The opposition Patriotic Front-PF- says all is set for its first convention scheduled for next month.

PF Secretary General, Edward Mumbi has since urged all party members to apply to contest their preferred positions.

Mr. Mumbi said all positions, including the presidency, are open for contest.

He however, indicated that he has not received any application from party members.

Mr. Mumbi said party members should begin to apply to contest positions to avoid crying foul during the convention.

He said all logistics have been properly catered for.

Mr. Mumbi said the next PF Central Committee meeting is expected to decide on the venue for the PF’s first convention.

Kasama Central Member of Parliament, Saviour Chishimba recently indicated his intention to challenge PF leader, Michael Sata.

Government has started working-out modalities aimed at turning Mbala airport in the Northern Province into an international airport.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Kaingu, who confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, said the move would help to improve the growth of the tourism sector in the area.

Mr. Kaingu said his ministry has since started holding talks with various stakeholders in a bid to improve the tourism potential in the Northern and Luapula circuits respectively.

He explained that government’s objective has been to facilitate the growth of the tourism sector through the promotion of the Private Sector Participation.

Mr. Kaingu said this has been in the recognition of the sector’s potential to contribute to economic development through foreign exchange earnings, employment creation, income generation as well as the promotion of the rural development.

He also disclosed that rehabilitation works at Kasama Airport has reached an advanced stage adding that government through his ministry has started rehabilitating roads leading to tourism resort areas in the Northern and Luapula circuit.

Mr. Kaingu said that government through his ministry is pursuing a private sector driven tourism development in an effort to open up other new tourism resorts in the country.

He said government is working round the clock to improve tourism in the Northern and Luapula circuits, which he said is a germ of Zambia’s tourism.

The Tourism Minister further urged foreign investors to invest in the country’s tourism sector saying Zambia is a magnificent country boasting of one of the highest concentration of game in Africa, coupled with stunning scenery and rich and colorful cultural heritage.

He said despite the various tremendous comparative advantages that the country has, Zambia’s tourism potential was still largely unrealized.

Mr. Kaingu has since urged Zambians to take advantage of the tourism sector as it is one of Zambia’s leading area for generating growth in the country’s economy

He said Zambians must regard the country’s tourism as a major income earner for the country and establish it as a key source of employment.

ZANIS/TK/AM/ENDS

The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia in Choma has demanded for an explanation from government as to why some of its members receiving salaries through the local Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) have not received their July salaries.

Union branch secretary Joshua Phiri said in Choma today that the union is disappointed with the failure by both government and ZANACO to explain why the affected workers cannot get their July dues.

Mr. Phiri said the union is further saddened that delay in paying salaries is happening at a time when government has made assurances of ensuring workers got their dues on time.

All government workers under different ministries whose salaries are processed through permanent secretary southern province and paid through the ZANACO’s Choma branch have not been paid their July salaries.

Mr Phiri said it is unfair to keep workers in the dark especially that their colleagues in the same affected ministries, receiving salaries through other commercial banks were long paid their July salaries.

He said whatever problems existing between the ZANACO Choma branch and government should be urgently ironed out as workers should not continue being subjected to unnecessary suffering.

Mr Phiri said that the union should not be blamed for whatever action it will institute should the problem affecting its members persist.

But a senior officer at the district administration in Choma has attributed the delay to the bank’s failure to expedite inter branch transactions between Livingstone and Choma branches.

Efforts to get a comment from the bank in the area failed by press time.

ZANIS/CM/MK/ZANIS

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Mike Mulongoti has implored Zambians to develop a culture of reading and utilize various public libraries doted around the country.

Mr. Mulongoti said libraries were important institutions in any given country from where people should acquire knowledge which was necessary for developing the nation.

He said this in Lusaka today when he officially opened the Francis Kasoma Media Library and Information Resource centre at the University of Zambia (UNZA).

Mr. Mulongoti also launched a book entitled “The Press in Zambia” by Francis Kasoma.

He noted that the Kasoma Media Foundation projects have proved to be effective in the development of Journalism and Mass Communication as it has offered the best and reliable media library.

Mr. Mulongoti said government attached great importance to the provision of information services which he said was an ingredient for social and economic development.

He said it was therefore imperative that journalists and other members of the public acquired the historical book and draw lessons from it, adding that they should also utilize the library.

“As most scholars recommend, for every journalist to have a good and sound historical background of the origin of the press in Zambia, they should understand and exhibit professionalism in the trade,” Mr. Mulongoti said.

Earlier, Kasoma Media Foundation Executive Director, Lesa Basil said the foundation aimed at advancing the practice of journalism through media education and development.

Ms Basil said her organization has since developed a three year strategic plan which would help the foundation to strike a balance between complementing media development and enhancing journalism and mass communication in the country.

And UNZA deputy Vice Chancellor, Wilson Mwenya said the late professor Francis Kasoma contributed significantly to the development of the media community in Zambia.

Dr. Mwenya noted that Prof. Kasoma was in the forefront spearheading media issues, adding that the media has developed because of his tireless efforts.

He said UNZA management was privileged to house the Kasoma Library.

He has since urged students and other members of the public to make use of the library.

ZANIS/YK/KSH/ENDS.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Mike Mulongoti says government is ready and prepared to hand over the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairmanship to South Africa this month.

Mr. Mulongoti says in the absence of President Mwanawasa ,who is the current chair of SADC, Vice President, Rupiah Banda will hand over the chairmanship.

Mr. Mulongoti said in an interview in Lusaka today.

He added that Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande or any other minister who will be available at the hand over ceremony will present the chairmanship in case Vice President Rupiah Banda will not be available.

Mr. Mulongoti said various ministers are currently preparing to travel to South Africa to handover chairmanship positions in the various committees.

“As a country we are ready to handover the SADC chairmanship despite the absence of President Mwanawasa who is currently the chairman of SADC,” Mr. Mulongoti said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mulongoti has urged Zambians to prepare and embrace the SADC/ COMESA customs unions once introduced in December this year.

Mr. Mulongoti said Zambian business and the general public should not be scared of the customs union once introduced but rather they should sharpen their various skills in benefit services the facilities will offer.

He said Government is ready to support the customs union adding that other member states should do so in order to ensure success of the union in the region.

ZANIS/YK/AM/ENDS.

Minister of Health, Brian Chituwo today told parliament that President Levy Mwanawasa, felt some sharp chest pains before he collapsed on June 29th, this year while on duty in Egypt.

Dr. Chituwo said in a ministerial statement presented in parliament today that at the time he suffered a stroke, Dr. Mwanawasa was having a meeting with a senior Angolan government official in that Egypt.

He said although the President collapsed and suffered a stroke, he maintained his cautiousness and was taken to Sharma El Sheik hospital where he was operated upon.

The Doctors at Sharma El Sheik hospital described the stroke as severe. Dr. Mwanawasa was then evacuated to Percy Military hospital in Paris, France where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICT).

“To date, President Mwanawasa remains admitted to Percy Military hospital in the ICU and he is receiving the best medical care. He is improving gradually,” he said.

He said physicians attending to the President in France were happy with the recovery progress.

Dr. Chituwo however said that the recovery process for conditions of stroke was slow.

He has since appealed to Zambians to remain patient, strong, prayerful and optimistic that the President would fully recover and return home.

“The healing process may be long due to the nature of the illness,” he said.

Dr. Chituwo told Members of Parliament (MPs) that the Doctors in France would make a comprehensive brief on the illness of Dr. Mwanawasa after the current treatment and medical plan was completed.

And the Minister of Health paid tribute to Egyptian President, Hussein Mubarak for calling on specialized doctors and staying with the first family at Sharma El Sheik hospital when President Mwanawasa was taken ill.

He also thanked French President, Nicholas Sarkozy for his support when Dr. Mwanawasa was flown to France.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chituwo said during questions for clarifications from MPs that the decision to evacuate Dr. Mwanawasa to France instead of London where he was taken when he suffered his first stroke in April 2006, was arrived at after consultations with doctors in London.

This was after Kabwata Patriotic Front MP, Given Lubinda asked why the President was flown to France instead of London where he was treated in 2006.

In April 2006, Dr. Mwanawasa suffered his first stroke and was evacuated to London where he was treated and fully recovered. The stroke was a mild one, meaning it was not life threatening.

Dr. Chituwo further explained that Percy Military hospital was renowned for treating health conditions related to strokes.

He explained that the minor operation that was carried on Dr. Mwanawasa to improve his breathing was a tracheotomy which is  an incision through the neck into the trachea to assist breathing when the upper airways are blocked and a craniotomy which is meant to facilitate brain surgery.

He was answering to Mandevu MP, Jean Kapata and Chingola MP, Joseph Katema who wanted to know what type of operations were done on the President respectively.

Dr. Chituwo said government was putting in place measures to ensure that the President continued to receive proper care when he returns from Paris.

The minister paid special tribute to Zambians for their unity and prayers during Dr. Mwanawasa’s absence from Zambia.

ENDS/KSH/AM/ZANIS