Government says it will apply the outcome of the 2008 Smart Partnership Dialogue towards enriching programmes aimed at achieving Zambia’s Vision 2030 targets.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati, told Journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka today that the Dialogue, which opens on next Monday, will discuss at specific topics that are key to the realisation of Vision 2030 particularly in the areas of energy, mining and agriculture.

Mr Mutati said Zambia will strive to learn from experiences and perspectives of other participating countries with a view to charting the way forward for Zambia to attain significant economic development.

Speaking at the same occasion a Private business sector specialist, John Mair, from the United Kingdom said dialogue on development issues enhances understanding on ways of achieve specific national goals.

Mr Mair said the real value for all participating countries and stakeholders will measured after the interactive dialogue.

And a Zimbabwean Trade Unionist, Isdore Zindonga, called on the media to play a proactive role in disseminating the information emanating from the dialogue.

The 2008 Global Southern Africa International Dialogue takes place in Lusaka from July 28 to 31, under the theme, ‘Smart Partnership in economic development and diversity.’

Seven African Heads of State have so far confirmed attendance out of the 14 who were invited.

The Dialogue will bring together ministers, representatives from civil society, labour movements and academia for informal dialogue on various development issues affecting developing countries.

Meanwhile, Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Clement Siame, says government welcomes private sector partnership in the provision of social services in the country.

Speaking last night when he officiated at the induction dinner of Lions Club of Mansa new President, Ronald Chalwe, Mr Siame said government is determined to sustain enhanced service delivery in the social sector.

Mr Siame indicated that the growing demand for social services has strained the capacity by government to meet social needs hence the need for private sector involvement in meeting the benchmarks.

And Mr Siame has challenged public service workers to become selfless in the execution of their functions because the civil service is the biggest social service provider in the nation.

He also advised people of Mansa to consider joining the Lion Club and other organisations engaged in social work to enable the community derive maximum benefit from the organisation.

Earlier, Lions Governor 413, Luckson Chihana, asked government to consider engaging in permanent partnership with the Lions Club in the promotion of untapped tourism potential in the district.

Mr Chihana expressed happiness at efforts made by the Luapula province government administration in marketing the local tourism administration.

He suggested that the Lions Club could be an effective marketing tool for Zambia’s tourism investment due to its present in over 200 countries on the globe.

ZANIS/ENDS/BK/SJK

Government is determined to make Zambia a credible nation and worthy of investments, Chipata District Commissioner Nicholas Banda has said.

Mr. Banda said this would made possible since Zambia is internationally regarded as a credible investment destination because zero rating to corruption by the new deal government of President Levy Mwanawasa’s government.

He said there is need to fight corruption, which he said does not good for investments as it causes instability of prices commodities and services.

He said economic instability due to corruption renders proper business planning impossible to for investments.

Mr. Banda was speaking Friday during the official opening of a one day workshop by Transparency International (TI) on monitoring, evaluation of projects and corruption to the District Development Coordination Committee (DDCC)members.

He also stated that dishonest businesses and individuals amass huge profits through corruption and evasion of tax at the expense of the less privileged in society.

Mr. Banda appealed to the members of the DDCC to respond to civil society demands for higher levels of integrity and accountability among public officials.

The district Commisioner said in a corrupt economy, prices of goods and services become high and inaccessible to the less privileged.

He called on DDCC members and other public service workers to ensure integrity and transparency in their course of duty.

“Each individual and organization in governance needs to uphold his integrity and continue keeping corruption in check, if it is to be fought,” he said.

Mr.Banda urged participants to increase their understanding of corruption,its challenges and how to overcome them, in order to bring development to the district.

The District Commissioner said the only way that Zambians could help increase investments is by ensuring that they are corruption free as this would instill confidence in would be investors.

ZANIS/HN/CMM/ENDS/MM.

Katanga Province Governor, Moses Katumbi says he supports calls for the Chembe bridge to be named after President Levy Mwanawasa.

Mr. Katumbi has commended the Zambian leader for his initiative to put up a bridge at Chembe between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He also said he has sanctioned the Zambian government to tar the pedicle road.

Mr. Katumbi says his tour of the road and Chembe Bridge is a demonstration of his country’s commitment to working with the Zambian government on various aspects of development.

He was speaking in an interview with Journalists shortly after a delegation meeting between the Zambian and Congolese authorities.

And Works and Supply Deputy Minister, Mundia Ndalamei commended the DRC governor for allowing the Zambian government to tar the pedicle road.

Mr. Ndalamei disclosed that issues that have been discussed with Congolese authorities will be tabled before the Zambian government before entering a Memorandum of Understanding.

[ZNBC]

The Zambian government has described as ill-timed and ill-motivated, the indictment of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande says this is because despite the numerous obstacles in the way of the search for peace in Darfur, there is currently underway an all-inclusive political process sponsored by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (UN).

Mr. Pande notes that the success of all peace initiatives depends on the cooperation of all parties, including the Government of Sudan.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today on Mr. Pande’s address to the ministerial meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, held in Addiss Ababa, Ethiopia, early this week.

Mr. Pande said the timing of the indictment and any further moves to pursue it are not in the best interest of the Darfur and other UN-supported peace process in that country.

He said any further moves by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC to obtain an international warrant against the President of Sudan should hence be suspended together with any already issued warrant against other members of the leadership in that country.

Mr. Pande said many African countries are troubled by the selective manner in which the ICC has been targeting and charging persons accused of crimes against humanity

He said while supports whole-heartedly the court’s activities against impunity, she has trouble comprehending, let alone supporting some of the methods it employs in its operations as well as its timing of cases and motives behind that,” he said.

He said it has been observed that the focus of its investigations has been African despite common knowledge that such crimes are being committed all over the world and by some powerful nations.

Mr. Pande added that the targeting of sitting African Heads of State is particularly offensive.

“For this and other reasons, we find the Court’s indictment of President Omar Al-Bashir of the Sudan improper, ill-timed and ill-motivated. It is our view that the activities of the International Criminal Court on the Sudan constitutes a paradox. This is because the Court is sponsored by the UN, but can be seen to be working against the UN interests in that country,” Mr Pande said.

ENDS/AM/BMK/ZANIS