Various political parties and veteran politicians have expressed deep sorrow and grief at the death of republican President, Levy Mwanawasa who passed on at 10:30 hours this morning in France.

Dr. Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29, this year while in Egypt where he had gone to attend the African Union Summit. He was admitted to Sharm-El-Sheik International hospital before being evacuated to Percy Military hospital in Paris France where he died this morning.

Former Vice President, Enoch Kavindele described the death of Dr. Mwanawasa as a great loss to the nation.

“I am very saddened about the loss of our President. I had the pleasure of working with him”, he said.

Mr. Kavindele hoped that Dr. Mwanawasa’s economic emancipation which he was working for would not be disturbed.

He said Dr. Mwanawasa had devoted his time to fighting poverty in the country which had already borne fruits.

“Zambians must keep calm and maintain peace. The loss of a President in not easy,” he said.

Mr. Kavindele was late Dr. Mwanawasa’s first Vice President.

Retired politician, Sikota Wina told ZANIS that the death of Dr. Mwanawasa was a disaster of the greatest magnitude to the nation.

“Dr. Mwanawasa had already made a very firm stamp on the nation, he had a direction into which we were all going,” he said.

Mr. Wina said, “Let us all pull ourselves and continue where he left”.

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) expressed great sadness at the death of Dr. Mwanawasa saying it was a sad development to the nation.

UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema called on Zambians to mourn the late President with dignity and honour because he did a lot of things to the country.

“Let us remain united as Zambians,” Mr. Hichilema.

UPND spokesperson, Charles Kakoma wished the first family God’s guidance during this trying moment.

Mr. Kakoma has since appealed t Zambians to remain calm during the mourning period.

Former ruling party, United National Independence Party (UNIP) vice president, Njekwa Anamela, said the death of the President was a tragedy that touched all Zambians.

A clergyman, Bishop John Mambo said Zambians should put aside their political differences and mourn the late President in a calm and peaceful manner.

And first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda has described the death of President Mwanawasa as a great loss to Zambia and Africa.

Speaking at a Press Briefing at his office in Lusaka today, Dr. Kaunda said President Mwanawasa provided impeccable and exemplary leadership to Zambia and Africa as a whole.

Dr. Kaunda said Dr. Mwanawasa exhibited the essential tenets of good governance through his relentless advocacy for the universal observance of human rights, rule of law and the fight against corruption.

He noted that Zambia has lost a great leader who had a vision to attain economic and social development for all the people of the country.

Dr. Kaunda said President Mwanawasa’s vision to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment can be attained if all citizens emulate his exemplary leadership.

The first republican President called for unity, sacrifice and nationalism among all citizens by being guided by the country’s motto of One Zambia One Nation .

And second Republican President Dr. Frederick Chiluba has extended his deepest condolences to the First Family, the First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa, the Acting Vice President Rupiah Banda, government and the nation over the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.

Dr. Chiluba told ZANIS in an interview that the nation should remain calm, united and peaceful as the country mourns Dr. Mwanawasa.

“I urge the nation to remain calm, united and peaceful as the country goes through this difficult time of mourning our beloved President,” he said.

Meanwhile, the United States of America government has conveyed its condolences to First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa, the First Family and the nation on the death of President Mwanawasa.

American Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez told ZANIS that the thoughts of the American people are with the Zambian citizenry and the entire SADC region.

Mrs. Martinez said Dr. Mwanawasa served the country with conviction and commitment. She said President Mwanawasa would be long remembered and admired for his contribution to economic development, good governance, regional peace and security, and respect for the rule of law.

She said his legacy provides an example to leaders, both locally and abroad.

And British High Commissioner to Zambia Alistair Harrison said the British Government Offices in Zambia were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Zambia and in particular with the family of the late President at this very difficult time,” he said.

And Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have expressed shock at the death of President Mwanawasa.

Women for Change (WFC) Executive Director, Emily Sikazwe says it is a dark day for Zambia adding that her organisation stands with the first family and the rest of Zambians in mourning Dr. Mwanawasa.

Ms Sikazwe told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in an interview in Lusaka today that on a personal level she understands what the first family in particular the first lady is going through.

She explained that as a widow, it is not easy to bringing up children without their father.

Ms Sikazwe has since called upon Zambians to remain calm and united as the country mourns and puts to rest President Mwanawasa.

And the Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution (SACCORD) Executive Director, Lee Haabasonda said the country has been robbed of a great leader.

Mr. Haabasonda noted that President Mwanawasa meant well for the country adding that he had put the country’s social and economic development on the right track.

He has since conveyed his deepest condolences to the first family and hopes that Zambians will remain peaceful in this trying moment.

Meanwhile the Media Institute of Zambia (MISA) Zambia Chapter have also expressed suddenness at the death of President Mwanawasa.

Chairperson, Henry Kabwe said the media fraternity is touched and affected as President Mwanawasa was committed to Media reforms and providing a conducive atmosphere for the media to operate effectively.

Mr Kabwe said Dr Mwanawasa will be greatly missed adding that he hopes that his successor will continue from he left.

“Our prayer was to see him come back home to Zambia and continue with the media reforms he had started,” Mr. Kabwe said.

And the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) Vice President, Amos Chanda said the death of President Mwanawasa is a serious tragedy for the whole nation.

Mr. Chanda said the media will greatly miss President Mwanawasa leadership as he had elevated the country position of good governance to the highest level.

He noted that Dr Mwanawasa had committed himself to good governance and constitutional reforms adding that he was also a champion on the fight against corruption.

Mr Chanda said PAZA hopes that President Mwanawasa’s successor will also adhere to his good governance polices and reforms.

ENDS/YK/AM/ZANIS

President Levy Mwanawasa has died in a French hospital on after suffering a stroke in July, Vice President Rupiah Banda said

Vice-President Rupiah Banda made the announcement on ZNBC today.

“Fellow countrymen, with deep sorrow and grief, I would like to inform the people of Zambia that our president Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died this morning at 1030 hours,” Banda said on ZNBC.

President Mwanawasa suffered a stroke at an African Union summit in Egypt and was then flown to France, where he had remained in hospital.

President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa’s condition has worsened, Vice President Rupiah Banda has said.

According to State House web site up date on Republican President checked Monday evening by ZANIS, Mr Banda said Dr Mwanawasa has been making steady progress until last night when his condition suddenly changed and required urgent intervention.

The intervention was conducted Monday morning.

The Team of doctors have reported that the intervention was successful but described the condition of Dr Mwanawasa as serious.

The First Lady and family members continue to appreciate the goodwill support and prayers that the Nation, individuals and Churches continue to render in this difficult time, where collective support and prayers are essential.

The Nation will be informed in due course on future developments on the condition of His Excellency the President.
ZANIS/ENDS/MM

Opposition party leaders have been accused of using the proposed salary increments for constitution office bearers to gain political mileage.

Northern Province Minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo says the proposed salary increments for constitutional office holders are justified.

He said this in reaction to a protest rally organized by the PF, UPND and Non governmental Organizations in Lusaka on Saturday.

Mr. Chibombamilimo said salaries and allowances for constitutional office holders that have been provided in the past years have been inadequate.

Mr. Chibombamilimo said it is immoral and hypocritical for politicians who previously performed public functions and got hefty pay to now condemn the pay rise for constitutional office holders.PF’s Michael Sata and United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema should be the last people to condemn the salaries for constitutional office holders.

He said it was hypocritical of Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema who had in the past undertaken public functions and got paid for their work to condemn the pay rise for the president, vice-president, ministers and other constitutional office holders.

“As a result of such public works, Mr Hichilema can today leave his profession and pretend to dedicate the rest of his life to serving the Zambian people,” Mr Chibombamilimo said.

The provincial minister said Mr Sata had for most of his life worked in the political offices and was therefore conversant with how costly it was to carry out functions of political offices.

Mr Chibombamilimo said that in some instances, elected officers worked for more than the stipulated number of hours thereby justifying the need for salary increments.

“An elected official often dips into his or her private resources to carry out his or her duties because there has never and may never be enough resources to fund the activities of political office holders,” he said.

Mr Chibombamilimo said the expectations of the electorate were high and could not easily be satisfied.

He said that the figures proposed for the increment were arrived at after sound judgment by professionals. He therefore said that it was highly immoral for the two opposition leaders to be against the move.

Mr Chibombamilimo also accused University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Neurologist Francis Manda of attempting to revive what he termed his fragile and ailing political career by using President Mwanawasa’s illness.

But Mr Hichilema said that it was wrong for Mr Chibombamilimo to compare his earnings from private businesses to what constitutional office holders were demanding.

He said the monies that the constitutional office holders were getting were tax payers’ money which should be used to pay striking lecturers at the University of Zambia (Unza) and junior doctors at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) among others.

“I have never been on the payroll of the Government and I do not get money from tax payers. I am a private businessman and if Mr Chibombamilimo wants to start doing business, let him do so,” Mr Hichilema said.

Mr Hichilema said the monies that the leaders were demanding could be channelled towards paying retirees, doctors, lecturers and improving sanitary conditions in most townships in Zambia.

ZANIS/NNN-PTI/ENDS/MM

Dear Friends,

Do you remember how much fun we had growing up? Remember how…

1. We ate fritters at the market and do you remember buying cooking oil from some fat woman in the market who had a big drum of it connected to a tap or hand pump (‘CI DUMBO MALIKETI KA POMPA SALADI’)

2. We went hunting in the bush with our dogs and did not fear snakes, deep holes and even quick sand.

3. We went into the compounds looking for a fight from the compound boys and quite often came back badly bruised and beaten.

4.We only watched English Soccer on Fridays and it was always sponsored by Barclays. Liverpool and Everton were the best teams in England and not Manchester United and Arsenal.

5. You could name the starting line up of Green Buffaloes, Mufulira Wanderers and Kabwe Warriors. When we played football we called ourselves Simutowe, Ucar, Tools, Chola, or one of the local stars and not some foreigner we only saw on TV.

6.We always put stones in the Coca Cola to make it fizz.

7. We always harassed soldiers for canned beef.

8. Remember the days when we would line up from 08 00 hrs -16 00 hrs waiting for Kaunda to pass in the streets just to wave at him.

9. We thought only KK was President. My cousin once asked me if I knew the Kaunda of Kenya.

10. Chloroquine worked as a treatment for Malaria. You knew because when you went to the village (every 2 or 3 years) you came back with it.

11. When you always came back from the village all your friends wanted some of the peanuts, maize, intoyo, millet, pumpkins, finkubala and all the village produce you came back with. You could keep the playground entertained for weeks afterwards with your stories from the village.

12. Remember when we would go to the streams to swim and we never used to get sick because of the bad water.

13. Remember when we used to glimpse through the neighbours windows, just to have a glimpse of a TV and remember how they used to make us sit on the floor when watching TV by the neighbours.

14.Remember how we used to go for school assembly every Monday and had a parade for exercise (up, sideways, forward and down, clap! clap!) the shortest person being in front and the tallest at the back.

15.Remember how we used to watch video shows on civilian day sitting on the floor in rows and how we used to cheer at kung-fu (uuuuwaaaaaaaaa! uuuuwaaaaaaaaa!)

16. We always tried to switch off the escalator (the only ones in Zambia) at Mwaiseni .

17. We wore pink shirts with big collars, platform shoes, crimplene trousers and shirts, bell bottom jeans with massive cowboy belts with brass buckles.

18. Remember DPB’s milk chocolate biscuits

19.We didn’t have Play stations, Nintendo 64, X boxes, video games, DSTV, VCR’s, surround sound, cellular phones, computers, online chartrooms, instead we would have tons of FRIENDS and played CHIDUNUUUH, GEMU & TOUCH… utubambo (slapping your friend with fingers then after that licking them), it was always zero kunja, one, two….

20. Four of us would share a drink, we would all drink from the same bottle and that wasn’t disgusting nor would anyone get sick.

21.- We would eat cake, bread and butter, drink sugary drinks, and we weren’t overweight nor worry about cholesterol or diets because we were always outside playing .

22.Riding on the back of a vanette was an adventure that we still remember!

The Long awaited Free Trade Area (FTA) for Southern African Development Community (SADC) was officially launched, Sunday.

New SADC chairman South Africa’s president Thabo Mbeki urged SADC countries to utilise the FTA to achieve economic growth and integration in the region.

Mbeki also called on SADC countries to become active players in the global economic arena which he said was dominated by countries such as China, India and the Americas, among others.

Premised on the gradual remova of barriers to trade, the SADC FTA is a culmination of an eight year process that started with signing of the SADC Trade Protocol by member states in 1996 which came in effect in 2000.

In addition to the Trade Protocol, = SADC member states have also adopted the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan, RISDP, which outlines the roadmap for further and deeper regional integration.

Principally, the FTA will allow goods originating from SADC member states to enter each others markets free of customs duty.

ZANIS/MM/BMK/ENDS

Government is in the process of recruiting 5,000 new teachers who will be deployed to various schools across the country to improve the pupil-teacher ratio especially in rural areas.

Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has also disclosed that his ministry is finalizing the process of transforming Kwame Nkhuruma and Copperbelt Secondary Teachers Colleges into university colleges to provide teachers the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications to degree level.

Professor Lungwangwa says Government will also construct 13 new high schools, 233 basic schools and 228 housing units for teachers countrywide by the end of this year.

The minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by his Deputy Clement Sinyinda at a dinner for the Basic Education Teachers’ Union of Zambia, BETUZ, in Lusaka Last night.

Professor Lungwangwa further said a total of 799 new classrooms will be constructed as part of the Ministry’s infrastructure operational plan for 2008.

He said government is also in the process of procuring 100 second-hand motor vehicles for head teachers in the country as an addition to the K3 billion allocated to all provinces last year for the same purpose.
ZANIS/BK/ENDS