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

The Minister for Finance is worried that resources released by his ministry are not achieving their intended goals because of certain loopholes.

Ng’andu Magande has urged accountants to detect these loopholes for Government to make improvements in all social economic sectors.

The minister said this in Livingstone in a speech read by Acting Secretary to the Treasury, James Mulungushi.

This was at the Zambia Institute of chartered Accountants ZICA-CIMA Annual Business Conference.

Mr. Magande said Government appreciates the role accountants play in ensuring that resources are channeled to the intended developmental projects.

And ZICA president, Chintu Mulendema said the European Union has given the Institution a 250 thousand Euros grant to establish a monitoring department.

He said the department will be able to monitor professional accountants in the industry.
[ZNBC]

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has received the proposed salary increments for cabinet ministers and top government officials with a deep sense of shock and dismay.

Party President Hakainde Hichilema said at a press briefing today that the proposed increments are a disgrace on the part of government in as far as the management of public resources is concerned.

Mr. Hichilema said the correct thing for government would have been to increase the salaries of the lowly paid civil servants such as teachers, nurses and police officers.

He explained that increasing the salary of a lowly paid civil servant by 15 percent does not justify increasing the salary of an already well paid Minister by the same 15 percent saying the move is an indication of not understanding the principle of fairness and equity in the distribution the country’s income.

He wondered why cabinet has decided to approve hefty salary increments for themselves when they have not implemented various developmental projects under the pretext of not having adequate funds.

Mr. Hichilema noted that government’s statement that parliament will make the final decision on the proposed increments is unacceptable saying under the current parliamentary procedure MPs are not allowed to debate matters which affect them.

He cited government’s refusal to increase the meal allowances and Salaries for University of Zambia students and lecturers respectively as an example of government’s unfair approach to the distribution of Zambia’s resources.

He described the proposed increments which include Ministers’ fuel allowance, vehicle sale, President and Speakers’ pension and gratuity as unacceptable and unjustifiable.

Mr. Hichilema alleged that government did not spend almost K1 trillion from last year’s budget in order to award themselves huge amounts of allowances at the expense of developing the country’s education, health and agricultures sectors among others.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema says government should recapitalize the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) at a commercially viable level.

Mr. Hichilema told journalists at a press briefing today that the current National Agricultural policy is dismal hence the problems being faced at NCZ.

He said there is need for a more explicit and viable policy to improve agriculture in the country.

ZANIS/BK/AM/ENDS