Government says it happy with existing cordial and warm relations that exists between Zambia and China.

Vice President Rupiah Banda said the Zambia-China relations are at their best with China helping Zambia address some its economic and social challenges.

Mr. Banda commended China for its continued contribution to Zambia’s economic development through investment in mining, agriculture and construction.

The Vice President was speaking when a goodwill Chinese delegation paid a courtesy call on him at his office Wednesday.

Mr. Banda noted that government is amused with the cooperation between the two countries particularly with the establishment of economic zones on the copperbelt.

And Head of Delegation Li Jinjun commended Zambia for being one of the first countries in Africa to establish bilateral relations since independence.

Mr. Jinjun who is also Chinese Vice Minister of International Department of the central committee of the communist party said China is happy that its assistance in the establishing economic zones is bearing tangible results.

He said with approximately 200 Chinese in Zambia, China is the third largest investor in the country.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande who assured the delegation that Zambia will continue to support the one China policy.

Mr. Pande said the relations between the two countries are warm because there is sincerity adding that almost all the support from China has no strings attached.

He noted that the G8 group of countries should seriously consider China as part of the group.

Mr. Pande who is also MMD Vice National Chairman said the MMD looks forward to continued cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the quest to develop the two nations.

And Mr. Jinjun said there is need for the MMD and the CPC to strengthen ties through increased high level visits between the two nations.

Mr. Jinjun invited the MMD to send a delegation of mid and high ranking members to China in order to promote exchange of ideas between the two parties which are ruling parties in their respective countries.

In attendance were Chinese Ambassador Li Qiangmin, Officials from the ruling MMD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ZANIS/BK/ENDS/MM

Local Government and Housing Minister Sylvia Masebo has issued a 24 hour ultimatum to Marketeers trading at Potters Cooperative Market in Livingstone’s Nottie Broadie area to vacate.

Ms Masebo said the marketeers need to vacate the premises within 24 hours or face the wrath of the police.

Ms Masebo who was accompanied by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe was speaking in Livingstone on Tuesday when she made an on the spot check at the area that marketeers have illegally turned into a market in Nottie Broadie.

She maintained that the place where the marketeers were trading from was not a market and that it could not be turned into a market because it was earmarked for something else according to the council Livingstone City Council development plan.

Ms Masebo noted that there was no way marketeers could wake up and decide to allocate a trading place to themselves without the approval of her ministry.

She said if everybody was allowed to turn any place into whatever suited them, that would bring chaos in the country hence the need to follow the laws.

She told the Vice-Chairman at Potters market Samuel Mwaba that he should correctly advise his people to move or they risked loosing their merchandise when the police move in.

Ms Masebo assured the marketeers that she would give the Livingstone City Council extra resources to ensure that Libuyu Tandabale market that has been designated as a new trading site is turned into a habitable place.

” I will give the Livingstone City Council extra resources to turn that market into a habitable place. What is important is that I want laws to be followed. If you say that where the market is there are not toilets, I will give you money.

”Im not for cheap voting now. You will not do anything at will because you are voters. If we dont respect the laws we make, there will be no order in the country,” she said.

Earlier, Potters’s market vice-chairperson Samuel Mwaba pleaded with the Minister to rescind her decision because the bridge in Libuyu was impassable during the rainy season.

He also noted that the marketeers paid K50 million to the owner of the land that they have turned into a market.

Mr Mwaba maintained that the area in Libuyu was not suitable for trading adding that it was also too small to accommodate all marketeers.

But Libuyu Tandabale Market chairman Joseph Kanyanga said the market was not too small and accused the marketeers who have insisted on trading at Potters market of being against the government.

Mr Kanyanga charged that the people who had refused to move to the new Tandabale market were bent on bringing confusion.

The Marketeers were early this year moved from Maramba’s Tandabale market to pave way for the construction of over 60 housing units for police officers.

They were later allocated a new market in Libuyu since the land they were occupying in Libuyu belonged to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
ZANIS/FM/ENDS/MM

Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) National Chairman, Michael Mabenga has reiterated that there is no leadership crisis in the party.

Mr. Mabenga said all the party organs have continued to work together and are praying for the quick recovery of President Mwanawasa.

The MMD National Chairman was speaking at the party secretariate during at a press briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He said people spreading rumors that there is crisis in the MMD should scrap the notion as the party’s operations are normal.

“I want to agree with what the Vice President said in Livingstone yesterday. There is no crisis in MMD. If anything the party has become even stronger as we have united in praying for the quick recovery of our President,” Mr. Mabenga said.

And Mr Mabenga says NEC will soon hold meeting to discuss and resolve amicably the disputes between the National Secretary, Mr Katele Kalumba and Chairman for information and Publicity, Ben Tetamashima in order to avoid bickering in the party..

And Chief government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti has dismissed rumours that before his departure for Egypt, President Levy Mwanawasa left the instruments of power with defence minister George Mpombo.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Information Minister, says Vice President Rupiah Banda is fully in charge of all government functions.

He says Mr. Banda is receiving support from all line ministries in implementing various government programmes.

Mr. Mulongoti was speaking during a live National watch programme on ZNBC TV Monday night.

He assured the nation that cabinet will continue implementing various government programmes despite the Zambian leader’s absence.

[ZANIS]

Dear Womba,

Big sis how are you? Hope your trip to Zambia was nice. I’m really dreading the day I go visit again. Going to Zambia has become a complicated affair!

Last time I went, I bought few chocolates and toys for our brothers kids and clothes for mum and dad. After all I’m only entitled to 20kg on the plane.

A few days after I arrived Dad took me to visit our uncle Robert. I thought they would be happy to see me( being their favourite niece and all ) but instead I got lectured about how stingy it is not to buy presents for your relatives. His wife, who had enthusiastically come to greet me quickly excused herself when she realised I hadn’t bought them clothes. I had R250 in my purse which I gave to uncle out of guilt. That was like adding fuel to a fire. It was only worth something like K40 000 which isn’t worth much!( I didn’t realise the kwacha has little buying power- my bad!)

Thankfully dad sensed the tension and we left. Then our brother Clinton came with his wife and 4 kids to see me.I proudly produced the chocolates and toys I had brought. His wife asked why I had bothered buying the same chocolates they have in Shoprite! Clinton also asked he could have my motorola cellphone. If I was a white person they would have noticed how flushed my face was becoming. Later that evening when mum suggested we go visit our grandparents I broke down. I obviously hadn’t bought gifts for them.

I had travelled to Zambia because I missed being home and missed the family. Instead from the moment I had arrived everyone was looking at me expectantly to see what gifts I had bought.The relatives hardly asked how I was. These are people I missed dearly and couldn’t wait to talk and laugh with again. How am I supposed to clothe the entire clan just because I live abroad? Sissy I felt like I don’t belong there anymore and I also don’t belong abroad ,so where do I belong?

Forgive my emotional outburst but that was my experience. On a lighter note I told my Nigerian friend about it and she said ” Sista, you have to go with 62kg luggage when you go back home. No relative cares about you going to see them, there are enough eyes seeing them back home.They care what you bring!
bye for now
Linda

Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has warned father Miha of the Catholic Church to stop issuing statements against Republican President Levy Mwanawasa and his government.

Mr Mbulakulima issued the warning on Monday afternoon during a press briefing in his office.

He said statements attributed to Father Miha in the media were in bad taste and wondered whether the catholic clergy was misquoted.

” It is important for father Hiha at his age to give a mature and responsible example in issuing statement that were sensible and in the interests of Zambians, ” he said.

However when contacted for a comment Father Miha said he could not react to the minister’s press briefing because he had not read the newspaper article about his concerns.

He said he did not know whether what was attributed to him was what he said or not until he looked at the article.

Father Miha however admitted that he had said the Copperbelt province had been neglected since the first Republican Kenneth Kaunda’s era.

He said that most people on the Copperbelt did not know where the money from the copper mines in the province was going.

However, Mr Mbulakulima said it was also important for the Catholic Church to state its position on Father Miha’s statements.

He wondered whether the Catholic Church could take such a stance against government’s developmental programmes.

The provincial minister said it was common knowledge that the Copperbelt was a huge foreign and local investment destination because of the good and progressive policies of the current government.

He challenged Father Miha to scout for space in the industrial area which was idle becuase most of it has been taken up for various investment activities.

” Father Miha should take time to visit Chingola, Chililabombwe and Kasumbalesa to see for himself the rehabilitated road infrastructure by President Mwanawasa’s administration has put in place as a support measure towards the easy movement of both human and cargo traffic,” said the minister.

He added that the church was the country’s cornerstone because when politicians differed, they found the church as a unifying agent and mediator.

He added that when politicians’ emotions were high, the church was a good forum to cool their emotions and reconcile whose role government appreciated.

He said the Church should not lose its good position in the country by casting doubtful statements from a section of the clergy like father Miha.

He said if the clergy in question was about to retire, he should leave Zambia peacefully.

He said Father Miha would not be welcome if he leaves the country in confusion.

ZANIS/CN/Ends/MM