegedly found of possession of 3.6 tonnes of fresh fish, which they dubiously bought from that country and attempted to cross with it into Zambia.

The Zimbabwean government recently imposed a fish ban on the movement of fish from that country to its neighboring countries.

Immigration sources from both Kariba and Chirundu border posts confirmed the arrest of the two named officers to ZANIS in Siavonga today

They said the officers are currently remanded in custody in Zimbabwe’s Karoyi town and are expected to appear in court tomorrow.

The sources disclosed that the two immigration officers were arrested along with three other Zimbabwean security officers, whom they alleged connived with to assist them transport the fish from that country into Zambia.

They further said apart from arresting the two Zambian immigration and three Zimbabwean officers, the security authorities in that country also impounded the truck that was carrying the fish.

When he was contacted for a comment, Kariba border immigration Officer In Charge, Isaac Zimba, could neither confirm nor deny the arrest of his officers saying all he knew was that his officers were absent from the station.
ZANIS/LL/KSH/ENDS

Suspected foreign sex workers ‘invade’ Mazabuka

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Mazabuka district in Southern province has been invaded by commercial sex workers suspected to be from a neighboring country.

The commercial sex workers are reportedly harassing some guests booked at a named guest house in the district.

One of the affected clients Coster Chilala, who did not disclose the name of the guest house at which he is lodging, urged the Immigration Department to quickly move in and protect the Zambians from sexual harassment at the hand of the women.

And another woman, Mary Mbewe, urged the government to seriously protect Zambian women from being ‘robbed of their spouses’.

Mrs. Mbewe said husbands had disappeared from their families and were allegedly being taken care of by the suspected Zimbabwean women.

Investigations by ZANIS have revealed that several Zimbabwean women have allegedly invaded a guest house within the central business district where they are conducting their business.

The investigations have also revealed that most nightclubs were being patronized by the same women.

The Immigration Department has also confirmed receiving the reports about the presence of foreign many women in the district.

The department has since assured residents that everything is being done to protect them.

ZANIS/HC/KSH/ENDS

We can’t increase FSP inputs until next year -RB

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Sylvia Masebo greets President Rupiah Banda after addressing farmers in Chongwe on Fertiliser subsidies
Sylvia Masebo greets President Rupiah Banda after addressing farmers in Chongwe on Fertiliser subsidies

President Rupiah Banda says it will be difficult for government to increase the allocated farming inputs under the Fertilizer Support Program (FSP) in this farming season.

Mr Banda said it was difficult for government to access supplementary fertilizer because the commodity was not locally produced, adding that it was too late to restart procurement procedures.

The President said this in an interview with journalists after he arrived at Chipata airport this morning.

President Banda explained that it would not be easy to access the farming inputs and distribute to farmers on time because the planting season had already begun.

He however expressed confidence that government would increase the allocation of the farming inputs for the 2009/10 farming season.

Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo addressing farmers in Chongwe

The President also stated that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was currently addressing the hunger situation in some parts of Eastern province.

He reiterated that government was committed to addressing the hunger situation in the country and would continue to distribute relief food to needy areas.

Meanwhile Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo  accused companies contracted by government to supply fertilizer under the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) of sabotage when they were ordering their depots to close.

Mrs. Masebo said suspending fertilizer distribution when the country was experiencing soaring food prices was sabotaging government.

She said the companies already knew that government would always pay the debts owed to them and therefore, there was no need to suspend the distribution of farming inputs under the FSP.

Mrs. Masebo was speaking in Chongwe district  at the official launch of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme in the agriculture sector.

Renard Relieved After CHAN Qualification

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goal!

Herve Renard says it wasn’t easy to win and qualify to next years CHAN
finals in Cote d’Ivoire but is glad the job is done.

Renard said in a post-match interview at Konkola Stadium yesterday
after beating Angola 2-1 to qualify 3-1 on aggregate for the finals to
be held from February 22 to march 8 in Cote d’Ivoire.

“It is always difficult to win 1-0 away against a team like Angola who
were also at the World Cup,” Renard said.

“It was difficult to win today but we are happy we beat Angola but we
have to work very hard now.”

Zambia, who dominated Angola and looked lively led by man-of-the-match
Kennedy Mudenda, took until the final minute of the match to firmly
secure their passage with a late winner even though a draw would have
sufficed.

Lusaka Dynamos midfielder headed in the winner from the near post
after nodding in a long cross from the far left wing from Zesco
United’s Jonas Sakuwaha.

The two teams were level at 1-1 just before the break after Given
Singuluma put Zambia ahead with the opening goal of the match in the
35th minute after he benefited from a fine build-up from Mudenda.

Veteran Angolan striker Love equalized in the 41st minute from the
penalty spot after debutant Emmanuel Mbola from Mining Rangers tackle
from behind inside the box on Job.

Zambia join Libya and Tanzania who also qualified after wins over
Morocco and Sudan respectively on Saturday.

The other four final places are expected too be filled today to join
hosts Cote d’Ivoire at the draws to be conducted on December 26 in
Abidjan.

You did not waste your vote – RB

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President Rupiah Banda receives flowers from seven-year old Abigail Mwale at Chipata airport.
President Rupiah Banda receives flowers from seven-year old Abigail Mwale at Chipata airport.

President Rupiah Banda has told the people of Eastern province that they did not waste their vote in the last presidential by-election.

He said he was humbled by the people of Chipata who looked after him very well when he retired from public service and politics in the early 1990s.

He said this when he arrived for a two day private visit to Chipata today. President Rupiah Banda has also advised Zambians to preoccupy themselves with activities that would promote poverty alleviation and food security in the country.

Speaking earlier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande said the people of Eastern province voted for Mr. Banda on merit.

Mr. Pande, who is also ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) vice national chairman, said President Banda was a national leader because he was accepted by all Zambians.

He has since challenged the people of Eastern province to assist President Banda govern the country constructively criticizing him and offering developmental solutions.

He lashed out at the opposition PF for calling for protests over high mealie meal prices saying demonstrations were not a solution to the problems the country was experiencing.

Mr. Pande urged Zambians to concentrate on working towards producing more food and a bumper harvest next harvest season.

And Eastern province minister, Isaac Banda said, whilst others were planning to demonstrate, people in his province were busy cultivating so that they could produce a lot of food next year.

Mr. Banda, who congratulated President Banda for his victory in the last presidential by-elections, promised that his province will offer full support to the current administration.

Meanwhile, ruling MMD Eastern province chairman, Kennedy Zulu said the province was happy with government’s Fertiliser Support Programme in the area.

Mr. Zulu however requested President Banda to consider asking for more relief food from the Office of the Vice President in order for all district in the province to benefit.

He also assured President Banda that the party was intact in the province, adding that the Provincial executive committee (PEC) would ensure that the area became a pillar for MMD.

President Banda is accompanied to Eastern province by Mr. Pande and two of his personal friends, Jacob Mwanza, who is former University of Zambia vice chancellor and Mr. Ephraim Mwenda.

The President was met on arrival at Chipata airport this morning by provincial minister, Isaac Banda and other senior government and MMD officials.

President Banda is expected back in Lusaka on Tuesday morning.

ZANIS/CBM/KSH/ENDS.

There is need to revamp Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia, Bishop Mambo

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Chikondi Foundation President, Bishop John Mambo has called on government to device an effective mechanism of revamping the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) by pumping in more money into the production of fertilizer and other commodities.

He said there was need to revamp the NCZ in order to address the various challenges of the high prices of fertilizer.

Bishop Mambo further urged government to increase beneficiaries of the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) from the current 200, 000 to 500,000 with a view to enhancing food security in the country.

He implored government to further subsidise the farming inputs, saying the move will help the country to address many challenges of the global financial crisis.

Bishop Mambo has since challenged government to position Zambia as the world’s leading sustainable agriculture producer which could only be achieved through government and the public private sector cooperation.

Bishop Mambo has also called on government to implement the irrigation fund facility which was launched last year by the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Bishop Mambo said that if the irrigation fund facility was implemented, it would play an important role of promoting food security and alleviating hunger and poverty in the country.

He observed that the move to implement the irrigation fund facility would also enable farmers to avoid depending on seasonal rains to grow their food but it would also encourage them to grow winter foods.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Occupy yourselves with developmental activities, RB tells Zambians

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President Rupiah Banda has advised Zambians to preoccupy themselves with activities that would promote poverty alleviation and food security in the country.

Mr. Banda said Zambians should devote most of their time cultivating land and planting crops instead of engaging into demonstrations and protests against high mealie meal prices.

He said people of Zambia should make use of the rain season to the maximum and avoid wasting their time in protests.

Referring to the planned demonstration by the opposition Patriotic Front and some organisations over high mealie meal prices, Mr. Banda noted that such kind of acts would scare away investors because they would not want to risk their finances.

He said Zambians must endeavour to keep the country united at all times in order to uphold the attractive investment environment.

President Banda explained that it was for this reason that government was refusing to give permits to allow blanket protests by some political parties and other organisations.

He said this when he arrived for a two day private visit to Chipata today.

He said he was in Luanshya yesterday where he had audience with mine owners and their workers.

He assured them of government’s commitment to keep the mines running and preserve jobs of workers.

ZANIS/CBM/KSH/ENDS.

14,000 peasant farmers to get FSP input in Lusaka

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Government says the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) is meant to empower the vulnerable but potentially viable farmers who lost their crops due to recurrent adverse weather conditions.

Lusaka Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Conrad Tembo said government has dispatch about 720 metric tones of fertilizer to small scale farmers under the FSP in the province.

Mr. Tembo told ZANIS in an interview that the consignment was intended to benefit 14,400 peasant farmers in the province to enhance small scale farmers’ capacity to grow enough food for sale.

He has since called on the peasant farmers to take advantage of the good rainfall pattern to plant their crop for the 2008/2009 farming season and work hard to contribute to the national food basket.

He urged the private sector to also partner with government in addressing many challenges the country was facing.
He cited the soaring food prices and global oil prices as some of the problems that need the attention of everybody.

Mr. Tembo has also called for innovations and good policies that may address challenges of climate change and bio-energy in the agro sector.

He said government will continue to assist its citizens who lost their food crops due to adverse weather patterns.

He reiterated government’s commitment to achieving the objective of the FSP programme of reducing poverty among the households through increased food security and income generation.

He appealed to farmers to adopt conservation farming, especially practices that encourage efficient use of resources, soil fertility improvement and erosion control.

ZANIS/JT/KSH/ENDS

Proclaim His Greatness

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Today’s Scripture

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done” (Psalm 105:1, NLT).

Today’s Word from Joel and Victoria

When someone gives you a meaningful or costly gift, how do you show your appreciation? Do you tell them how grateful you are? What do you do with that gift? When it’s something you are truly thankful for, you probably don’t just throw it in the back of a closet; you openly and proudly display the gift. When others see and admire it, you probably tell them about where it came from and about the generosity of the giver.

In the same way, as believers, we should give thanks to the Lord and constantly show our gratefulness and appreciation for all He has done for us by displaying the gifts He’s given us. We should display love, peace, joy, kindness, and hope. We should live our lives in such a way that our very actions proclaim His greatness and cause others to take notice.

Proclaim His greatness by living a life of gratitude to Him and let the whole world know what He has done for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for setting me free and filling me with Your hope, peace, and joy. I invite You to dwell in every area of my being and make my life a continual praise to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen ministries

Fundanga calls for strategies to counter global economic crisis

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Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga has called on emerging economies, including those in the Middle East, to consider partnering with African countries that have potential to produce the world’s food needs.

And Dr. Fundanga has called on developed countries to increase their technical support to agriculture sectors of African countries in order to build capacity in food production.

Dr Fundanga was speaking at the just-ended Follow-Up International Conference on Financing for Development to review the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus held in Doha, Qatar.

He said providing assistance to support development of human resource in Africa would also help in improving the comparative advantage of the continent and thus increase competitive advantage.

Dr. Fundanga noted that there was need to develop strategies aimed at addressing the challenges of the global food and financial crisis.
He said the current global food and financial crisis posed a threat of reversing the hard earned economic achievements which Zambia has recorded.

He said the challenges emanating from the food and financial crisis had significant effects on small, open and landlocked countries like Zambia.

Dr. Fundanga said Zambia, like many other developing countries, recorded unprecedented levels of economic growth in the past seven years which were now being partially frustrated by the global food and financial crisis.

He disclosed that the consistence in high economic growth was highly underpinned by the government adopted policy on economic growth and other structural reforms that strengthened the diversification process.

Dr. Fundanga said Zambia placed a lot of importance on the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus because it took place at a time of global economic uncertainty.

He said Monterrey Consensus has played an important role in Zambia’s history by helping it to realize that globalization facilitated growth and development as well as increased financial and economic stability.

Dr. Fundanga has since urged the world to find a global response where all developed and developing countries, should participate in finding lasting solutions to the global food and financial crisis.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press and Publicity at Zambia’s Embassy in New York, Moses Walubita.

ZANIS/TK/ENDS

Chongwe MP accuses Omnia of sabotage

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Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo yesterday accused companies contracted by government to supply fertilizer under the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) of sabotage when they ordering their depots to close.

Mrs. Masebo said suspending fertilizer distribution when the country was experiencing soaring food prices was sabotaging government.

She said the companies already knew that government would always pay the debts owed to them and therefore, there was no need to suspend the distribution of farming inputs under the FSP.

Mrs. Masebo was speaking in Chongwe district yesterday at the official launch of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme in the agriculture sector.

She said it was sad for companies to suspend fertilizer and other agricultural inputs at the time farmers were preparing the current farming season.

Mrs. Masebo said it was unprofessional for companies contracted by government to supply fertilizer under the FSP to farmers to suspend fertilizer distribution when the companies knew that government can never fail to pay debts owed to them.

She said the move to close fertilizer depots was aimed at frustrating government efforts of promoting food security in the country.

She further urged government to revamp the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) with a view to ensuring stead supply of fertilizer in the country.

Mrs. Masebo said the move to revamp NCZ would also play an effective role of enhancing the growth of the agriculture sector in the country.

On Wednesday, Omnia Zambia suspended the distribution of fertilizer because government owed the company a total of US$11 million.

Meanwhile, Omnia Zambia Limited in Mazabuka says it has enough stocks of seed and fertiliser to cater for the over 7,000 small scale farmers under the government sponsored Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP)

Mazabuka area manager, Peter Kalwani said no single farmer will be left out because the available inputs were enough.

Mr. Kalwani explained that so far, over 60 per cent of the inputs have already been distributed to the beneficiaries in various satellite depots.

And Mr. Kalwani has asked Mazabuka District Agriculture Coordinator, Hastins Nyambe to inform farmers to go back to Omnia sheds and collect inputs following the lifting of the temporal suspension of the FSP input distribution last Wednesday.

He said the slow pace of collections is worrying and he has since appealed to the farmers to visit his offices immediately.

He explained that both his company and government have resolved the problem that led to the closure of the depot.

On Wednesday, hundreds of farmers were stranded in Mazabuka town following the suspension of the FSP by Omnia, which argued that government had not paid it for the services rendered.

ZANIS/HC/KSH/ENDS

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Respect for human rights promotes democracy, says Sangwa

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The Legal Resources Foundation has observed that access to justice was a fundamental right in any country which is aspiring for aspiring for democratic governance.

Speaking at a launch of Paralegal Curriculum Chart yesterday, Legal Resources Foundation Founder and Vice Chairperson, John Sangwa said the foundation remained committed to provide services through out the country.

Mr. Sangwa pointed out that delivering justice has remained valid but accessing justice was not readily available to everybody.

He said the emergency of the paralegals has improved the justice delivery system and the enhancement of respect for human rights.

Mr. Sangwa said he was proud for pioneering paralegals in Zambia, which started 16 years ago.

He explained that paralegals have devised a curriculum that would form a basis of a workable frame that would guide them towards a higher level of development and recognition in the judicial system.

Mr. Sangwa further stated that in the past, it was difficult to get a lawyer to represent clients in rural areas because there were few qualified lawyers.

And speaking earlier, Legal Assistance Cluster (LAC) Project Co-Coordinator, Claudia Sena said paralegals justify their importance on justice delivery system.

Ms. Sena was grateful that the Minister of Justice had included paralegal as part of the legal delivery systems.

ZANIS/VP/KSH/ENDS

Mazabuka men shun VCT service

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A non governmental organisation which champions the cause of HIV/AIDS in Mazabuka district has expressed worry about the alleged inactive male involvement in the fight against the pandemic.

Total Control Epidemic (TCE) Mazabuka division commander, Memory Zengenene told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that the biggest challenge her organisation was facing is the participation of men in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) activities.

Ms Zengenene said some men refuse to undergo VCT and in some cases, they become violent when women ask them to do so.

She said such negative attitude by the men folk was frustrating their spouses, who in turn resort to shunning VCT for fear of being divorced.

She observed that since the launch of the TCE programme in Mazabuka two years ago, a total of 26,702 people have been counselled and tested.
Out of this number, 17,233 were women while 9,469 were men..

Ms. Zengenene also observed that people in rural areas were more willing to be tested than those in urban areas.

Meanwhile, Ms Zengenene has called on government to provide marine transport for villagers to cross rivers to access antiretroviral drugs.

Mazabuka is second from Livingstone in terms of high HIV infection rate in Southern province.

ZANIS/HC/KSH/ENDS

Late Kasonde given state funeral

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President Rupiah Banda has declared a state funeral for former Minister of Finance Emmanuel Kasonde who died at Lusaka’s Trust hospital yesterday.

Mr. Banda said the late Mr. Kasonde has been accorded a state funeral in recognition of his distinguished service he rendered to the nation while in service.

This is contained in a press release signed by Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and made available to ZANIS this evening.

The late Mr. Kasonde’s funeral service will be conducted at Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka on Monday, December 15th 2008 at 09:00 hours.

Dr. Kanganja said the body of the late Mr. Kasonde will thereafter be flown to Kasama where it will lie in state awaiting burial at Malole mission in Mungwi district on Tuesday, 16th December.

The burial day has been declared as a day of national mourning from 06:00 hours in the morning to 18:00 hours in the evening.

Dr. Kanganja said flags will on this day fly at half mast while public functions and activities of entertainment nature should be cancelled or postponed.

ZANIS/KSH/ENDS

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