Chief government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti says there is no one acting as vice President in Zambia.

Mr. Mulongoti said the Vice President, Rupiah Banda carries his position and continues acting as head of state.

He said this is because President Levy Mwanawasa did not appoint anyone to act in the position.

Mr. Mulongoti said Mr. Banda was appointed by President Mwanawasa to act as head of state.

The chief government spokesperson told ZNBC news that minister of defence, George Mpombo is acting leader of government business in Parliament.

INDENI Petroleum Refinery has offloaded six million litres of diesel onto the market to lessen shortages in different parts of the country.

Indeni director-general, Michael Faulkner, said in Ndola yesterday that the company had since Saturday introduced measures to ensure Zambia had sufficient supplies of diesel.

“We have already offloaded two million litres out of which 1.5 million litres are being distributed to different parts of the country by oil marketing companies (OMCs) and have 500,000 litres. An additional four million litres will be released to the OMCs today,” he said.

In an interview shortly after Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima called on him at the refinery plant, Mr Faulkner said the diesel shortages would no longer be justified.

Mr Mbulakulima said following the action taken by Indeni, he was hopeful that the shortages would be addressed.

The minister said there was no justification for some OMCs to continue hoarding the commodity for speculative reasons.

Meanwhile, the flow of diesel in Lusaka yesterday improved although some filling stations ran out of the commodity within hours of being supplied.

Meanwhile, the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has appealed to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and Government to clearly state the fuel supply situation in Zambia and the expected future trends.

Executive director, Songowayo Zyambo said in a statement yesterday that the ZNFU desired a clear statement from the ERB and the Government on the status of fuel supply in the country.

Mr Zyambo said such information would help ZNFU members plan their activities meaningfully.

“The picture portrayed so far is that oil marketing companies are the ones responsible for the erratic supply of diesel.

“We want to know why the OMCs are behaving in this way and whether the ERB and Government are putting in measures to compel OMCs to supply fuel,” the statement reads in part.

Mr Zyambo said ZNFU was concerned about the fuel price increases and the current erratic supply because agricultural activities need a lot of fuel for ploughing, harvesting, spraying and other operations.

He said the wavering supply of fuel was creating much anxiety to the farmers.

However, the ERB explained that the current consignment of fuel that was bought at a higher price necessitated the hike.

ERB board chairperson, Sikota Wina said in a statement yesterday that the other factor that had contributed to the price increase was the exchange rate which represented a depreciation of 4.3 per cent.

Mr Wina said had the Government not reduced tax on fuel in June, the price upward adjustment could have been more severe, at 25 per cent than the current 13.

“Additionally, there was no price increase from October 2007 to March 2008 and a small increment in April 2008 due to the Government subsidy which amounted to K96 billion,” he said.

Dear sissy,

How are you and the family? I am well and love being here at Havard university. Who would have thought a boy from Kalingalinga would land at Havard! I miss my wife and kids though. As you you know I left Mary 7 months pregnant. Please check on her once in a while for me. She isn’t so impressed that I won’t be there when the baby is born and will only get to see the baby when he/she is 3 years old. Its a tough choice I had to make but I think my getting a pHD will eventually pay off.

Okey my little sissy take care and greeting to my brother-in -law and the kids.

Yours Max

Dear Max,

It was nice hearing from you and that you are fine. Indeed,we as a family are proud of your academic achievements. However, you should know that your in laws are very upset that you left Mary heavily pregnant with two other kids to look after. I did go to see her. I think you can tell she is depressed. She feels you value your education more than your family.

Max, I sometimes tend to side with her too. You have hardly spent time with your wife and kids the last 2 years. You just came back from the U.K where you were doing your masters. Your family still stay in a small, dilapidated rented flat in Rhodes Park. Max junior calls you uncle Max instead of Daddy because he’s only spent 1 full year with you, out of his 3 years of existence. Now you are talking of coming back to Zambia after 3 years! Your children will not know you. I hope you will at least be coming for holidays.

Anyway. I hope your pHD brings you much happiness. Sorry for being harsh.You know I love you but sometimes your little sissy has to tell it as it is.Your kids are paying a huge price for your pursuit of a better life. Take care.

love Beauty

(Please feel free to send us your lifestyle stories through the Contact Us link above with the subject Lifestyle and we shall get it published.)

Government says it is saddened by the misinformation and distortion of facts surrounding the health of President, Levy Mwanawasa.

Defence Minister, George Mpombo, said the distortion of facts on President Mwanawasa’s illness should be discouraged due to its potential to breed confusion in the nation.

He advised members of the public should rely on information updates from government as the only authoritative source.

He was speaking in Zambezi district when he officiated at the 26th Lunda Lubanza traditional ceremeony held over the weekend at Senior Chief Ishindi’s Mukandakunda Royal Palace.

He explained that the information updates that government is releasing to the nation is based on factual records obtained from the medical team attending to Dr Mwanawasa at Percy Military Hospital in Paris.

He said doctors attending to Dr Mwanawasa have consistently indicated that that he is making steady progress in his recovery.

He urged the church, the civil society and patriotic Zambians to continue praying for Dr Mwanawasa’s full recovery.

ZANIS/KC/SJK.

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