Government has purchased one hundred hearses to enable communities access affordable transport during funerals.

The hearses have been distributed to local councils country wide.

Local government minister, Sylvia Masebo, disclosed this in Livingstone on Monday when she handed over multi-purpose boats to 16 councils.

The boats are valued at 3.9 billion Kwacha.

She said the multi-purpose boats will also enable local authorities to monitor various development projects in areas only accessible by water.

Ms. Masebo said the boats will also alleviate transport problems during natural disasters, such as floods.

She however cautioned Zambians especially in opposition political parties not to view the distribution of the boats to local authorities as a campaign strategy.

She said government projects must continue even during an election.

The boats have been given to Livingstone, Mongu, Siavonga, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Kafue and Senanga districts.

Others are Kazungula, Kalabo, Zambezi, Samfya, Mpulungu, Kabompo, Sesheke, Chilubi and Luangwa Councils.

The Inspector general of police says presidential hopefuls should be ready to accept the outcome of the election.

Ephraim Mateyo says only one person can win in an election.

He says there are sufficient legal provisions in the constitution for people who are not satisfied with the outcome of the election to seek legal redress in the courts of law.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday Mr. Mateyo appealed to all presidential candidates to put the interest of the nation first.

He however said the atmosphere in the country is relatively calm, two days before Thursday’s presidential election.

Meanwhile a clergyman in Lusaka has asked the Inspector General of police to deal firmly with presidential aspirants who are issuing alarming statements.

Evangelical Youth Alliance International President Reverend, Moses Lungu said politicians should desist from making statements that have the potential to divide the country.

And the National Initiative for Citizens Awareness-NICA- says candidates in the October 30 presidential election must respect the outcome of the poll.

NICA president, Kelvin Sampa, says leaders must always remember that in any contest only one person emerges the winner.

He said in an interview with ZNBC news in Mpongwe that presidential candidates must respect the will of the people.

Mr. Sampa said threats from some political parties of not accepting the results are a recipe for violence.

And the Copperbelt NGO Coalition said political leaders must let Zambians be the judges of whom they want through the ballot.

Coalition chairman, Patrick Munthanga, said it is not wise for Leaders to conclude that they will win even before the vote is cast.

And the Southern Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says remarks by some presidential candidates that they will not accept the results of Thursday’s election if they lose are a threat to Zambia’s peace.

SACCORD says candidates must not issue statements that will incite their supporters to engage in violence.

SACCORD Executive Director, Lee Habasonda, says such negative statements are also meant to undermine the integrity of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

He says political Leaders should understand that in an election there is always a loser and a winner.

Mr. Habasonda says if political party leaders are aggrieved, they should follow laid down channels to air the complaints instead of inciting violence.

He said all aspiring presidential candidates must accept the outcome of the October 30 poll to ensure peace and stability in the nation.
[ZNBC]

Government says it is committed to ensuring availability of resources for smooth running of operations at the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University.

The two Universities today ushered in new councilors to guide the two institutions on administrative issues pertinent to smooth administrative running of the two institutions.

Minister of Education Professor Lungwangwa said the Council is a trustee body expected to exhibit exemplary manner of conduct and observe highest standards of objectivity in their operations.

Speaking at an inaugural Council meeting for the Copperbelt and University of Zambia, Professor Lungwangwa pointed out that Government expects the new Council to take more responsibility in the running of the two Universities.

Professor Lungwangwa said the Council should ensure that the universities maintain the national vision by which they were made, to be maintained.

He stated that when things go wrong in the University it was the Council’s responsibility to iron out issues leading to that misunderstanding.

He further said the Council was not supposed to involve itself in the daily administration activities of the University but to make provisions which regulate matters within the administrations based on impartiality, openness and truth when executing duties.

And speaking earlier, Copperbelt University Chancellor Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi commended the Ministry of Education for coming up with a powerful team of Councilors to look into affairs of the two Universities.

He said the team will provide guidance on the vision and direction to the two institutions adding that the responsibilities are enormous saying he was confident that the Council members would certainly take the two universities to higher heights.

Professor Mwanalushi stated that the Council members should take time to read reports and learn about the problems affecting the Universities in order to provide solutions.

The Professor said he was delighted to mention that the out going chairman provided audited accounts saying the good work must be emulated by the new team.

Professor Mwanalushi appealed to Government to increase funding for the university to operate smoothly.

And University of Zambia Chancellor Jacob Mwanza said the University Council plays a pivotal role in the governance of the two institutions.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Simukanga.

Professor Mwanza noted that the University Council was also significant in the persistent conflicts in the two institutions.

He said an inquiry in the causes of unrest in the two institutions and the cause of student’s involvement in political activism to staff issues of funding has become prevalent in this period.

Professor Mwanza said he was however grateful to Government for facilitating the reopening of the University after the recent industrial unrest which led to its closure.

Lusaka City Council (LCC) has warned cadres from political parties to desist from using sirens in their campaigns during the night.

LCC Public Relations Officer (PRO)Henry Kapata said residents in Libala , Kabwata and Chilenji have complained of noise from the the sirens that cadres use in their campaigns saying this amounted to noise pollution.

In a telephone interview with ZANIS, Mr Kapata said under the Local Government Act cap 281, noise pollution was an offence and attracted a penalty of K450,000 or six months imprisonment.

The LCC PRO Mr Kapata urged the cadres to stop disturbing the people in the night and ensure that their campaigns were conducted peacefully.

He noted that only State Police were allowed to use the sirens in public.

In another development, the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has warned of stern action against market cooperatives that have been allowing school children to play computer games in markets.

Mr Kapata said it was illegal for market cooperatives to allow school children to spend time in markets playing computer games during school hours.

Mr. Kapata noted that the practice retarded the pupils’ performance at school.

He disclosed that the LCC has since written to market cooperatives to curtail the practice.

ZANIS/ENDS/AH/CLM

Government has warned contractors against shoddy works as it is spending colossal sums of money on constructing infrastructure.

Ministry of Education Services Director Ruth Mubanga observed that contractors were in a hurry to complete works without doing a proper job.

ZANIS reports that Ms Mubanga said contractors demanded to be paid in full even without following proper procedures.

The Director said this in Kapiri-Mposhi yesterday (Saturday)on her tour of school infrastructure in Central Province.

She directed that shoddy construction works be re-done as Government would not allow its efforts to improve infrastructure to be frustrated.

And the Director has taken a swipe at District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) who failed to scrutinize contractors engaged by Government.

Meanwhile a named contractor who was engaged by Government to construct Kalimina School in Chibombo district has abandoned the project.

The named contractor of Kabwe is said to be on the run after having been paid an initial amount to carry out the project as per the construction agreement.

A check at the project site revealed that the contractor only put up the foundation in June this year and he has since abandoned it.

The Ministry of Eduction Director is in Central Province to tour school projects under the ministry.

ZANIS/ENDS/KC/EML/CLM

Government has directed that school heads across the country should adhere to the free education policy from grades 1 to 7.

Ministry of Education and Specialized Services Director Ruth Mubanga said in this vein pupils should not pay any user fees towards education because Government’s policy on free education was very clear.

Ms Mubanga observed that some school Head Teachers were collecting funds from pupils thereby frustrating Government’s efforts in delivering free education.

The Education Director said this in Kapiri-Mposhi today during her conducted tour of schools in Central Province.

Mrs. Mubanga warned that any head teacher found collecting money from pupils risked being disciplined, because government was making everything possible to attract parents to send their children to school.

Mrs. Mubanga also directed District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to ensure that Government policy on provision of quality education is adhered to.

A visit by the Director at Lukanda Basic School in Kapiri-Mposhi revealed that pupils were paying K15,000 per term towards education contrary to Government regulations.

And Mrs Mubanga has directed District Education Board Secretaries to intensify Government’s re-entry policy for pregnant school girls to return to school after delivery.

Mrs. Mubanga regretted the poor education performance at most schools in Central Province.

Mrs Mubanga is in Central province on a familiarisation tour of school infrastructure in the province.

She is accompanied by Senior government officials from the Ministry of Education.

ZANIS/ENDS/KC/EML/CLM