Three people were yesterday injured after a suspected landmine they were trying to open, exploded near Soweto market in Katete.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Mary Chikwanda, confirmed the incident which happened around 13 hours but could not disclose their names of the victims who are admitted at Saint Francis’ hospital in Katete.

Mr. Chikwanda said the landmine which is believed to have been gotten from the neighbouring Mozambique exploded, resulting in two of the victims having their limbs cut while one had his stomach ripped, exposing his intestines.

One eye witness who refused to disclose his name told ZANIS at the scene of the accident that the men wanted to extract some red mercury from the explosive device which was believed to have an attractive market.

A ZANIS staffer found people cleaning some blood on a corridor of a nearby building where the victims were laid after the accident, while some pieces of flesh and broken bones were also seen lying around.

Some parts of Katete district, especially around the border area with Mozambique are reported to be infested with landmines planted during the liberation war in the 1980s.

Zambia and Mozambique are currently de-mining the explosive gadgets planted along the border with Mozambique during that country’s liberation war.

ENDS/SM/PK/ZANIS.

Acting President Rupiah Banda says that Britain’s support to Zambia has contributed significantly to stimulating economic growth in the country.

Mr. Banda said the support from the British government, which Zambia receives through the European Union (EU) and the Department for International Development (DFID), has also contributed in improving the living standards of the people in the country.

He said this when he received credentials from the new joint British High Commissioners to Zambia, Carolyn Davidson and Thomas Carter and Netherlands’ Ambassador to Zambia, Harry Molenaar.

Mr. Banda said the accrediting of the two British High Commissioners to the country was an indication of the importance that the United Kingdom attached to Zambia.

He said Zambia appreciated Britain’s steadfast commitment towards developing the country in the fight against corruption, public service reform, good governance, health delivery and budget support among other developmental areas.

Mr. Banda has since assured the British government that Zambia would continue to uphold the tenets of good governance and ensuring free and fair elections in the forthcoming presidential by-election.

And speaking after receiving credentials from Netherlands’ Ambassador to Zambia, Mr. Banda noted that the partnership between Zambia National Commercial Bank and Dutch Rabo Bank has rendered credence to government’s policy of investment partnerships.

Mr. Banda said the relations between Zambia and Netherlands were founded on development cooperation in sectors of education, agriculture, health and private sector development.

He said government hoped more Dutch investors could enter into business partnerships with Zambians in order to exploit the many business opportunities the two countries offered for the benefit of their peoples.

Mr. Banda said it was gratifying that Netherlands played an active role in conflict resolution and peace building in Africa.

He added that Zambia was also looking forward to Netherlands’ support for Africa’s inclusion on the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member.

And Mr. Banda has also hailed the Dutch government for hosting the International Criminal Court of Justice, adding that the institution has greatly helped in the promotion of human rights and good governance in the world.

He also said government attached great importance to the forthcoming presidential by-elections because they gave credence to the democratic wishes of the people.

Mr. Banda said government was further committed to ensuring that a level playing field was guaranteed for all political players in order to ensure free and fair elections.

He added that the election process and outcome would be evidence of the people’s resolve to entrench democracy in the country.

Meanwhile the newly appointed joint British High Commissioners to Zambia, Carolyn Davidson and Thomas Carter, have conveyed a message of condolences to the government of Zambia and Zambians on the death of President Mwanawasa.

In a joint speech the duo said the late President Mwanawasa spent much of his energy in ensuring that democratic processes were increasingly well embedded in Zambian politics and society.

They said Zambia has now got a challenge to ensure that people benefit from the economic growth the country has experienced in the recent years and ensure that the fight against corruption continues under the new leadership that will assume office after the polls.

And the two High Commissioners have said the eminent presidential by-election is an opportunity for the country to show its democratic maturity and deliver free and fair elections.

The duo said their mission would work with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the civil society organizations to help support the October 30th presidential elections.

And new Netherlands Ambassador to Zambia, Harry Molenaar, said Zambia’s dependency on development cooperation was rapidly reducing.

He said the Netherlands would continue supporting Zambian government’s developmental programmes.

Mr. Molenaar said the growth of the economy in the country should be supported by good governance in order to generate the necessary resources for poverty reduction, fighting HIV/AIDS and improving education among others.

ZANIS/CM/KSH/ENDS

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has urged trade unions in Zambia not to be compromised and neutralized by political parties even though they were pursuing similar workers’ interests.

CPD Executive Director Neo Simutanyi said although trade union members may belong to political parties, they should not be compromised in the runner up to the forthcoming presidential elections.

Dr. Simutanyi said trade unions should use their dialogue with political parties as a platform to give conditions on the interests of workers in the country.

He pointed out that trade unions should work together with political parties in pursuit of a common interest aimed at bettering people’s lives.

Dr. Simutanyi was speaking at Lusaka hotel today at the seminar on enhancing relations between trade unions and political parties.

And Resident Director for Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Gerd Botterweck, said trade unions should be in constant dialogue with political parties for the betterment of the workers in the country.

Mr. Botterweck said trade unions should however be independent and united in order to avoid being hijacked by political parties.

The seminar was attended by members of trade unions, political parties and journalists.

ZANIS/KSH/CBM/ENDS