The National Constitution Conference (NCC) has expressed concern at the growing misrepresentation of its proceedings by stakeholders.

NCC Spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis expressed worry that some sections of society including the media did not understand the proceedings of the NCC thereby giving a distorted image to the public.

Ms. Zaloumis explained that resolutions made by the 11 NCC Committees were subject to further scrutiny and approval by the plenary saying it was sad that some stakeholders including the media were making conclusions from them.

She stressed that no single committee has the authority to pass a binding resolution as portrayed by some stakeholders including the media.

She said all citizens have a constitutional right to comment on the proceedings of the NCC but should do so from an informed point of view in order to avoid misrepresentation and distorting the work of the national constitution making body.

She invited all members of the public to attend sessions of the NCC so that they could have a better understanding of the entire process instead of passing public comments from a point of ignorance.

Ms. Zaloumis observed that it was divisive and misleading to the public if NCC proceedings are deliberately distorted and exaggerated.

She added that it was no wonder that the NCC Chairman admonished the Press for sensationalizing and trivializing serious issues.

Meanwhile, Ms. Zaloumis has dismissed reports from some sections of the media suggesting that two Ministers stormed out of a recent heated debate over the proposal that the republican president should constitute an ad hoc committee to recruit members of the electoral commission.

Ms. Zaloumis explained that Luapula Province Deputy Minister Chrispin Musosha asked for permission to leave the session prematurely as he had an appointment with Katanga Governor Moses Katumbi in Luapula.

She said similarly, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Grace Njapau left early to meet some diplomats.

She added that Health Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma also requested permission to attend to other official duties.

Ms. Zaloumis pointed out that the three Ministers made their contributions so that they could leave earlier to attend other meetings at the on going SMART partnership dialogue.

She said it was distortion of facts to suggest that the three Ministers stormed out of the heated debate.

ZANIS/BK/AM/ENDS

Education Permanet Secretary (PS), Lillian Kapulu, has with immediate effect directed all Provincial Educational Officers (PEOs) in the country to minimize holding workshops and seminars which she said are depleting the treasury of the ministry.

Mrs. Kapulu says workshops and seminars are costly on the part of government and advised that such funds could be channeled to construction of uncompleted school infrastructure in schools.

She observed that most buildings in the education sector were laying uncompleted, thereby disadvantaging the progression of school going children.

The PS said this in Mambwe today when she inspected Matula Basic school where she found Grade 5 and 6 pupils having lessons in makeshift classrooms.

Mrs. Kapulu regretted that children were being subjected to harsh climatic conditions (bad weather) thereby affecting the academic performance of the pupils in the country.

“Lets reduce holding these workshops and seminars because they are just depleting our resources for the ministry. This is the reason we are facing so many challenges of uncompleted buildings in the education sector as if we do not planning and yet we do,” she said.

She said certain decisions are painful to make on the spot but workshops and seminars could be controlled so as to save moneys .

She noted that if the trend continues, it would be very difficult to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on quality education by the year 2015.

And Eastern Province PEO, Pilira Jere complained about the delays in releasing funds by govt to finish uncompleted buildings.

Ms. Jere said inadequate transport to monitor developmental projects in learning institutions was a minus to the education sector.

She said Building Officers in the districts are very determined to work if only govt expedites the release of funds to school infrastructure which needs to be completed.

And Matula Basic school Head Teacher,Ivian Ngoma, appeald to the PS to upgrade Matula Basic school from Grade three to Grade two.

Mr. Ngoma said the growing population in the surrounding area goes to the same school and hence the need for more classrooms to be built.

Meanwhile, Matula school in Mambwe district faces re-location because the school is on the Mfuwe International Airport run-way premises.

Mr. Ngoma said the institution is violating aviation regulations.

And the Education PS, who toured the school, advised school authorities to relocate to other land where government can heavily invest without being questioned.

Mrs. Kapulu reiterated the government’s commitment to developing the education sector in the country and appealed to school managers to remain focused and avail the ministry with the necessary data.

And Mambwe District Education Board Secretary Samuel Phiri said a named traditional leader in the area has released 400 x 400m piece of land for the construction of the high school.

ZANIS/KC/ENDS/EB

The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has commended government for constantly updating the nation on President Mwanawasa’s condition.

Briefing the press in Lusaka today, ZCID Spokesperson, Langton Sichone said the updates by government have been useful to Zambians.

Mr. Sichone pointed out that the updates have calmed the social, political and economic situation in the country.

He said ZCID has continued to pray for the quick recovery of President Mwanawasa adding that they are hopeful that the President will recover soon and continue with his duties.

Meanwhile, the ZCID has paid tribute to political parties in Zimbabwe for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will facilitate the dialogue process.

Mr. Sichone said ZCID recognizes the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and the role that people and the leadership must have in resolving internal problems.

He disclosed that political parties in Zambia through the ZCID platform will however attempt to engage political parties and other stakeholders in Zimbabwe to dialogue in a bid to find lasting solutions to the political crisis in that country.

Mr. Sichone said ZCID will seek for resources and sponsorship to engage in the matter through political parties incorporated in the ZCID.

He charged that the organisation will not create any parallel process but that it is merely it will aim to add value to the continental and regional initiatives of SADC.

“We are conscious of the need not to prejudice any of our member parties’ position but proceed through a path of seeking deeper and better understanding of what transpired in Zimbabwe,” Mr. Sichone said.

The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) is a non-governmental political platform for the Zambian political parties in and outside parliament and was formed in 2003.

ZANIS/YK/AM/ENDS.

Demands from some sections of society for government to make public of President Mwanawasa’s medical bills have been described as cynical and immoral.

Out-spoken clergyman Bishop John Mambo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that such demands should be dismissed because they are lanced with malice.

Bishop Mambo, who is President and Founder of Chikondi Foundation, said the demands are unfair because Dr. Mwanawasa like any other citizen is entitled to medical treatment at tax payer’s expense within the confines of the constitutional entitlement.

He said the money being spent on the treatment of Dr. Mwanawasa should not be an issue at a time when the nation should be pre-occupied with praying for the speedy recovery of President Mwanawasa.

Bishop Mambo further said if the law will at some time stop the State from meeting the medical bills of the President, then well-meaning Zambians should consider setting up a special trust fund.

He said such a facility would allow well-wishers make donations to help meet the medical bills of Dr. Mwanawasa and the upkeep of family members at his bedside.

Some sections of society have been pressing government to disclose the medical bill of Dr. Mwanawasa who suffered a stroke at the African Union summit in Egypt and was later evacuated to Paris, France where he is currently hospitalized at Percy Military Hospital.

Chief Government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has since described such demands as uncalled and inhumane.
ENDS/CM/AM/ZANIS

Dear Womba,

Hope you are well. I need advise. I met this beautiful Lozi girl called Inonge. She is absolutely gorgeous and we have been “going out” for 3months now. 2 weeks ago she told me in passing that her birthday was on the 26th July. However last week I had a big presentation at work then on the 25th I had an interview. So my mind was obviously occupied. On the 26th I met Inonge at Manda Hill like we always do. Sissy I’ve never seen a woman so angry. She obviously saw that I was empty handed.

“Wheres my present!” she yelled.

I told her to chill, I could explain. She went on and on and on.I managed to calm her down after 30minutes. I then escorted her to her elder sisters house. When we arrived there was a sizeable crowd there.Everyone had gifts,flowers -you name it, for Inonge. She beamed with delight. Even her ex boyfriend was there and gave her a huge bouquet of roses. Of course I felt stupid but I’m not going to compete with ex-boyfriends.

This girl is everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman except for this birthday craze. Growing up in our home, a birthday was a personal event- each person remembered his/her own birthday and kept that piece of information to him/herself. It was only disclosed when filling out school forms or getting things like a registration card.I don’t even know if our mother ever remembered our birthdays but it was no big deal. Could we expect her to recall her 10 kids birthdays? Now this woman I’m in love with wants a feast in her honor! I’m supposed to pluck flowers or buy flowers that with die in the next 24 hours.( can you give a girl plastic flowers?) I tried telling her this hullabaloo is all western culture,just like diabetes and cancer are all western culture and we shouldn’t follow blindly. She would hear none of it.
So please explain this birthday culture to me. In this ‘modern’ world will my children suffer psychologically if I don’t celebrate their birthdays?

love Humphrey

Zambian Information Minister, Mike Mulongoti says some corrupt people have taken advantage of President Levy Mwanawasa’s illness to campaign with the intention of assuming power.

The Chief Government spokesperson says such people are busy dishing out money with the hope of achieving their objective.

But Mr. Mulongoti says thieves and corrupt people will never rule Zambia because it is a Christian nation.

He said this at the Redeemed Methodist Church in the capital, Lusaka where the church held a prayer session for the Zambian leader.

Mr. Mulongoti also said ministers will not stop visiting churches to pray for President Mwanawasa even though the action has been criticised by some people.

And Redeemed Methodist Church Trinity congregation pastor in Charge, Reverend Alletty Chibumbe condemned calls by some people that the government should reveal how much money is being spent on President Mwanawasa’S illness.

Reverend Chibumbe said people should worry about life which is more precious than money.

President Mwanawasa is currently admitted in a military hospital in Paris, France after suffering a stroke in Egypt.

[ZNBC]