Lusaka City Council has received a grant of about K1.6 billion from the Central Government for the fabrication of street-electric poles in the City.

Council Public Relations Officer, Henry Kapata said government released the funds to the local authority as seed capital for the commencement of the project.

Mr. Kapata told ZANIS in a telephone interview that the development is in line with the Council’s vision of giving a face-lift and lighting the City in readiness for South Africa’s 2010 World Cup.

He added that this is one of the interventions by the council’s ambitious programme of reclaiming the city’s former status as the garden city and in readiness for 2011 all Africa Games which Zambia would host.

He commended government for the funds saying the development would enable the council to implement its plans of extending shopping hours in the city.

Mr. Kapata since called on business communities especially those in the advertising business to come on board and partner with the council on how best to sustain and maintain this venture.

He said the council was losing huge sum of money in either repairing, replacing of streetlights, traffic lights and road signs that are normally knocked down by motorists or vandalized by the members of the public.

Mr. Kapata warned that if the trend is left unchecked would frustrate government’s efforts of developing the country and that of the council.

And Mr. Kapata says the council is currently working closely with Barclays Bank that has adopted and pledged to start the maintenance of Kafue roundabout, which has become an eyesore.

He said the council and the bank are now addressing the logistical and administrative issues

And in Kitwe, Government has released over K840 million for the construction of Five Community Schools.

Kitwe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Sackis Mwansa told ZANIS in an Interview in Kitwe today that construction works for the five schools have already started.

He said government expected the schools to be ready by the end of December this year.

The five schools to be constructed were Miombo near the Zambia National Service Camp, Chibansa in Ndeke, Kapoto in Kawama, Riverside in Riverside and Twafwani in Malembeka.
Mr. Mwansa said the construction of the schools was aimed at alleviating poverty at community level through enhancing the delivery of quality education in communities were education infrastructure did not exist.

Mr. Mwansa called on members of the community in the five areas to contribute towards the construction of these Schools to enable them develop a sense of ownership towards the projects.

He said the Community could mould bricks and draw water at the project site as a sign of goodwill and commitment to the project.

The DEBS also called on the business houses located in the areas where these schools would be constructed to contribute towards the development of these facilities as part of their social responsibility.
ZANIS/JT/CMM/NMK/ENDS.

The Seed Growers Association (SGA) for Mumbwa District has advised the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to improve on the payments of money to farmers .

District Seed Growers Association Chairperson Phariot Phiri charged that most farmers were unsatisfied with the slow remittal payments from the FRA.

He said due to this trend, that many farmers have opted to sell their maize to private buyers and millers who were buying grain at K50,000 spot cash per 50kg bag.
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He said the situation was un favourable to farmers who needed to utilize the monies on preparations for the next farming season as well as production needs.

Mr. Phiri however counseled farmers to keep abreast with factors such as weather pattern predictions and world fuel price trends, which had a bearing on agricultural activities.

He stated that the rising prices of fuel had pushed up the costs of farming inputs such as seed as well as fertilizer.

He said it was important for farmers to have some insight of weather predictions so that they could buy the right seeds to be planted at the right time.

On hunger , Mr. Phiri said the hunger situation was not generally as rampant as claimed .

He said the Seed Growers Association had in stock enough to enable the District achieve food security from the 2008-2009 farming season.

And FARMERS in Monze district have called on government to seriously look into issues of marketing and come up with sustainable strategies that would empower small scale farmers.

Monze Pemba farmers Association Chairman Simon Malambo many farmers would have been victims of unscrupulous maize dealers due to inadequate satellite depots.

Speaking during the Monze Pemba farmers Association annual general meeting held at the Zambia College of Agriculture toady, Mr. Malambo said Monze district like other districts in the country had two satellite depots only which where not adequate during this marketing season.

Mr. Malambo said that government should other than encouraging private sector to participate put in place regulation that will prevent the exploitation of farmers.

He thanked government for ensuring that agriculture gets the rightful support and respect as a major contributing sector to the country’s economic development during the reign of late president Levy Mwanawasa.

And Monze district commissioner Joyce Nondo said in a speech read on her behalf by the district administrative officer Mr. Holland Munsaka said that government would continue considering agriculture as the engine of Zambia’s economic and social development.

Ms. Nonde admitted that the cry of small farmers over marketing issues were serious and needed to be addressed in order to empower the farmers.

She said though the district had Njola and Milele satellite depots , that small scale farmers were finding it difficult to reach the depots as they were made to cover many kilometers.

She said that the office of the District Commissioner had already written to Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and other relevant authorities to consider increasing the number of depots and come up with regulations for the private sector participation.

Ms. Nonde said that through Fertilizer Support Program (FSP) government had the desire to ensure that the rural majority are food secure.

The DC said government’s vision was to have an efficient, competitive and sustainable agricultural sector that would assure food security and increased income as enshrined in the fifth national development plan 2006-2010.
ZANIS/PB/MK/ENDS

Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (KCCI) has challenged Zambian businessmen and the nation at large to vote for a Presidential candidate who was capable of wining Investor confidence both locally and internationally in order to  maintain the positive economic growth recorded so far.

KCCI President Eddie Kapungulya said there was need for Zambians to vote for a Presidential candidate who was going to manage the Zambian economy and propel it to great heights like the departed President Levy Mwanawasa had done.

Speaking in an Interview with the ZANIS  in Kitwe today,  Mr. Kapungulya observed that currently most of the investors were holding on to their projects following the death of Dr Mwanawasa .

He said people  should  rally behind a Presidential candidate who understood the operations of the Private sector and the general economy.

Mr. Kapungulya stated members of his organisation under the leadership of the late  President had contributed significantly to the growth of the economy through business transactions awarded to them by the mining Companies  and related industries.
He appealed to Zambians to engage in peaceful campaigns based national issues as the country  goes for the  Presidential bye election slated for  October 30 .

Former Republican Vice President, Nevers Mumba, has filled an injunction to restrain his land lord from selling the house which he is currently occupying.

The house on Plot Number 2883A, on the Great East Road, in Lusaka, belongs to Wilhem Roma Buchman.

In his statement of claim Dr. Mumba says on or about October 30, 2006, Mr. Buchman offered him to rent the property with an option of buying it which he accepted.

The two parties executed a lease agreement for a term of one year, which Dr. Mumba now claims is not being respected.

On May 14 this year, Mr. Buchman offered Dr. Mumba to buy the house for 850 thousand US Dollars.

The terms of offer on buying the house were stipulated and the first installment was to be paid on December, 31 2008 with an initial sum of 255,000 Dollars.

Dr. Mumba said he has not been able to conclude the purchase of the property and has been greatly inconvenienced.

Dr. Mumba was one of the people who contested the MMD elections recently to choose a presidential candidate.

[ZNBC]

By Dr. Chiyaba Njovu

Lessons for the future of Zambia

We are told that if we use history, we may lose one eye but if we forget history we may lose both eyes. It is not my intention to discuss the three individuals who have occupied the office of President of Zambia since our independence. However, as they are part of our history, there is a need to make reference where this becomes relevant. The history of the three Zambian presidents must help in guiding us into what must be demanded from whoever takes over as Zambia’s fourth President.

As a nation, we know where we have come from; we know what amounts to good leadership and we know what amounts to bad leadership. We can analyze, assess, evaluate and later extrapolate what outcomes certain policy measures are likely to yield. In other words, our requirements are well known. What is not known at this stage, however, is how best to meet these requirements. No politician ever answers this question; I am yet to hear one answer it. What is required is not only a political solution to our problems but a pragmatic one if Zambia is to build on Dr. Mwanawasas legacy. It has to be pragmatic leadership because of the constraints defined by the circumstances in which we have found ourselves. We need a leader to steer Zambia to its destiny a better place for all. He/she will be constrained in many ways but a good leader unlocks constraints and converts them into opportunities. That is the challenge.

I recall listening to Dr. Kaunda in 1991, just before the multiparty elections. Dr. Kaunda advised Zambians against making a mistake in choosing the leadership. He repeatedly used these words and I quote; “Countrymen, not anyone who smokes dagga and shouts can lead. Leadership is a serious challenge that requires sober minds“ At that time, most of us dismissed Dr. Kaunda’s sentiments as partisan and self preserving. But with hindsight, Dr. Kaunda was being sincere to the nation. He cared about the nation and was concerned about what was about to happen. He knew from experience the characters of most of those who were aspiring for office at the time. History is there for all to judge. Zambia had a huge opportunity to build on Dr. Kaunda’s legacy and could have developed faster than we ever thought. But what happened? We were driven ten years backwards.Unfortunately, we are at the same cross roads now as we were in 1991 but under different circumstances.

We have the advantage of having experienced change of leadership twice and I believe we are better equipped to objectively define our destiny. We can only deceive ourselves if we voted on tribal or partisan lines as the Office of President affects all irrespective of tribe or party affiliation. We need to elect a leader who will look at Zambia as a nation he/she would wish to live in as an ordinary citizen and still enjoy the quality of life as a human being. We need to reflect on Dr. Mwanawasas message and assess the characters of the people aspiring for leadership and whether they are suitably qualified to handle the challenges ahead. In as much as democracy does not always guarantee victory for the most competent leader, I would love to believe that Zambians have learnt enough not to allow themselves to be manipulated by people we all know will not deliver on their promises. They have made far too many promises in the governments they have served that we can now see through them like a transparent glass. For them, its presidency at all costs! These are the people we do not need. These are people who will use the Presidency to fulfill their deflated egos.

We need a leader and not anything that can shout. A leader, who would spend time analyzing existing systems and work on measures to strengthen these systems for the benefit of all. Our nation currently needs strong systems and not good people. A good system managed by knowledgeable people can reform bad people and make them productive or else they loose out. That is what we need. Proper leadership, with a vision and attention to detail. Leadership of a nation is a serious undertaking and that as Zambians we must know that anyone who applies for a job they know they cannot do is committing a crime. It is fraud as the nation would pay him/her handsomely for the services the nation may never receive.

Dr. Mwanawasa may not have lived to achieve all that he desired for mother Zambia but his legacy must be guarded jealously if Zambia is to prosper. Let us think objectively and help build a Zambia in which we shall all be proud to live. Dr. Mwanawasa, we shall always remember you as an inspiring leader who worked under very difficult circumstances. I do not need to elaborate on this fact. In Gods eyes, everything that happens to you is in your interests. Everything happens for a purpose. Once more, may his soul rest in peace. Good luck mother Zambia.