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ANTHRAX BREAKS OUT IN CHAMA DISTRICT

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Anthrax has broken out in Chama District in Eastern Province.

Principal Veterinary Officer Joseph Sitali disclosed that a numbner of wild animals have died due to the disease in the district.

Dr. Sitali who could not give the number of animals that have died so far, said it has been difficult to control the disease due to inadequate resources.

He said this in a brief to Agriculture Deputy Minister Danniel Kalenga at the office of the Provincial Agriculture Coordinating Officer in Chipata today.

“We have not been able to go to Chama and carryout operations to control the disease, due to inadequate resources though there’s fear that it may spread to domestic animals,” he said.

Meanwhile Provincial Agriculture coordinating Officer Obvious Kabinda has described poor funding as major setback in the operations of the ministry.

Dr. Kabinda disclosed that anthrax had earlier affected animals in both South and North Luangwa National Parks saying 10 Hippos died from the disease, earlier this year.

He stated that the veterinary department and the national Agriculture Information Services (NAIS) have not been receiving adequate funds, adding that this has hindered the two departments from carrying out their operations effectively.

“Both departments receive a monthly funding of less than K1 million which is not adequate especially with the nature of the operations of both departments, which requires movements to various places if people are to benefit from their services,” he said.

Dr. Kabinda also disclosed that a number of animals have been affected with rabies in Chipata, Petauke and Chadiza Districts.

he stated thast rabies has been difficult to contend saying it has been problematic as new case have been reported.

Dr. Kabinda also expressed concern that people in boarder towns have been smuggling poultry products from neighbouring Malawi.

He noted this poses a danger of introduction of diseases to the local poultry products and the health of people in the country.

He disclosed that a number of eggs have been confiscated and destroyed by the veterinary department.

Dr. Kabinda also stated that department has carried out mitigation measures to avoid exacerbation of the disease situation and reduce the cases of disease in the country.

ENDS/HN/PK/ZANIS.

Sakwiba’s party to use own funds to campaign for MMD

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United Liberal Party President Sakwiba Sikota says he is ready to commence campaigns for the MMD in Southern Province using his party’s funds.

Mr. Sikota who is also area Member of Parliament for Livingstone said the campaigns for the forth-coming presidential election will start by October 5 and will be fully sponsored by his party which will use the money it initially mobilized for its own campaign.

Mr. Sikota said this in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Livingstone today.

He pledged to give his party’s full support to the MMD because ULP will not participate in the presidential by-election set for 30 October 2008.

Meanwhile, the FDD in Livingstone has called on the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to ensure political parties that fail to hold conventions to democratically elect their leaders are barred from contesting in presidential elections.

FDD Publicity Secretary for Livingstone Allan Shawa said it was imperative for the NCC to ensure the new constitution once enacted banned political parties that displayed undemocratic behavior from participating in a presidential election.

Mr. Shawa said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Livingstone today.

He said it was imperative for all political parties especially the opposition to practice democracy at party level before they could aspire to higher officers at national level.

ENDS/AMM/PK/ZANIS

2008 Barclays Cup Draws

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The draws for the second edition of the Barclays Cup were made today in Lusaka.

Defending Champions Zesco United open their campaign with a quarterfinal clash against their local Ndola rivals Forest Rangers at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.

Four venues will host quarterfinal doubleheaders in this years event with Railway Ground in Kabwe, Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka and Nakambala Leopards’ homeground in Mazabuka sharing the other fixtures.

Power Dynamos and Kalulushi Modern Stars renew some old rivalries when they meet in this Barclays Cup debutant clash at Nchanga.

In Kabwe, Zanaco will face Zamtel while Lusaka Dynamos take on Nchanga Rangers at the same venue.

At Nkoloma Stadium, Kabwe Warriors will face Paramilitary and last years quarter finalists Riflemen take on Red Arrows.

And in Mazabuka, Nakambala Leopards take on Young Arrows while Kascol Rangers will be looking to go one better following their 1st round exit last when they meet Green Buffaloes.

Lubinda urges Mpika residents to vote for Sata

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Patriotic Front, PF, Kabwata Member of Parliament, Given Lubinda, says party leader, Michael Sata, is the only candidate in the October 30 Presidential race, capable of driving Zambia to economic prosperity.

Mr Lubinda urged Mpika residents to vote for Mr Sata in the elections because he has a proven track record of hard work and political experience necessary for national economic development.

Mr Lubinda was speaking during a campaign rally held to drum up support for the PF candidate, Mr Sata, in the Presidential elections.

He said Mr Sata was capable of turning the country’s wealth potential into reality for the benefit of the people because he understands well issues of governance and development.

He said Mr Sata, once voted into power would inculcate a spirit of hardwork in all Zambians as a measure of promoting economic growth and alleviating poverty at all levels of society.

Mr Lubinda further said the PF is determined to manage national affairs in a prudent manner that would ensure corruption is curtailed at all levels of leadership.

ZANIS/ENDS/WS/SJK

Court grants RB permission to start contempt proceedings against the Post

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The Lusaka High Court has granted MMD presidential candidate Rupiah Banda permission to start contempt proceedings against Post Newspapers Editor-in-Chief, Fred Mmembe.

Judge Charles Kajimanga has set Friday 3rd October as hearing date for the contempt proceedings.

The Judge permitted Mr. Banda to proceed with the contempt proceedings against Mr. Mmembe Tuesday after hearing his complaints.

Mr. Banda complained that Mr. Mmembe had disobeyed a court order restraining him from publishing defamatory articles about Mr. Banda.

The injunction granted over the weekend stopped Mr. Mmembe or his agents from publishing articles deemed as defaming Mr. Banda as MMD presidential candidate until the matter is heard this Friday.

However, before the injunction could be heard Mr. Banda said Mr. Mmembe defied the court order by publishing articles which he deemed defamatory.

This was one titled “Rupiah a shameless liar” prompting the application for contempt proceedings.

He further complains against the article published last week headlined ”Rupiah is desparate old man resorting to desperate legal action” in the Sunday edition of the Post newspaper.

Mr. Banda through his lawyer Christopher Mundia claims the article was in defiance and disregard of the injunction lawfully obtained.

Mr. Mundia alleges that the defamatory remarks and opinions in the Post were meant to portray Mr. Banda as a tribalist, dishonest and corrupt person.

[ZNBC]

Zambia has continued to record positive macro-economic growth

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Government says the country has continued to record positive macro-economic growth.

Finance and National Planning Minister Ng’andu Magande says this is despite the country experiencing external pressures from the rising oil and food prices.

Mr. Magande pointed out that prudent and fiscal management of resources have helped the country to record positive macro-economic policies.

He said this in Lusaka today when he launched three reports that included the 2008 African Economic Outlook, The 2007 African Development Report and the 2005 International Comparison Programme for Africa (ICP-Africa).

He said although the country has experienced unprecedented growth in the national economy, there was however need for government to devise effective mechanisms that will help to sustain the country’s positive economic performance.

Mr. Magande cited the adverse weather conditions, power shortages, appreciation of the Kwacha and the high cost of doing business in the country as some of the things that government needed to work on in order to sustain the economic growth rates.

Earlier, African Development Bank Resident Representative Vivienne Apopo bemoaned the high unemployment rate and shortage of training skills in Africa.

Ms Apopo, who further called for the implementation of training policies, said there is an urgent need to put in place policies that would facilitate training and skills transfer in an effort to build an enabled labour force in Africa.

She said that the move will play a crucial role in enhancing development in Africa.

Ms Apopo has since urged African governments to put in place effective measures aimed at prudently managing of resources with a view to uplifting the living standards of people in Africa.

ZANIS/TK/AM/ENDS

Vote at your 2006 polling stations, ECZ

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The Electoral Commission of Zambia, ECZ, has appealed to members of the public to respect calls for them to vote in areas where they registered in the 2006 Tripartite Elections.

ECZ Public Relations, Chris Akufuna said the commission would employ the old voters’ registrar in the October 30 Presidential elections due to inadequate time available in which a new voters roll could be prepared.

Mr Akufuna told ZANIS in Kalulushi that the Commission had only 90 days in which to prepare the the presidential polls as stipulated by Law and that this was not adequate time to prepare a new Voter register to accommodate new voters.

He was responding to concerns raised by some Kalulushi residents over the decision by the Commission to only replace lost Voters Cards while voting for only for voters who would report to their respective areas where they register from.

Mr Akunfa said the commission had no option apart from allowing people with lost cards to get back to their respective areas were they registered in 2006 for actual voting.

One electorate a Mr Lackson Simbeya of Ichimpe in Kalulushi said he registered from Isoka in 2006 hence feared that he risk not voting in the October elections due to high transport costs.

Meanwhile, the electorate in Chati Peri-Urban area are happy that most people in the area were aware of the day of voting and thanked the Commission for the improved voter education conducted in the area.

Meanwhile, Kitwe Electoral Officer, Ali Simwinga, has challenged polling staff and political parties to conduct free and fair elections in the forth coming Presidential election to enhance good governance and accountability in the country.

Mr Simwinga said there was need for the polling staff to assist members of the public to cast their votes freely.

He said this in Kitwe today during the official opening of a two-day briefing meeting for polling staff, political parties and observers in the October 30, Presidential election.

He added that if Polling officers were not knowledgeable and conversant with the electoral process they would throw the all process in disarray.

He further said the Electoral Commission of Zambia had introduced a mock test for all polling staff to ensure that only competent people were picked to conduct elections.

Mr Simwinga observed that the polling officers must conduct themselves in a more professional manner to ensure that the polls were free and fair.

Zambia goes to the polls on October 30 to elect a new President following the death of Dr Levy Mwanawasa on August 19 this year.

ENDS/EZ/ZANIS/ENDS/SJK

Zambia woos colossal Indian investment

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Government has disclosed that investors from India are interested in investing in the Mining and Energy Sector.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati disclosed that the Indian investors  are by the end of this year expected to invest a minimum of $US 100 million in the first phase.

The minister said government is soon expected to conclude discussions with the investors on the mining investment after which a final implementation agreement would be endorsed.

Mr. Mutati told ZANIS in an interview that in Phase Two, the investors want to invest in the oil exploration.

He however said the investors have been advised to wait until government advertises for oil blocks so that can apply like any other investor.

Yesterday, Mr. Mutati disclosed during a public rally in Solwezi that investors from India and China intend to invest over $ 1 US billion.

He further stated that investors within Africa are willing to invest millions of dollars in economic activities which he did not specify.

Mr. Mutati said the move would lead to job and wealth creation as many more Zambians would be afforded an opportunity to participate in national development.

He said this is in line with the launch of the Citizen Economic Empowerment Fund (CEEF) aimed at empowering Zambians.

ENDS/MK/AMZANIS

Rioting pupils purged from school

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Kalomo High School in Southern Province has suspended 24 pupils for riotous behavior.

The 24, Grade 12 pupils, are alleged to have been part of the rioting pupils who last Saturday destroyed property worth millions of kwacha.

The pupils were slapped with the suspension after being released from the local state prison where they were remanded.

School Head Teacher, Muhali Muhali, who confirmed the suspension of the pupils to ZANIS in Kalomo today, said the affected pupils have also been fined K766, 000 penalty fee.

Mr. Muhali further said the affected pupils have with effect from yesterday been barred from the school and would only be allowed to come and write their final examinations.

He explained that over K9 million would be required to repair 187 window panes which were damaged during the riot.

Last Saturday pupils at  Kalomo High School  ran amok destroying school property in protest against what they claimed as inferior regard by their newly appointed ‘stand in’ grade 11 prefects.

The disturbance at the school also left 15 pupils injured.

ENDS/MM/AM/ZANIS

Copper prices tumble

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Copper prices hit a 9 month low yesterday after the US lawmakers rejected a $700 billion bank rescue plan aimed at stabilizing the U.S. financial system. The historic carnage on Wall Street reverberated across global stock markets.

Industrial metals ran into additional liquidation in after-hours trade on Monday after the proposed $700 billion financial rescue package was rejected by U.S.lawmakers.

Industrial metals were slammed following the decision.

“I think you’re seeing some heavy selling,long liquidation and some fresh fund selling in here,” said Michael Gross, futures analyst with Optionsellers.com in Tampa, Florida.

Copper for delivery in three months MCU3 on the London Metal Exchange closed down $335 at $6,440 per tonne. After-hours, the metal fell as low as $6,349.50, its lowest level since mid-December 2007.

Turmoil in financial markets has weighed on metal prices for months. Copper, used in construction, has fallen more than 25 percent from a record high of $8,940 on July 2.

“There is a global overall concern over economies and that’s translating into expectations of lower demand for a number of industrial materials, and copper happens to be the leader,” Gross said.

The dollar extended losses against the yen amid rising risk aversion as foreign exchange investors expressed concerns about further instability in the global banking system following bank bailouts in Europe and the United States.

Leon Westgate at Standard Bank said the market also was focusing on sluggish demand for metals from the United States and Europe, and said that, even if top copper consumer China was still doing relatively well, its future looked uncertain.

“It is now up to the Chinese, and it depends on how badly their economy has been impacted by this downturn,” he said.

Heritage party tells PF to stop telling lies

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The Heritage Party in Ndola has advised the Patriot Front in the District to desist from telling people lies.

Heritage Party Ndola Central Constituency Chairman, Joseph Phiri said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS.

Mr Phiri said it was wrong for Patriotic Front Ndola District chairman to lobby for votes from electorate on grounds that the party had adopted Mr Mark Mushili because he was loyal to the party.

Mr Phiri said that people should not vote for someone just because that person is loyal to their party but because that person is capable of delivering.

Mr Phiri challenged Mr Mushili to point to any project initiated by him for the people of Ndola Central Constituency.

He said leaders like Mr Mushili should not be entertained, as they just wanted to use people as a stepping-stone to amass wealth for themselves.

Mr Phiri advised Mr Mushili to concentrate on telling people how he intends to bring development to Ndola Central as opposed to floating lies.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set October 30, the same day that the fourth Republican President will be voted for, as the election date for the Ndola Central Member of Parliament.

ENDS/PC/PK/ZANIS.

Weekend Scorecard: Egypt U20 Rally To Draw With Zambia U20

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The Zambia Under-20 national team made a significant stride towards
qualifying for the Rwanda 2009 Caf Africa Youth Championship finals
after drawing 3-3 away to their perennial nemesis in the event Egypt
Under-20 in Alexandria on Sunday night.

The surprise recall of the volatile attacking midfielder Fwayo Tembo
of Tunisian club Etoile de Sahel paid off after the player inspired by
scoring a brace with Zambia’s 2nd and 3rd goals in the 17th and 44th
minute.

This is after Tembo’s former Edusport teammate and striker Roger Kola
of Zanaco had opened scores for Zambia 14 minutes into the 1st half.

Egypt put the pressure on their guests to rally twice in the 1st half
with goals in the opening 45 minutes in the 19th and 33rd minutes
before equalizing on the hour mark.

Zambia takes a vital draw to take into the final, 2nd round, return
leg match qualifier to be played at Nchanga stadium in Chingola on
October 11.

Winner over both legs will qualify for the Rwanda finals to be held
from January 18 1to February 1.

Meanwhile, with Zambia and Egypt clash coinciding with the BP Top 8
semifinal date between Zesco United and Young Arrows also at Nchanga
and scheduled for the same date, the latter Cup match will be played
24 hours later at the same venue.

KONKOLA FIRE COACHES

Fredrick Kashimoto very brief stint as Konkola Blades technical
advisor ended sooner than it begun after he was fired on Sunday with
just three games gone on the job.

Kashimoto was shown the door together with head coach Richard Chewe
who was appointed to the bench at the start of the season in his first
top trainers job in Zambia after over a decade playing and coaching in
Zimbabwe.

Under the duo, Blades drew 1 match and lost 2 games including a BP Top
8 quarterfinal match away to Lusaka Dynamos a week ago losing 1-0 and
followed this up this past Saturday with a similar result at home
against Roan United in a Week 23 fixture in Chililabombwe.

Blades have replaced the duo with interim coach Charles Mwila who was
previously caretaker after Dean Mwiinde was fired towards the end of
the 2007 season.

Kashimoto and Chewe arer the 6th and 7th coaching casualties in the
Faz Premier League this season.

They join Paul Mulenga of Roan, Jim Mwale formerly of promoted Green
Eagles and Wesley Mondo who was fired by Zanaco in August.

Others are the former City of Lusaka coaching pair of Fighton
Simukonda and Happy Sichikolo.

WEEKEND SCORECARD

Rwanda 2009 Caf Africa Youth Cup 1st Rnd, 1st leg Qualifier

28/09/2008

Alexandria, Egypt

Egypt U20 3( *16″, *32″, *60″)- Zambia U20 3(Roger Kola 13″, Fwayo
Tembo 18″ 45″)

*Scorers not available

Faz Premier League

27/09/2008

Week 23

Zesco United 2(Enock Sakala 4″,Jonas Sakuwaha Pen 58″)-Young Arrows 0

Red Arrows 1- Nkana 2

Power Dynamos 0-Lusaka Dynamos 1(William Njobvu 24″)

Zanaco 2(Dabwitso Nkhoma 60″, Simon Silwamba 73″)- Green Eagles
1(Brian Moya 48″)

Kabwe Warriors 2(Owen Mwendabai ?” ?”)-City of Lusaka 1(Brian Lubaba ?”)

Nkwazi 1(Keegan Phiri 56″)- Chambishi 1(Kasama Mulenga 46″)

Green Buffaloes 3(Morgan Hanjeema 41″ 74″, Brian Chilando 66″)-Nchanga Rangers 0

Konkola Blades 0-Roan United 1(Ben Mwanza 76″)

Faz Division 1

29/09/2008

North

Zamtel 3- Prisons Leopards 1

Afrisports 1- Forest Rangers 0

Lime Hotspurs 1- Muchindu 1

Tazara Express 2- Medical Stars 0

kalewa 1- Indeni 1

Mufulira Wanderers 0- Ndola United 1

Kitwe United 0- Mufulira Blackpool 0

Chindwin 1- Mining Rangers 0

South

National Assembly 2- Young Green Eagles 0

Lusaka Celtic 1- Profund Warriors 0

Chilanga Heroes 1- Riflemen 2

Young Buffaloes 2- Kalomo Jetters 0

Livingstone Pirates 1- Nakambala Leopards 0

Mazabuka United 5- Lusaka Tigers 1

Lusaka City Council 0- Nampundwe 0

Choma Eagles 3- Zamcoal Diggers 1

Petauke United- Kambuku (Not Played)

RB was well received – DC

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Zambezi District Commssioner, Absalom Luwaile, says some media reports suggesting that Acting President, Rupiah Banda, was snubbed are unfounded.

Mr. Luwaile says the reports are misleading and meant to turn the people of Zambezi against government.

He says on the contrary the acting President was well received by senior chief Ndungu and his subjects who appreciated his presence at this year’s Likumbi Lya Mize traditional ceremony.

Mr. Luwaile told ZNBC news that the people welcomed Mr. Banda and remained with him for the rest of the time when he officiated at the ceremony.

He said proceedings at the ceremony went well and wondered at what point the acting president was snubbed.

Mr. Luwaile said the only opposition leaders who attended the ceremony arrived after Mr. Banda had finished his business in Mize and was heading for Chavuma where he was scheduled to hold a public rally.

He called on some private media institutions to be truthful and observe ethics in their coverage of campaigns ahead of presidential elections, scheduled for October 30th.

Meanwhile, Acting President Rupiah Banda has completed his North-Western province campaign tour in Solwezi with a vow not to confront his critics with insults.

Mr. Banda said he would be strong and serve the Zambian people diligently.

He said he was currently going through the same opposition as his predecessor the late President Levy Mwanawasa who was called all sorts of names.

Mr. Banda was speaking when he addressed a mammoth rally at Solwezi show grounds today.

He said his dream was to rejuvenate the spirit of the Zambian people so that the country could be more united and quickly move forward into development.

He said his party will base its campaigns on issues affecting the lives of people instead of telling them lies.

The Acting President said the Zambian people would want to see what government has promised to do.

Mr. Banda said the late President Mwanawasa, whom he described as the greatest, left behind a lot of developmental projects that includes mines in the province that need to be completed.

Mr. Banda, who also had rallies in Chavuma, Manyinga, Mufumbwe, Kasempa and Mwinilunga, stated that the province has a lot of mineral wealth that needs to be exploited for the benefit of the Zambian people.

Speaking at the same rally, Commerce Minister Felix Mutati disclosed that investors from India and China want to invest over US$ 1000 million in the country.

Mr. Mutati said other investors within Africa also intend to invest millions of dollars in the Zambian economy.

India investors intend to invest about US$600 million while some Chinese investors intend to invest about US$ 500 million in the economic of the country.

Mr. Mutati said the party should be given chance to continue with the mandate so that it could continue to deliver on its promises of job and wealth creation.

He said the party has delivered on its promises through the Lumwana and Kansanshi mine projects, adding that government now intends to open up oil blocks in the province.

He has since appealed to the people of Northwestern province to vote for Mr. Banda in the forthcoming presidential election.

And formers Works and Supply Minister, Ludwig Sondashi advised the people of Northwestern province not to make a mistake of voting for someone else other than Mr. Banda.

Dr. Sondashi, who also vied to be elected as presidential candidate under MMD recently, said Mr. Banda was the right candidate for the October 30th elections.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Mike Mulongoti said the acting President has vast experience because he served in various government portfolios.

He said Mr. Banda has exhibited maturity and integrity in running the country.

Meanwhile the province has assured the acting President of getting over 95 per cent vote in the October 30 presidential election.

MMD Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) Chairman James Katoka assured Mr. Banda that the province will deliver the vote as it did to his predecessor.

He said the people of Northwestern province were not in the habit of changing their minds once they promised.

Earlier, MMD District Chairman, Andrew Kalangwa said the district was fast growing due to the good polices of the MMD government.

ZANIS/MK/CK/EML/KSH/ENDS

Let’s work together, govt. urges UN agencies

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Government has called on the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other UN agencies to strengthen their partnership at all levels of humanitarian assistance.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta said there was need for UN agencies to work in collaboration with the host governments in addressing the current challenges of global food crises.

Ms. Sikaneta said for UN agencies to serve it beneficiaries more effectively, it must, jointly with government, find solutions to rising fuel and energy prices if the needy people were to be taken care of effectively.

She said this when she addressed the 43rd meeting of the standing committee of Executive Committee of UNHCR in Geneva today.

Ms Sikaneta alerted the international community of the looming situation in Zambia where the World Food Programme (WFP) has notified government that it would stop feeding 8,500 chronically vulnerable refugees in Maheba and Mayukwayukwa refugee camp by 30th September 2008.

She further noted that about 31,000 refugees at Kala and Mwange refugee camps would also be affected by 31st December 2008.

Ms Sikaneta charged that the WFP arrived at the decision on account that the refugees fall in the category of a protracted refugee’s situation.

She expressed concern that this development would place the concerned refugees, who including elderly people, the chronically ill and handicapped in a more vulnerable situation which may compel government to take desperate measures because of inadequate national resources to address the problem.

However, UN officials assured the Zambian delegation of the UNHCR’s commitment to finding a solution this problem, especially in prioritizing food needs of refugees and the displaced people.

And UNHCR Director for the Bureau for Africa, Marjon Kamara further assured the Zambian delegation of UNHCR’s commitment efforts to ensure that the refugees in Zambia were not at risk of starvation.

ZANIS/AH/KSH/ENDS

Funds shouldn’t be returned to treasury

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Acting President Rupiah Banda says he would work towards ensuring that moneys allocated for various developmental projects in a particular year’s budget was not returned to treasury but used on the projects they were allocated to.

Mr. Banda said if he was elected in the October 30th presidential election, he would ensure that all funds budgeted in each year were spent on the developmental projects to which they were allocated.

He said it was wrong for resources allocated to developmental projects to be returned to the national treasury at the end of each year when people in the country were in need of improved welfare.

He said he was surprised to hear that about K900 million was returned to the treasury last year because the money could not be spent on development projects.

Mr. Banda said he would talk to the Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti to ensure that once funds were budgeted for and released, they were utilised on activities for which they were budgeted.

The Acting President was speaking in Mwinilunga today when he met nine chiefs in the district.

His remarks came as a result of complaints raised by the chiefs in Mwinilunga that their district has lagged behind in various sectors of the economy.

Mr. Banda further pledged to ensure that electricity problems being experienced in the district were addressed.

He disclosed that before visiting the Northwestern province, he held a meeting with two Members of Parliament from the district, Elijah Muchima, James Katoka and ZESCO Managing Director, Rodney Sisala to discuss the issue.

During the meeting, Mr. Sisala suggested two options to Mr. Banda on how the problem of electricity in Mwinilunga district could be eased.

The first option was to continue with the thermal generated power through providing diesel for the generator.

Mr. Banda however said the use of diesel to generate power for the district has become very expensive because of the high fuel prices.

The second option was that of building a hydro power station on the western side of the Zambezi river in the district.
He said Mr. Sisala revealed to him that ZESCO has since given authority to local investors to build a power station in the district.

The local investors would need US$10 million to put up a hydro power station in the district.

Mr. Banda said another option was to build a 200 kilometre power line from Lumwana mine to Mwinilunga.

And Mr. Banda, who admitted that the province has lagged behind in development, said he would ensure that national development was done fairly so as to make all provinces benefit.

He was happy that traditional leaders raised concern which would assist him to know where to start from in addressing the problem the district was facing if elected as republican president on October 30, this year.

He added that he would consult with relevant authorities on how much was allocated to the district for the construction of schools and other public institutions.

He further said he would consult with Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja to ensure that people in the district were not left out in appointments for local jobs and foreign service.

Mr. Banda however advised chiefs in the area to encourage their subjects to send children to school for them to compete with others province for jobs.

He said it was important to educate children in order for them to get jobs whenever opportunities arise.

And speaking on behalf of other chiefs, chief Ntambo was grateful to government for purchasing vehicles to traditional leaders.

Chief Ntambo said the provision of vehicles to chiefs has enhanced dignity amongst traditional leaders.

Earlier, the chiefs complained of lack of power to the area which could be generated within the district.

They said the erratic thermal power supply has affected commerce and trade in the area.

They expressed concern that up to date the hydro power station has not be constructed in the area.

They were promised that during the 2006 campaigns that the district would be connected to the national electricity grid, which however has not been done up to now.

The chiefs also complained about the dilapidation of school infrastructure in the area and urged government to also construct high schools in the district instead of building basic schools only.

Chief Ntambo pointed out that education was a ladder to the development of the district hence the need to improve school infrastructure.

And the chiefs have called on government to construct a VIP ward for them at the district hospital so that they did not use same wards with their subjects.

They said it was wrong for chiefs to share the same ward with subjects.

They also urged government to take over the construction of palaces so that chiefs that take over from a deceased one should not construct their own.

ZANIS/MK/KSH/ENDS

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