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Court yet to determine PF injunction application

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Patriotic Front-PF- Leader, Michael Sata’s scheduled filing of Presidential nomination papers before Chief Justice, Enerst Sakala, suffered a set back, Tuesday morning.

The High Court is yet to determine an injunction application filed against Mr. Sata by his Kasama Member of Parliament, Saviour Chishimba.

Until this is done, Mr. Sata can not proceed to file his nomination papers.

Lusaka High Court Judge, Philip Musonda, was scheduled to deliver the ruling at 08:30 hours but is still locked in an inter-party hearing with lawyers representing Dr. Chishimba and Mr. Sata.

Mr. Sata was scheduled to file his nomination papers for the October 30 presidential election at 09:00 hours.

Dr. Chishimba is seeking an injunction to restrain Mr. Sata from filing his nomination papers arguing that he has been disadvantaged as an interested person in the PF presidential candidature.

He claims Mr. sata contravened the PF constitution provision which stipulates the holding of a convention to elect the PF presidential candidate.

And Mr. Sata’s lawyers, Bonaventure Mutale and Edgar Lungu, have filed a preliminary application to challenge Dr. Chishimba’s injunction application which they claim does not disclose the reason for the court action against their client.

The Lawyers also argue that the injunction application has not disclosed the capacity in which Mr. Sata has been sued.

Court hears PF injunction

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The Lusaka High Court has this morning been hearing an application for an injunction against Patriotic Front Leader, Michael Sata from filing in his nomination for the October 30 poll.

The injunction by PF Kasama member of parliament Xavier Chishimba said this is because no convention was held as per party constitution to appoint Mr. Sata to represent the opposition party.

Mr. Chishimba said he is also interested in contesting the Republican Presidency on the PF Ticket.

This is contained in an application filed in the Lusaka high Court Monday.

Dr. Chishimba contends that he is an interested and disadvantaged PF member who wanted to stand for the PF presidency.

He argues that Mr. Sata’s presidency in the PF is ultra vires to the party constitution that requires that the party holds a convention every five years but in vain.

Dr. Chishimba foiled Mr. Sata’s scheduled filing in of nominations before the Supreme Court by applying for an injunction against it.

The application for an injunction sent shock waves among angry Patriotic Front members who trooped to the Lusaka High Court and sang songs in solidarity of their party president.

Dr. Chishimba’s lawyer Mutakela Lisimba and Mr. Sata’s lawyers Bonaventure Mutale, and Edgar Lungu were locked for over two hours in chambers of a Lusaka High Court Judge.

According to a statement of claim filed before the Lusaka High Court, the Patriotic Front has been in existence since 2001 but has never held a convention appointing anyone as PF presidential candidate.

[ZNBC]

23 man delegation from Zambia Defence Service in Ethiopia

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A 23 man delegation from Zambian Defence Services Command and Staff College is in Ethiopia to learn and share experiences in the field of economic, social, culture and military.

Delegation Brigadier General Jeff Chisenga said his team had undertaken a 10 day study visit  to learn and share experiences  with government officials and other  dignitaries in that country.

The delegation is expected to visit various government ministries, the African Union, the Economic Commission for Africa and several other relevant institutions and is also expected to visit historical sites in other parts of Ethiopia.

First Secretary for Press at the Embassy Dorcas Chileshe told ZANIS in a statement that the delegation leader made the disclosure when his team paid  a courtesy call at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia.

And Acting Head of Mission at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia Patrick Ngoma commended the Defence and Security forces of Zambia for maintaining a high level of peace during the funeral of the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Mr. Ngoma says Zambians living abroad deeply appreciated the peace and felt as secure as their counterparts at home due to order and clam that existed in the country.

Sata accuses FRA

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The opposition Patriotic Front-PF- has charged that the recent decision by the Food Reserve Agency-FRA- to increase the price of maize is political.

PF leader, Michael Sata, alleges that the move is aimed at winning support from farmers ahead of presidential elections scheduled for October 30.

Mr. Sata has accused the FRA of collaborating with government to disadvantage farmers who sold their maize at 45 thousand kwacha.

Government has increased the floor price of maize.

A 50 Kilogram bag of maize now costs K55,000.00 from K45,000.00

In a letter addressed to FRA Board Chairman, Costain Chilala and made available to ZNBC news, Mr. Sata said government should compensate all the farmers who sold their maize at K45,000.00.

Mr. Sata also said the decision to increase the price of maize will have an effect on the price of mealie meal in the country.
[ZNBC]

Traders need education on COMESA treaties

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Chipata Mayor Sinoya Mwale says the formalization of small scale trade among the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries will enable traders in the region to enjoy the benefits of free entry in other members through authorized channels.

Speaking at the launch of a two day sensitization workshop on COMESA Simplified Trade Regime today in Chipata, Mr. Mwale observed that a number of small scale traders were not enjoying the benefits of Free Trade Area (FTA) due to ignorance.

He stated that most people in the region were using unauthorized channels when conducting their trade in order to invade tax even when their goods would not be subject to tax.

“They are not aware about the limits of value on commodities that are subject to duty and prefer to use the crooked routes to evade tax,” he said.

Mr. Mwale said there was need to ensure that people that were engaged in trade were knowledgeable about the law in relation to their operations.

He stated that s Mwami border post in Eastern province was an important point for cross-border trade among  Malawi, Mozambique, Congo DR, Botswana, Tanzania  and other countries to the north of Zambia.

“People need to understand there are limitations on commodities that are subject to duty,” he said.

And speaking at the same function, COMESA-Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Consultant, John Chirwa observed that cross-border trade, which is largely unrecorded, accounts for up to 35 per cent of the current value of formal trade.

Mr. Chirwa said that informal trade was not recorded among the products traded within the COMESA region.

He said there was need to educate traders on the COMESA trade protocols and treaties in order to establish trade centers in COMESA countries.

“This will enhance their businesses because they will have a clear understanding of international business and the FTA among COMESA countries which can help maximize their business which may lead to increased employment opportunities and increase the growth of the economy,” he said.

Mr. Chirwa said that the cost of doing business in Zambia was high due to the use of informal channels to conduct business and lack of an institutional voice to represent the traders in the Cross Border Traders Association (CBTA).

Meanwhile, Cross Border Trade Association of Zambia Chairman General, Celeste Mwanakis said Zambia could not benefit from the COMESA Simplified Trade Regime unless people have information pertaining to customs regulations and COMESA trade policies especially on the FTA.

Mr. Mwanakis has since appealed to local authorities to support accord the cross border traders in order to facilitate the smooth running of small scale Cross Border Trade.

ZANIS/HN/KSH/ENDS

Ministry of Health donates Motor Vehicles

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The Ministry of Health, through National Malaria Control (NMC) Centre has given Chama District Health Management Team twelve Suzuki motor bikes worth K300 million for malaria control exercise in the district.

Chama District Director of Health, Mr. Nicholous Muyaba  told ZANIS in Chama that  the Suzuki motorbikes are  meant to strengthen malaria control programme in the district.

Mr. Muyaba disclosed that district office will only retain two, while the rest ten motorbikes will be sent to rural health centres.

The Beneficiary centres are  Pondo, Kambombo, Mulilo, Kanyelele, Chifunda, Chikwa, Chibale, Buli and Mapamba.

The Director added that two motorbikes at the  district office would be specially used for distribution of vaccines, logistics and monitoring of malaria programme in health centres and health neighborhood centres.

He said the criteria used to identify the beneficiary centres follow a survey conducted by National Malaria Control Centre, where malaria was identified as a prevalence disease in those areas.

Mr. Muyaba further disclosed that  the district has received over 170 bicycles from  Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)  and Care International worth millions of kwacha.

He said bicycles will be given to all twenty health facilities, neighbourhoods committees community health volunteers and community birth attendants in an effort to improve health delivery services at community level.
Lusaka Provincial administration has advised civil servants in the country to desist from engaging themselves in partisan politics.

Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Elijah Chisanga said public service workers have a mandate of implementing government policies and programs which they should ensure that they were accomplished.

Mr. Chisanga said as the country holds elections in the next few weeks, civil servants should ensure that government programs did not ground to a halt.

He said this in Lusaka today when he handed over two vehicles to Lusaka and Kafue administration offices.

The vehicles were purchased by the provincial administration at a cost of over K100 million.

Mr. Chisanga said the provincial administration purchased the two vehicles in order to enhance the monitoring and supervision of development projects in the province.

He noted that most district offices were unable to adequately monitor projects due to lack of transport.

And Acting Kafue District Commissioner, Henry Bowa assured that Mr. Chisanga that the vehicles would be put to good use.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Lusaka District Commissioner Christah Kalulu pledged to work hard and improve the living standards of Lusaka residents by implementing quality and cost effective projects.
ZANIS/RL/EML/MK/ENDS

UNIP to support RB

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The United National Independence Party- UNIP- says it will not participate in the October 30, Presidential by-election.

UNIP President, Tilyenji Kaunda, says his party will instead support Acting President, Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Kaunda told Journalists in Lusaka, Monday, that his party decided to back Mr. Banda because he is the only candidate who has principles that UNIP also believes in.

He said the decision to support Mr. Banda was not influenced by anyone but was taken based on principles.

Various opposition political parties have already endorsed the candidature of Mr Banda.

They include the United Liberal Party, All Peoples Congress and the Zambia Conservative Party among others.

Meanwhile, acting President, Rupiah Banda has urged residents of Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma districts in Northwestern province to cooperate with explorers from gas mining industries in the their areas.

Mr. Banda said exploration works would begin in the three districts in the next few week.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, at the Mbunda Liyoyelo traditional ceremony at Chief Chiyengele’s Kayombo traditional capital over the weekend.

Mr. Banda said people of Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma would soon see heavy earth moving mining equipment vehicles which would be used to explore gas and oil deposit sites.

He said the exploration would pave way for the setting up of gas and oil industries in the three districts if results come out positive.

He pleaded with the people in the three districts to exercise maximum cooperation with explorers and investors, adding that government has put in place provisions for the local communities to benefit from the industry.

Mr. Banda said the local people would benefit through infrastructure development in the districts once the industries were fully operational.

And Senior Chief Sikufele and Chieftainess Nyakulenga of Zambezi district pledged solidarity with Mr. Banda’s administration.

The traditional leader said all chiefs and their Indunas in the said districts were solidly united to support Mr. Banda in the October 30th presidential election.

He said the MMD government had successfully developed the Northwestern province hence the need to continue supporting it.

Chieftainess Nyakulenga said the people of Northwestern province would appear ungrateful if they did not vote for Mr. Banda in the light of the development of mines, explorations of gas and oil deposits and continued tarring of Mutanda Chavuma road which he said were economic drivers for wealth creation and poverty reduction.

ZANIS/MK/CMM/KSH/ENDS.

Government to reduce the price of fuel

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Government says there are possibilities that the price of fuel could be reduced by about one thousand kwacha.

Finance Minister, Ngandu Magande, also says there will be a further price cut on fuel following a reduction of oil prices by oil producers and exporting countries.

Mr. Magande however told ZNBC news in Livingstone, Monday, that this will depend on information gathered by a technical committee mandated to study possibilities of reducing the price of fuel.

The committee was formed after Acting president, Rupiah Banda, directed Mr. Magande and his Energy counterpart, Kenneth Konga, to find ways of reducing the cost of fuel.

Mr. Magande said government has not immediately reduced the prices of fuel because the country is still consuming old stocks.

Petrol costs about K9,700.00 per liter, while diesel sells about K8,400.00.

And Several Lusaka residents have welcomed the proposal by acting President, Rupiah Banda,aimed to reduce the price for fuel.

Residents talked to by ZNBC, Monday, said Zambia has the highest pump price for fuel in the region and any form of intervention is welcome.

One of the motorists, Victor Silungwe, said the reduction in fuel prices should not be politicised.

Mr. Silungwe said low fuel prices will reduce production and transport costs.

Another motorist, Edgar Ngoma, said reducing fuel prices will boost production in the country.

Government has appointed a team of experts to study how best to keep fuel prices low.

[ZNBC]

K231 billion not extravagant for elections- ECZ

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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has insisted that the budgeted K231 billion for the forthcoming presidential elections is not extravagant.

ECZ director, Dan Kalale, has said the commission had been forced to use shortcuts in tendering procedures to procure election materials in readiness for the elections because of lack of time.

Speaking at The Post News Maker’s Forum in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kalale said the K231 billion budget was justified because the presidential election would be labour-intensive.

Reacting to Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Reuben Lifuka’s concerns that the budget was too high compared to the last tripartite elections, he said there were a lot of issues to be considered.

He said the budget, approved by the ministry of Finance and National Planning, took into account high fuel prices and increased conditions of service for civil servants who would be engaged to conduct the elections.

He said ECZ would engage about 70,000 people who would conduct elections and help in conflict resolution and voter education, which were all expensive ventures.

Mr Kalale said in this year’s presidential elections, few teachers would be engaged because most of them were found to have been partisan in the 2006 elections.

He said the ECZ was ready for the elections and would endeavour to perform to people’s expectations.

Mr Kalale said the commission was only worried about the arrival of election materials because only five weeks remained before elections and that materials were expected to be in the country at least two weeks before elections.

He said announcement of results would follow the 2006 pattern where urban centres would be announced earlier than rural polling centres.

He also said the conflict resolution committee was currently sitting to determine allegations against acting president Banda in line with the Electoral Code of Conduct.

In his presentation, Mr Lifuka said people were wondering why the budget for the presidential elections seemed higher than the one for general elections two years ago.

He said it was clear that all stakeholders were not ready for the presidential elections and that a good number of people would not vote because there was no continuous voter registration.

He said even the civil society was not ready for the elections and that they had to adjust their programmes in order to accommodate the elections.

At the same discussion Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) president, Stanley M’hango, said that his organisation was ready for elections and was in the process of submitting names of its agents to the ECZ.

Mr M’hango said FODEP expected free and fair elections because electoral disputes were not good for democratic stability of any country.

Times of Zambia

It will be hard for an opposition party to govern, Mulongoti

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MMD chairman for elections, Mike Mulongoti, has cautioned the electorate against voting for an opposition party in October 30 polls because it will be difficult for an opposition party to govern because of their numbers in Parliament.

Mr Mulongoti told a campaign rally in Chief Kopa’s area in Mpika that the number of MMD members in parliament would render it difficult for any other government to operate.

Mr Mulongoti, who accompanied acting President, Rupiah Banda, to Northern Province where he attended Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena traditional ceremony, was also in the area to drum up support for the MMD parliamentary candidate, Judith Kapijimpanga, for the Kanchibiya by- election slated for October 14.

He said if such a government introduced bills that were at variance with MMD policies, the bills would not be supported and might lead to dissolution of Parliament.

Mr Mulongoti told the gathering that opposition leaders should not cheat them that once voted into Government, they would automatically assume control of power as their numbers together still fell short of the MMD majority.

He said even if the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development put their members of Parliament together, it would still be difficult for them to pass laws.

Mr Mulongoti called on the people of Kanchibiya to vote for Ms Kapijimpanga because she had experience in the House and in Government and most importantly because she hailed from the same area and understood their problems.

Speaking earlier, MMD spokesman, Bennie Tetamashimba, reminded the people that most development work being done in the area was initiated before the 2006 election when Ms Kapijimpanga was MP, which showed that she was a hard-working MP.

MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, also urged the people to vote for Ms Kapijimpanga by giving an analogy of one child from a household and another from the neighbourhood.

[Times of Zambia]

Congolese to return home from Zambia

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The United Nations refugee agency is encouraging the remaining 51,000 Congolese refugees in northern Zambia to return home, saying conditions in many areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are suitable for repatriation.

While the decision to repatriate is voluntary, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported today that many towns and villages are accessible by road and former combat zones have been cleared of landmines.

The agency is offering security to returning refugees as well as basic services, including schools, health clinics and potable water.

“We encourage you to seriously consider voluntary repatriation while assistance is still available,” UNHCR Representative in Zambia, James Lynch, told refugees in Kwala and Mwange refugee camps, more than 1,000 kilometres from the capital Lusaka.

“We’ll assist those that want to go back,” he added, referring to the food, farming tools and housing materials given to returnees.

In recent weeks, UNHCR has embarked on a campaign to promote repatriation by disseminating information by radio and going door-to-door in the two camps. Combined with the impact of “come-and-tell” visits from the DRC, the effect has been positive, with a growing number of refugees expressing interest in returning home to Katanga province in the south.

During the first week in October, UNHCR will organize “go-and-see” visits for refugees to explore the areas of the DRC they fled during the civil war that ended earlier this decade.

Since voluntary repatriation began last year, 13,284 Congolese have gone home from Zambia, and UNHCR plans to help 30,000 more return in the next year.

Zambia currently hosts about 87,000 refugees, and around 57,000 live in four camps in Western, North Western, Northern and Luapula provinces, with another 30,000 living outside the camps. Congolese make up the majority of refugees, followed by Angolans, and smaller numbers from Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia.

ENDS

South Africa’s President Mbeki steps down

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President Thabo Mbeki told the country on Sunday night he was stepping down after his ruling African National Congress demanded he leave office over allegations he abused power in the corruption case against new party leader Jacob Zuma.

Mbeki told the nation in a live televised broadcast he had tendered his resignation which would become effective from a date to be determined by Parliament, which is meeting on Monday.
The ANC made its request eight days after a judge threw out corruption charges against party leader Jacob Zuma, suggesting there was high-level political meddling in the case.
Mbeki, who took over from Nelson Mandela as president in 1999, said on Sunday he remained a loyal ANC member and respected the party’s decision but repeated that he did not influence the prosecution in the case of Zuma, his rival.
Mbeki has been credited with ensuring growth and attracting foreign investors to Africa’s biggest economy. He was also instrumental in building a black middle class.

But critics and Zuma’s trade union and Communist Party allies say Mbeki was out of touch with millions of poor blacks.

South Africans, whose social and economic problems have been overshadowed by the rivalry between Mbeki and Zuma, face a period of uncertainty. The ANC, if deeply divided, is unlikely to ease their concerns over rampant crime, social ills and an AIDS epidemic ravaging millions, political analysts say.

Supporters of Mbeki may split from the ANC and contest elections as a breakaway party in 2009, South Africa’s Sunday Times said.

The move threatens to shatter the foundations of the country’s post-apartheid political landscape, which has been dominated by the ANC. Some ministers have threatened to resign rather than serve in a Zuma-controlled government.

Reuters

Chief Ingwe of the Kaonde for Banda

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Chief Ingwe of the Kaonde people in kasempa District says it is important and beneficial for the country to have the ruling MMD continue the programme left by the late  president Mwanawasa under the leadership of the Acting president Rupiah banda.

The traditional leader said the country is still mourning and thee is need for politicians to start jostling for power but that they should let the MMD continue.

He said this yesterday when kasempa Area MP kabinga pande paid a courtesy call on him.

Chief ingwe said the opposition will bring no developments at all and urged the leadership in the MMD to work hard so that the opposition does not come into piower.

And headman Kasungami echoed the chief’s statement that acting president rupiah Banda continues leading the country.

Headman Kasugami said his people were ready to vote for Mr Banda because they want to see Economic developmental progerammes continue which have been embarked on in the area.

“we are happy with what the late president left for us ,we are seeing schools and clinics being constructed and we want these to continue . I will encourage my people to vote for Mr. Banda, said the traditional leader.

This was after mr pande inspected the Kizhiba community school which government is upgrading to a basic school.

And some youths talked to by Zanis in this area said they are happy with the MMd government efforts aimed at mproving  their living standards  and that they want such programmes to continue.

Divide Ilunga said the opposition will just stall the many programmes which people have started embracing in the area saying the MMD should continue.

He noted was accompanied by Kasempa district Commissioner Henry Shantolo and some Heads of departments from Health Education and agriculture.

ENDS /CBM/AH/PK/KASEMPA

Govt to continue supporting traditional ceremonies

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Government has assured its continued support for traditional ceremonies, as they safeguard and preserve the country’s cultural heritage for future generations.

North-Western province minister Kenneth Chipungu who is also Rufunsa member of parliament says traditional ceremonies are an important conduit for the transmission of traditional knowledge to the younger and future generations.

Mr Chipungu was officiating at this year’s Chibwelamushi traditional ceremony of the Soli people at chief Mpanshya’s palace in Chongwe yesterday.

Mr Chipungu who represented acting president Rupiah Banda at the ceremony, said traditional ceremonies are also becoming conducive platforms for explaining government policies and development projects  aimed at improving the living standards of the people.

He told scores people who included other chief Bunda Bunda and Mburuma and  a representative of chieftainess Shikabeta, that government is committed to improve the living standards of the people in the district.

Mr Chipungu cited various development projects among them  the construction of a health post at Luangwa Bridge, the grading of chipeketi road and construction of classroom blocks at Chipeketi and Rufunsa Basic schools as some of the projects undertaken by government to improve the livelihood of the people in the area.

In response to appeals from chief Mpanshya on the hunger sitiation in his chiefdom, Mr Chipungu said 920 X 50kg bags of maize have been distributed in Rufunsa constituency under the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, DMMU, in the Office of the Vice President.

He also said fertilizer and other farming under the fertilizer support programme, FSP, will soon be delivered to the area to ensure household food security.

Speaking earlier at the same function, hief Mpashya Kalubangwe II commended government for the various development projects that have been undertaken in his chiefdom.

In a speech read on his behalf by vice chairman of the Soli Cultural Association, SOCA, Godfrey Shamulenge, chief Mpansha referred to the purchase of motor vehicles for chiefs, installation of mobile telephone facilities and the nursing school under construction at the catholic church run Mpanshya mission hospital, as some of the positive developments government has done for the people in his chiefdom.

The traditional ruler however bemoaned the weak radio signal from the national broadcaster which he said is depriving his subjects of information on various developmental issues.

He also appealed to the government to deploy more police officers at Rufunsa police post to deal with crime in the area.

ZANIS/LN/BMK/PK/ENDS

Govt condemns early marriages

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Government says parents marrying off their school-going children should be prosecuted and charged.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said parents should understand that marrying off their school girl children is not a blessing but a case.

Responding to lunga High School Head Teacher Roderick Mwansapa who expressed concern at the high rate of girl-child drop out due to early marriages, Mr. pande advised school teachers in his constituency to bring to his attention any case where a parent marries off a school going girl child.

Speaking Lunga High school which is under construction in kasempa  yesterday ,Mr. pande said there is need to protect the girl child so that they too could complete their education without disturbances.

The kasempa MP noted that parents marrying off their girl child at a tender age should be punished so that the trend is put to a halt.

Lunga high school head teacher Rodrick Mwanaspa and science teacher Euphrasia Mwila told mr pande that parents in the area claim that marrying off girl child was a blessing.

The two teachers said the trend was rampant two years ago before the only science teacher ,Ms mwila came to the school and introduced the safe club for the protection of the girl child.

At shependa basic school, head teacher Henry Kayombo also complained of the high drop out rate for girls due to early marriages.

Mr Kayombo  said the girl child in the area  still think getting married is then spending time learning in school .

He complained that parents were not doing much to help their girl child get educated.

The story was the same at Kantenba basic school where the Deputy Head teacher Brighton Mutoya going children expressed concern at the high drop out rate of the girl child.

Mr pande is in kasempa district to check on developmental projects embarked on by government and its cooperating partners.

He was acompained on tour of the projects by the district commissioner Henry Shantolo and other Heads of Departments.

ENDS CBM/AH/PK/ZANIS/KASEMPA

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