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ZCTU might press for salary negotiations

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Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has cautioned government to brace for fresh salary negotiations with trade unions following the increase in fuel and food prices.

ZCTU Acting Secretary General Ian Mkandawire said the recent hike of fuel prices will negatively affect workers in the country as the workers expenditure of essential commodities is likely to increase.

Mr. Mkandawire said government and other employers should increase worker’s salaries by the same margin as the increased fuel prices to protect employees from being negatively affected by the soaring oil prices on the world market.

Mr. Mkandawire said government should further consider fully subsidizing the importation of crude oil as a means of cushioning the raising prices of fuel in the country.

He said the current subsidy is not enough as it will not adequately cushion the prices of food and other essential commodities in the country.

And Mr. Mkandawire has appealed to the Secretary to the Cabinet’s Office to speed up the ratification of the collective agreement entered between the University of Zambia and the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU).

Mr. Mkandawire’s appeal follows the threat by UNZA lecturers to strike as reported in one of the daily tabloids today.

He has however called on the UNZA Dons to be patient and engage government calmly into negotiating the way forward on the standing issues between the two parties.

The lecturers at the country’s highest institution of learning have threatened to down their tools on grounds that management has delayed to implement their new conditions of service.

ZANIS/CM/MK/ENDS

Levy ‘s Condition Stable in Percy , French Hospital

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Vice President Rupiah Banda says President Levy Mwanawasa’s condition has remained stable in hospital in France were he was evacuated from Egypt in the early hours of today.

In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Banda said President Mwanawasa is receiving treatment for hypertension in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Percy Military Hospital in the French capital Paris.

First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa and family members are at the President’s bed side.

The Vice President said the nation shall be kept informed on the president’s condition regularly.

President Mwanawasa was this morning evacuated from Sharm El Sheikh hospital in Egypt to France aboard an SOS international air ambulance.

He arrived at the hospital at 02: 50 hours Zambian time.

Mr. Banda said the President was accompanied by two physicians , his personal physician and an air ambulance physician.

Zambian from all walks of life has sent messages of goodwill wishing the president a quick recovery.

Christians and the public at large today attended a prayer meeting at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka to pray for president Mwanawasa’s quick recovery.

The prayer meeting was attended by Vice President Rupiah Banda , second republican president Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina, Cabinet Ministers and their deputies and several senior government and MMD leaders .

Speaking during the interdenominational prayer service Bread of Life Bishop Joe Imakando urged Zambians to put their faith in God as he alone is the healer saying nothing is impossible with God.

Bishop Imakando who read from 2nd Kings 20: 1-5 said Zambia, Africa and the world needs President Mwanawasa hence the holding of the prayer service for the quick recovery of the President.

And Mr. Banda told congregants that Dr. Mwanawasa was evacuated to France from Egypt were he was admitted to Sharma-El-Sheikh Hospital after suffering a stroke in that country.

Mr. Banda called on all Zambians to continue praying for the good health of the Head of State.

Dr. Mwanawasa who travelled to Egypt to attend the 11th Africa Union Heads of State and Government summit suffered a stroke and was admitted to Sharma-El-Sheikh international hospital before he was evacuated to France in the early hours of this morning.

Heritage party president Godfrey Miyanda, FDD President Edith Nawakwi, All people’s congress party president Kenny Ngondo and former vice president Enock Kavindele were also in attendance during the service which lasted for over an hour.

Others present were Deputy speaker of the national assembly Mutale Nalumango, Service Chiefs and members of President Mwanawasa’s family.

Meanwhile his Royal Highness the Litunga Lubosi Imwiko the II , the Kuta and the entire people of Barotseland are saddened by President Levy Mwanawasa’s illness whilst on National duty.

This is according to a press statement signed by the acting Ngambela Mr. Imasiku Lyamunga and made available to ZANIS today.

Mr. Lyamunga said the Litunga and the Barostse Royal Establishment has wished the president God’s divine blessings m, his speedy recovery and quick return home to continue with his leadership of guiding the nation towards economic, social growth and prosperity.

ZANIS/BK/MK/ENDS

Wednesday Zambia Football Update

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Zambia national team goes into camp on July 13 to prepare for their participation in the 2008 Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup in Mpumalanga, South Africa

The Cosafa Cup will be held in Mpumalanga, South Africa from July 24 to August 2 when the quarterfinal knockout stage of the revamped event kicks off.

Faz announced today that the provisional squad will be named next week.

Zambia are on bye from the preliminary round-robin stage of the tournament to take place from July 17 to 19 where the top two will qualify to the final last-8 knockout stage.

Zambia finished runner-up in last years Cosafa Cup after losing 4-3 on post-match penalties following a scoreless draw in the final played at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein in South Africa on October 24.

And in other news, Zanaco midfielder Stophira Sunzu has drop out of Zambia Under-20 training camp in Lusaka to attend trials at French Ligue 2 side Chateauroux.

Sunzu was one of three players recalled to the Under-20 side on Monday by junior head coach Oswald Mutapa.

Zambia Under-20 entered camp today to prepare for the teams Rwanda 2009 Caf Africa Youth Cup 1st round final return leg qualifier against Mauritius to be played in a week’s time.

Strikers Emmanuel Mayuka of Kabwe Warriors including Sunzu’s Zanaco team mate Roger Kola were part of the trio recalled to the 24-member team on Monday.

The three were originally left out of the team following their promotion to the senior squad.

Zambia Under-20 enjoys a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg against Mauritius played on June 29 at Woodland Stadium in Lusaka.

Under-20 team:

Goalkeepers: William Chibale (Lusaka Dynamos), Noah Mwanza (TP Rangers), Kelvin Musonda (Zanaco)

Defenders: Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Boyd Chipeta (Lusaka Dynamos) , Lameck Tembo (Both Lusaka Celtic), Michael Katongo (Kabwe Warriors), Morgan Kaoma (City of Lusaka), Moses Mulambi (Nchanga Rangers), Gift Sakuwaha (Chambishi)

MIdfielders: Tom Bakala (Nchanga Rangers), Henry Banda, Chisamba Lungu (Both Zanaco), John Ching’undu (Zesco United), Evans Musonda (City of Lusaka), Musonda Munaile (Young Zanaco), Derrick Mwansa (Nkwazi), Justin Zulu (Hapoel Be’er-Sheva, Israel), Nathan Sinkala (Green Buffaloes),

Strikers: Roger Kola, Yorum Mwila (Both Zanaco), Daniel Kasongo (Indeni), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Alex Mwiche (Mufulira Blackpool)

No chicken can mature in two weeks, PAZ

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The Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ) has dismissed reports that some unscrupulous poultry farmers were adding certain chemicals to the feed for their chickens to make them mature within two weeks.

PAZ president, Mathews Ngosa, said his association was not aware of such poultry farmers, adding that reports of using some strong chemicals to make chickens mature in a fortnight had no scientific proof.

Mr. Ngosa told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that people uttering false statements about the growing of chickens should stop because these birds can not grow and mature for consumption within to weeks.

On reports that some unscrupulous farmers were using antiretro viral drugs (ARVs) to fatten their chickens, Mr. Ngosa explained that chickens can never be fattened by such drugs because they were meant for human beings and not for birds like chickens.

He has since called on the department of veterinary and livestock control to thoroughly investigate the rumours and come up with comprehensive conclusion in order to avert such serious allegations.

Mr. Ngosa said there was need for both the veterinary department and the livestock control office to provide factual information pertaining to the matter in a bid to protect the name and interests of the poultry industry in the country.

He observed that there were currently a lot of unanswered questions regarding the use of chemicals as chicken feed which could only be answered by the two government departments.

The PAZ president noted that delays in addressing reports of use of chemicals and drugs to feed chickens would alarm the nation, adding that it may lead to the destruction of the Zambian poultry industry.

He said the poultry industry in Zambia was contributing significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) hence the need to protect it.

Mr. Ngosa has however cautioned chicken growers against using what he described as ‘orthodox methods’ to grow their chickens saying such methods may have a negative impact on the poultry industry.

He warned of stern action against people who would use chemicals and ARVs to feed their chickens.

Recently, Zambia Police Head of the Anti-Crack Squad, Solomon Jere, said his squad had impounded imported chemicals that were meant to feed chickens and make them grow within two weeks.

ZANIS/TK/KSH/ENDS

Mgt Buyout only option for NCZ, FDD official

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A politician in Kafue district has proposed a management buyout for Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia, NCZ, as a measure of addressing operational woes at the company.

FDD Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary, James Musemuna, advised workers at the company to propose a management buyout of the company to government before the rampant problem of inadequate operational funds criplle operations at the company.

Mr Musemuna told ZANIS in Kafue today that workers should begin to explore alternative measures of sourcing funds instead of entirely depending on government to secure operations at the institution.

He insisted the need for other stakeholders to come on board and help government and NCZ management identify lasting solution to the problem at the company.

Mr Musemuna also challenged government to fulfil its obligation of timely disbursement of the over K58 Billion recapitalisation fund to the company.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Sara Sayifwanda, last week announced that governmenent would release a total of K58.3 million recapitalisation fund in two weeks time to revamp operations at the company.

Mr Musemuna said NCZ was still viable institution that only required support from government to suatain operations.

ZANIS/BS/EML/ENDS/SJK

LusakaTimes hits reach 1.14m for June.

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By Lusaka Times Reporter

Zambia’s new media online publication Lusaka Times received 1.14 million (1 142 059 ) hits for the month of June. This represents the highest record of visit hits since the web site launch in January 2007.

Lusaka Times is an online newspaper that aims to provide Zambian news for free as it breaks on a consistent basis, and give its readers the opportunity to comment on the issues raised in the content.

Lusaka Times Online board member Timothy Kasonde Kasolo said the 1.14 million hit mark represents a great achievement for the team adding that the group is committed to adding more value to the experience our readers have every time they visit the site.
“We are happy that we have reached the 1 million hits mark in just a short period of time. We have been in existent for less than one and a half years. We thank our readers who have made this possible and we don’t take their contribution for granted. We continue to do everything in our capacity to improve on quality and timely delivery of Zambian content to their browsers,” Kasolo explained.

He added that Lusaka Times Online has taken advantage of the innovation of using the available and appropriate technology in order to add value to the development of new media technology in Zambia.

“Our site runs purely on modern technology based on web 2.0. The 1 million hit mark symbolizes that Lusaka Times Online readers both in Zambia and in the Diaspora want to be informed on what is happening in their own country in a timely manner and that they have an opinion on the issues in Zambia,” Kasolo explained.

He further explained that Lusaka Times Online is still working on some more innovations to bring to the site in the next six month so that the site becomes a primary source of information on business, politics, sports, economy, lifestyle and many more categories. The aim is to provide the best and consistent online content on Zambia.

“When it comes to innovation we are there, we want the site to be the primary source of information on Zambian content. Currently there are still a number of challenges that we face in terms of the quality of content, learning new bad words for our comment filter system on a daily basis and ability to produce good quality football league tables on the fly,” Kasolo added. “These are the issues we are working on in the next six months and with high traffic we might have to improve our comments flood control system to avoid the ‘slow down you are posting too fast error’“

Alleged Rapists Tongue Sliced

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A 23-year-old man of Mfungwe Village in Paramount Chief Chitimukulu’s area in Mungwi District has had his tongue sliced-off by a woman he attempted to rape.

The incident happened last week when the man tried to kiss the woman whilst trying to have unlawful sex with her.

The man identified as Emmanuel Mulenga, was initially admitted to Kasama General Hospital, but has since been discharged after undergoing treatment on his injured tongue.

Local police who revealed the development to ZANIS in Kasama, said the man would be formally charged with attempted rape after his release from hospital.

The police said the fact that the suspect had his tongue cut-off during the attempted rape was enough prove that the man had intent to commit a crime.

Recently, Northern Province Commanding Police officer Charles Lungu said the police were still waiting for the suspect to be discharged from hospital before slapping him with an appropriate charge.

Mr. Lungu said the suspect was kept under police guard while receiving treatment on his tongue at the hospital.

He further explained that the woman managed to escape the sexual ordeal after she bit her assailant’s tongue as he tried to kiss her.

The suspect would appear in court soon for attempted rape.

ZANIS/WS/MK/ENDS

AU Mandates SADC on ZIM

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The 11th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) has recommended that Southern African Development Community (SADC),s mediation efforts in Zimbabwe should continue in order to assist the people and the leadership of Zimbabwe resolve their political problems.

The AU said SADC under the leadership of President Levy Mwanawasa should establish a mechanism on the ground to quickly find a negotiated solution to the problems in Zimbabwe.

This is contained in the draft resolution on Zimbabwe, released towards the closure of the two-day AU Egypt summit.
ZANIS reports The African heads of state said they were happy with the willingness of political leaders of Zimbabwe to enter into negotiations to etstablish a government of national unity.

They urged President Mugabe and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue in order to promote peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation of the Zimbabwean people.

The African heads of State said they supported calls for the creation of a government of national unity in Zimbabwe and were happy that discussions on this matter had already started under the facilitation of SADC.

The presidents appealed to states and all parties concerned to refrain from any action that may negatively impact on the climate of dialogue.

“In the spirit of all SADC initiatives, the AU remains convinced that the people of Zimbabwe will be able to resolve their differences and work together once again as one nation provided they receive undivided support from SADC, the AU and the world at large,” the draft resolution said.

They registered deeply concerned over loss of life and negative reports of SADC, the AU and the Pan-African Parliamentary observers on the Zimbabwean Presidential run-off elections held on June 27 this year.

They commended SADC, South African President Thembo Mbeki and the chairperson of AU Jean Ping for their on-going work aimed at reconciling the political parties in Zimbabwe.

The leaders recognised however that the political situation in Zimbabwe was very complex to deal with.

ZANIS/MB/MK/ENDS

Kansanshi Mining Plc Empowers Locals

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Kansanshi Mining plc has embarked on a bio-diesel project planting jatropha trees to reduce poverty among people living in the mining peripheral.

Kansanshi Mining plc Environmental Manager, Richard Zyambo disclosed during the stakeholders meeting held at Floriana Lodge in Solwezi today.

Mr. Zyambo said the company has purchased 8000 jatropha seeds to be planted by peasant farmers in the mining areas.

He said the project has also been extended to out grower schemes to the surrounding communities of Kabwela and Mushitala.

He disclsoed that last season , 100,000 trees were planted in the mining plantation.

Mr. Zyambo however said the company could not achieve the outgrower target of 200,000 trees due to lack of commitment by the farmers who could not utilize the seeds which they got.

He urged farmers living in areas that are either disturbed by water logging or charcoal burning to take keen interest in growing jatropha plants as this will enable them generate income and shift their attention from charcoal burning.

He added that the company is in the process of revamping the bee keeping project to assist the farmers.

Mr. Zyambo said jatropha is a source of energy which has less environmental impact hence the need for all stakeholders to support the project and safeguard the environment.

Meanwhile, Chief Mumena expressed concern at the growing number of illegal chacoal burning in the district a situation he described as worrying as it is depleting the environment.
ZABNIS EC/MM/SC/MK/ENDS

Zambia drops on FIFA ranking

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Zambia has in June lost three points to slump down to 14th position in Africa from 11th last month.

ZANIS reports FIFA/ Coca Cola continental rankings showing that Zambia has in the month of June scored 462 points from 465 points the senior team had in May.

The senior chipolopolos boys have in the month of June lost three vital points to take the 70 th position in the world with 462 points on the FIFA world rankings.

Cameroon still leads the table as the best team in Africa and has attained three more points to 1041 points followed Ghana who have 986 points although the latter has dropped three points.

On the world rankings, the West African giants are the 13 th in the world having attained 1041 points and are 55 points ahead of the 2008 Confederation of African (CAF) championships hosts Ghana, who lost two points to end the month of June with 986 points.

The 2008 Africa champions, Egypt are on the third best African country having gained seven points to be at 848 points.

The Pharaohs are 23 best in the world with 848 points having gone up seven points.

Cote D’viore is on fourth position having lost three points and 10 points less than the Pharaohs but are ahead of Nigeria and Morocco who have both attained five points to have 709 and 690 points, respectively.

Guinea is seventh best in Africa with 679 points having dropped a point and are followed by Senegal and Mali who have 667 and 630 points, respectively.

North African giants Tunisia are on 10 th position with 594 points while Angola and Bafana Bafana of South Africa are 11th and 12th best in Africa with 556 and 556 points, respectively.

Neighbouring Zimbabwe and Mozambique are neck to neck on 18th and 19 th position and have scored 367 and 344 points, respectively.

Trailing the table are Somali and Central African Republican with no points at all probably due to the continued war situations in there.

On the world rankings, Argentina is still the best in the World closely followed by their neighbour Brazil at 1559 and 1513 points although the latter has lost five points.

2008 World Cup champions , Italy are third best in the world having attained 28 points to end the month of May with 1424 points.

Spain who the new Europeans champions having beaten tough tested German by a lone goal, Sunday, have lost 20 points on the FIFA rankings to be fourth with 1274 points.

German closely follows them at 1274 points having attained 10 points in May. The Netherlands is the 10th best trailing England at 1111 and 1123 respectively.
ZANIS/MM/ENDS

Levy Evacuated to France for Specialist Treatment

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President Levy Mwanawasa has been evacuated to Paris , France for further specialist medical treatment.

Vice President Rupiah Banda disclosed the development to ZANIS in a press statement last evening.

Mr. Banda said President Mwanawasa was seen off by Egyptian Minister of Health Dr. H Elgabaly , Zambia Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande , Tourism Minister Michael Kaingu , Local government and housing Minister Sylvia Masebo.

Others that saw him off included Justice Minister George Kundu and Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani.

Dr. Mwanawasa is accompanied by First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa , his daughter , Chipo , Health Minister Dr. Brian Chituwo and State House Minister for Presidential Affairs Cecil homes

Mr. Banda however said Dr. Mwanawasa’s condition still remains stable.

Dr. Mwanawasa on Sunday suffered a stroke in Egypt were he was attending the two day 11th Africa Union (AU) Heads of States and Government summit that closed today.

He was hospitalized in El Sheikh International hospital were he was being attended to by doctors.

Mr. Banda said Egyptian president Hosni Mubaraki, Tazanian President Jakaya Kitwete , Ghanaian President John Kufuor, Malawi’s Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika and Namibia Hifikepunye Pohamba visited Dr. Mwanawasa in hospital.

Meanwhile Mr. Banda said government has continued to receive several messages wishing Dr. Mwanawasa a speedy recovery from various heads of state and government.

And the Bishops Fellowship of Lusaka will tomorrow hold a national prayer meeting for President Levy Mwanawasa’s healing .

The Bishops said in a press statement in Lusaka today that the prayer meeting will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross at 14 hours.

The Bishops are urging all Christians and members of the public to attend the prayer meeting to pray for president Mwanawasa who is hospitalized in Egypt .

And the MMD in Northern Province have engaged in prayers for the quick recovery of President Levy Mwanawasa who suffered a stroke in Egypt on Sunday.

MMD provincial vice secretary Jairus Simunyola made the disclosure in press statement released to ZANIS in Kasama today.

He said the party in the province has received the illness of President Mwanawasa with great shock and sadness.
Mr. Simunyola urged Zambians to continue praying for President Mwanawasa so that he could recovery quickly and move the country forward in development.

Mr. Simunyola said President Mwanawasa is key to Africa’s development as he is a proponent of peace and unity among African countries.

He hoped that the President’s would recovery quickly so that he can help in resolving the problems being faced on the Africa continent and the world as whole.

ZANIS/MK/ENDS.

Attainment of good water supply and sanitation still a big challenge-Levy

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Most African countries are finding difficulties to score remarkable achievements towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on water and sanitation by 2015 because of the ever increasing urban populations.

In a speech read for him by Finance and National Planning Minister, Ng’andu Magande at the ongoing African Union summit in Egypt, President Mwanawasa said internal and external conflicts Africa has been experiencing were also making it difficult for the continent to achieve the MDGs.

Dr Mwanawasa said it was easy to focus on water and sanitation in peaceful environments, and very difficult to do so in conflict areas.

He said conflicts on the continent were resulting in displacement of people thereby making it difficult for them to access basic social facilities such as water and sanitation.

Dr. Mwanawasa said that some countries in Africa have performed better while others still lag behind in meeting their developmental goals.

He said Africa could not claim to have registered economic growth if the majority of its people lacked access to water and sanitation services.

The President said sanitation was key to sustainable social and economic development as lack of it could cause misery through disease and ill-health thereby reducing productivity.

Although there have been pronouncements at national, regional and continental level on how to tackle sanitary issues, there has been no meaningful and visible progress in addressing the problem.

In the case of Zambia, Dr. Mwanawasa observed that proper development of sanitation and water supply infrastructure was being hampered by unplanned urban settlements which were attracting scores of the rural poor.

This made it difficult and costly for local authorities to provide adequate water and sanitation services to the communities.

Dr. Mwanawasa said well planned urban and peri-urban settlements would provide solutions to sanitation and water supply problems the continent was currently experiencing.

"In this regard, I call upon the African Union to support capacity building in the area of urban planning and development," President Mwanawasa said.

Dr. Mwanawasa said with a population of 11.6 million, four million of whom live in urban areas, the sanitation problem in Zambia was still a major challenge.

In 2004, the country's national coverage for water supply stood at 53 percent while sanitation stood at 23 percent.

The president said the country has since embarked on the development of integrated national programmes to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene in rural, urban and peri-urban areas and set targets of 60 percent for sanitation and 75 percent for water to be achieved by 2015.

He said the programmes would continue to be implemented until the country attained "universal coverage" by the year 2030".

Dr. Mwanawasa said through these programmes, the country intended to alleviate the suffering of the people and contribute to poverty reduction.

The 11th Ordinary session of the AU Heads of State and Government summit opened yesterday in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh.

The summit is scheduled to officially close today.

[ZANIS]

UPND wishes Levy a quick recovery

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The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has wished President Levy Mwanawasa a quick recovery.

Dr. Mwanawasa on Sunday suffered a stroke while on national duty in Egypt and was subsequently admitted to Sharm-El-Sheikh International Hospital in that country.

UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema, said the general membership, staff and management of his party have been saddened with the illness of Dr Mwanawasa in Egypt.

Mr. Hichilema said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the President’s illness has come at a wrong time when the whole world was looking to him as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to provide leadership over the political crisis in Zimbabwe.

He said there were several other issues at home and in the SADC region which Dr Mwanawasa should attend to hence the prayer for him to recover quickly.

Mr. Hichilema has since urged other political parties and the Christian community in the country to continue praying for the speed recovery of the President.

Dr. Mwanawasa’s condition has been described as stable.

[ZANIS]

Maamba/Batooka road to cost K26 billion for rehabilitation

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The Road Development Agency (RDA) has awarded a K26 billion contract to Reubex Construction Company to do the periodic maintenance of the Maamba/Batooka road.

RDA Public Relations Officer Royce Saili told ZANIS in Sinazongwe that the contractor would work on the 88 Km road.

Ms. Saili said the scope of the work would include edge repairing, surface dressing, Asphat overlay on limited sections of the road, and road making.

She said the contractor was expected to complete the work in eight months and has already started mobilising materials and equipment to be used on the site.

The Public Relations Officer said RDA would ensure that all the temporal bridges that were put up during the last season’s floods would be worked on.

In February RDA Acting Director Erasmus Chilundika disclosed that Maamba/Batooka road was advertised for reconstruction because it had outlived its usefulness.

He said despite the floods that had washed away culverts and cut of the entire district from the rest of the country, the road had reached a rehabilitation stage.

CEEC to Commence the Disbursement of Funds

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The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission- CEEC will next month begin the disbursement of empowerment funds to all provinces of the country.

This is in conformity with the directives issued by President Levy Mwanawasa and Commerce and Trade Minister Felix Mutati in March this year that the Commission should embark on disbursing funds within six weeks.

CEEC Chairman Jacob Sikazwe announced today at a press briefing that the funds accessed from the Commission will be strictly be for productive purposes and not social investments saying all applicants must be registered entities among other regulatory requirements.

He revealed that each province will be allocated an initial K10 billion from which 40 percent will be accessed by targeted citizens who include women, youths, physically disabled and people living with HIV and AIDS, saying the balance will then be accessed by all other citizens.

The CEEC Chairman explained that the remaining K60 billion will be approved within each province through a process guided by the Commission and that nay project above K50 million will be forwarded to the Commission for appraisal and approval.

Mr. Sikazwe said the commission has achieved a number of milestones with the roll out of the empowerment programmes

He cited the recently launched guideline to developing economic empowerment sector codes as another milestone achieved by the Commission in its work to empower the Zambian Citizens.

On the existing applications that the Commission received from the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) , the CEEC Chairman explained the applications would be referred to the provinces for appraisal and disbursement using the CEEC criteria and threshold.

Mr. Sikazwe said new applications must conform to the empowerment guidelines, among them being the need for the projects to be commercially viable and meeting CEEC criteria.

Other guidelines include compliance with all relevant laws and regulations in the particular area such as environmental impact assessment and job creation among others.

Sustainability and exit strategy development fund and good corporate governance are also among some of the guidelines demanded by CEEC on all new applications.

Mr. Sikazwe assured members of the public that the guidelines will be published in the public media in the next two weeks and will further be rolled out to all provinces and districts.

And Mr. Sikazwe stressed that improvement on the repayment culture is cardinal if the empowerment fund is to be sustained as a revolving fund.

He has since urged all those who will borrow from the fund to pay back so that other citizens benefit.

He noted that the success of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Policy depends on the support and participation of all Zambians through hard work.

Government approved seed money to the empowerment fund of about K150 billion which includes pooled funds from the various ministries and the 2008 budget allocation.

The Citizens Economic Empowerment is a broad based multifaceted programme aimed at ensuring the participation of targeted citizens in Zambia and is based on nine pillars of equity, ownership, management and control, skills development, access to finance, transformation of society and foreign direct investment among others.

ENDS/CBM/MK/ZANIS/………..DRY

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