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UPND to field Chimwala Phiri in Milanzi

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The United Party for National Development (UPND) will field Chimwala Phiri for the forthcoming Milanzi Constituency parliamentary by election.

Briefing the press in Lusaka today, UPND acting party president Richard Kapita said the party endorsed Mr. Phiri following exhaustive consultations with local party members.

Mr. Kapita expressed confidence that UPND would scoop the Milanzi seat because its candidate is the best representative of the people of Milanzi and is popular in the area.

And Mr. Phiri said he is very happy to be associated with a party that has a clear vision of how to develop the country.

Mr. Phiri disclosed that a number of political parties approached him to stand on their party tickets but that he chose the UPND because it has an established and mature leadership.

He expressed confidence that he will scoop the seat because he commands tremendous support from the people of Milanzi.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set June 28 for the election.

The Milanzi parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of area Member of Parliament Chisoni Njovu.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kapita has disclosed that party president Hakainde Hichilema is in China to learn how that country is successfully managing its economy.

Mr. Kapita said China has initiated rural projects that are helping to improve the livelihood of the rural population, hence UPND wants to ensure that Zambians living in rural areas benefit from such initiatives.

He said the UPND president will meet top officials in that country to discuss a range of issues.

And answering questions from journalists during the briefing, Mr. Kapita said the 50 percent plus one threshold for the election of the Republican President is welcome.

He said a popular president should be elected by the majority of the people from across the country not only from one region.

Don’t use mosquito nets to catch fish

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Government says the distribution of 50,000 insecticide treated nets (ITNs) in Namwala district of Southern province has significantly reduced the rate of malarial cases.

And Namwala District Commissioner, Eunice Nawa, has warned people against using mosquito nets to catch fish instead of using them to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

Officiating at the World Malaria Day, whose theme is “Malaria, a disease without borders”, Ms. Nawa, told the gathering to use the distributed mosquito nets for the intended purposes.

Ms. Nawa said it was therefore important for the community in the district to fully support government’s efforts to eradicate malaria countrywide.

“Malaria is a disease which affects us all in our society. This means that we need to work together in order to eliminate the suffering brought about by malaria in our community,” she said.

She said some members of the public were using the ITNs as fishing nets, which she said was total misuse of the mosquito nets.

“Of late I have received many reports of people using the ITNs to catch fish which is a very sad development indeed,” she said.

Ms. Nawa since ordered the fisheries department to bring to book all those using mosquito nets for catching fish.

She said government attached great importance to the elimination of malaria in the country and thus has put malaria programmes among its top priorities.

“The onus is on us to fully support these programmes put in pace by government,” she added.

PSC warns against tribalism in employment

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The Public Service Commission has warned human resource managers in the civil service against being tribal when awarding jobs to people.

Commission Chairperson, Austin Mweemba said tribalism in job appointments was prevailing in most African countries, adding that this weakened government operations.

Mr. Mweemba said most people employed on tribal lines usually lacked necessary qualifications for the jobs they were appointed to do.

He said appointing officers should recommend people for employment on the basis of qualifications and talent and not on tribal lines.

He said this when he addressed provincial heads of departments at Nakatindi hall in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mweemba said government needed the best talent available to run its machinery, noting that tribal appointment would not be condoned.

He further advised appointing officers to desist from taking long to recommend people for confirmation.

Mr. Mweemba lamented that most human resource managers in the country were not doing a good job by not fostering promotions and confirmations to public service workers.

He noted that some people have been working in the public service as casual workers for many years without being confirmed.

He added that human resource managers should inspire and motivate workers by promoting officers with necessary qualifications to higher positions.

Mr. Mweemba said his commission was ready to recommend people, who have the necessary qualifications to the Public Service Management Division.

Meanwhile, The Public Service Commission has been prodded not to compromise on academic qualifications and competency when employing civil servants.

Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani says academic qualifications and competency is key to the efficiency of the public service.

Mr. Mangani was speaking when Public Service Commission Chairperson Austen Mweemba paid a courtesy call on him.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Mweemba expressed concern at the attitude of some civil servants towards work.

Mr. Mweemba said it was sad that despite possessing the right qualifications, some civil servants had a negative attitude towards work.

He pointed out that an efficient and committed civil service is an engine of government operations.

And Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Elijah Chisanga appealed to civil servants to change their work culture.

Mr. Chisanga said government is in a hurry to move the nation forward.

He further appealed to new entrants in the civil service to learn and understand the way the civil service system operates.

Powerful Kwacha boosts cross border trade

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The appreciation of the Zambian Kwacha has boosted cross border trade at Nakonde border in Northern Province.

A snap survey carried out by the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS)in Nakonde today revealed that the slight appreciation of the Kwacha against some major foreign currencies in the past week has boosted cross border trade.

Some goods across the border at Tunduma in Tanzania have been reduced by between five to eight per cent.

Prices of clothes have been reduced by between K10,000 and K15,000 while the cost of strong iron sheets has been reduced by K8,000 from K48,000 to K40,000 and less than K40,000 in some shops.

The cost of Tanzanian cement has also reduced from K49,000 to K40,000 per pocket.

However, the sale of food stuffs in both Zambia and Tanzania have remained constant with the cost of rice, stable food in Tanzania, still being sold at K70,000 per 18 kilogram bag.

Maize grain in Nakonde is costing K23, 000 per 20 litre tin.

The price of irish potatoes has also remained the same at K17, 000 per 20 litre tin.

Cross border traders talked to said most of the goods across the border are likely to go further down as the Zambian kwacha was expected to gain more in the coming months.

A Zambian cross border trader, Chrisptopher Simukonda, said the nation’s economy is growing steadily and going at the rate at which things stand now in the country, the Kwacha is likely to gain more buying power against some major foreign currencies.

Mr Simukonda said had it not been for the serious floods which had affected most parts of the country coupled with the electricity loading shedding, Zambia’s economy would have registered more positive gains than the current situation.

Mr Simukonda also appealed to the government to investment more in energy generation so as to overcome the current power outage which he said would affect the growth of the nation’s economy in the long run.

Govt supports aviation industry

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Finance Ng’andu Magande has reaffirmed government’s commitment to effectively contribute to the development of the aviation industry.

Mr. Magande said the performance of the aviation industry is a perfect example of private sector development in the country.

The Finance Minister was speaking when he launched the Zambian Airways Business plan.

Mr. Magande noted that the launch of the plan by the Airline symbolised Government’s efforts to empower its citizens through private sector participation and development.

He said Zambian Airways has always continued to grow into a regional force in the aviation sector despite encountering a lot of challenges along the way.

Zambia Airways Chief Executive, Mutenbo Nchito said the new business plan is aimed at providing a relaxing and comfort atmosphere for business people on both international and local flights.

Meanwhile, the National Airports Corporation (NAC) has spent K3.4 billion to upgrade air navigation services in the Zambian Airspace.

NAC Public Relations Manager, Geofrey Chipolyonga said the corporation has implemented the Remote controlled Ground to air communication system to address the existing air to ground communication deficiencies.

The new equipment at the LUSAKA international Airport was installed by a South African company called – Grinteck Aviation.

Mr. CHipolyonga said NAC will now be able to accommodate future Aeronautical Communication requirements such as controller and pilot data link communication.

Levy to secure K44bn for UNZA

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President Mwanawasa has pledged to secure K44 billion from the national treasury to help resolve the stand-off between University of Zambia management and unionised staff over insufficient funding to the institution.

UNZA Public Relations Officer, Stanslous Chewe said President Mwanawasa held a meeting with management at State House where he promised to provide additional resources to the institution.

Mr. Chewe told ZNBC news that Dr. Mwanawasa met UNZA management early this week over the matter.

He disclosed that the President made an undertaking to ensure an initial K20 billion is quickly given to the University.

Government had allocated K74 Billion to UNZA in this year’s national budget.

And Mr. Chewe has appealed to the three unions to call off their indefinite go-slow in order to pave the way for negotiations for improved conditions of service.

But the three unions at the Great East Road Main campus have vowed to continue with the go-slow.

The University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU), the University of Zambia Allied Workers Union (UNZAAWU) and the University of Zambia Professional Senior Staff Association (UNZA PRO-SA) have withdrawn their services to press for increased funding.

Terence Findlay convicted of Assault

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The Ndola Magistrate Court has convicted suspended ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Copperbelt province chairman, Terence Findlay after finding him guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Findlay 43, has since been sentenced to nine months simple imprisonment and ordered to pay a fine of K5 million.

Meanwhile, the same court has acquitted Findlay of two of the three charges which he was facing.

Findlay was facing charges of rape, unlawful possession and distribution of obscene matter and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Delivering judgement Thursday, Ndola Principal Resident Magistrate, Chilombo Phiri said the evidence adduced in court on the charge of assault was sufficient enough and collaborative to warrant the accused a conviction.

Ms. Phiri therefore found the accused guilty as charged and convicted him.

In relation to the charges of rape and unlawful possession and distribution of obscene material
the court acquitted Findlay saying there was no collaborative evidence to prove the charges.

Magistrate Phiri explained that the rule regarding sexual offences was that there must be collaboration in the evidence before the court for it to convict.

She said however that it could still convict in the absence of collaboration if there was something special.

She explained that in the case of Findlay, the court could not act on the uncollaborated evidence because even the medical report, which was critical in the
case, could not confirm the case of rape.

Ms. Phiri has since acquitted Findlay of the two charges of rape and unlawful possession and distribution of obscene matter.

In mitigation, Findlay, through his lawyer Paulman Chungu, asked the court to exercise leniency on him as he was a first offender.

He said both him and the complainant knew each other very well, adding that the incident which led to the assault was unfortunate.

He further pleaded to the court to consider that the assault for which he was charged was not fatal as the complainant did not even seek medical attention.

Facts before the court were that, Findlay was on unknown dates but between May 1, 2007 and June 2, 2007, allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old girl of Ndola.

He was further alleged to have, between May 28th and June 3rd 2007, unlawfully distributed obscene matter in form of a disc labelled Bwaski , to the same named girl.

He was further alleged to have on June 2nd, 2007, assaulted her by burning her on the left buttock with a cigarette lighter.

CB Millers to blame for Shortages

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Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima, says millers withholding maize stocks are responsible for the artificial shortage of mealie meal in some districts in the province.

And Mr Mbulakulima said Chambeshi storage shed on the Copperbelt has adequate stocks of maize and people should not panic.

The minister was responding to a press query on the shortage of breakfast mealie meal in Mufulira district.

Mr Mbulakulima said some millers have withheld their maize stocks with the view to create an artificial shortage so that they force the price of the mealie meal on the market to rise.

The minister added that government is aware of some people who want to create this situation and take advantage to alarm the people that there is a shortage of maize when it is not true.

He noted that millers blamed the power outages for not producing enough mealie meal but the problem was addressed by government and now they want to withhold the maize.

Mr Mbulakulima said as a province all measures have been put in place to ensure that the commodity is available in all the districts and the issue of mealie meal running out should not arise.

Mufulira district has had no breakfast mealie meal since last week. Some retail outlets are claiming that the suppliers have run out of maize.

Midweek Scorecard

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Grey clouds are gathering after five rounds of matches have been played over the Faz Premier League landscape with the pressure slowly bearing down on two trainers.

Zanaco and Power Dynamos coaches are feeling the heat  as the storm gathers over the horizon after stuttering starts to the still month and a half old league campaign.

Zanaco’s unconvincing form under Coach Wesley Mondo has continued after suffering their second straight league loss on Wednesday following their 1-0 away defeat to league leaders Young Arrows on Wednesday.

The defeat was also Zanaco’s third this season and number 2 in a roll after going down by the same margin in another away league match this time to Roan United last Saturday.

Zanaco’s recent poor form wiped-out Mondo’s team brief two-match respite that saw them bounced back after Power crushed them 5-0 in their week 1 game on March 15.

“Our form is unbelievable and it hurts even more that we have lost to a team like Young Arrows who have never beaten us before in the league,” Zanaco assistant coach Kelvin Kaindu said.

Zanaco are just above the drop zone in 12th place and this Saturday host fellow strugglers Chambishi who are just below them in 13th place and a point behind them on 5 points.

Power on the other hand have revealed that head coach Fodson Kabole’s job is safe despite a poor start to the new season.

The statement comes on the back of Wednesdays 3-0 home loss to Green Buffaloes in Kitwe.

Rumors abound of Power players over-celebrating in the run-up to the game against Buffaloes with a two-day post-victory party that commenced just after the teams big 1-0 win over Zesco United last Saturday.

This is after Power ended a three-match losing streak before returning business as usual against Buffaloes in mid-week at Arthur Davies that was greeted with vitriol from their hard-to-please fans.

Power host Young Arrows this Saturday.

Another defeat this time to unbeaten Young Arrows will put Kabole in a difficult situation.

Power’s poor current comes almost 11 months after Kabole took over at Power whom he helped steer from 12th position in May, 2007 to finish the season in 3rd at the end of that campaign.

Faz Premier League

23/04/2008

Week 2

Young Arrows 1(J.Mkandawire 48″ pen) – Zanaco 0

Week 4

Kabwe Warriors 0-  Zesco United 0

Power Dynamos 0 –  Green Buffaloes 3(Reuben Tembo 2″ 28″, Brian Chilando 66″)

TOP SCORERS

After games Played 23/04/2008

LEAGUE, INTL & CUP:

Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes):5

Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors): 4

William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos): 3
Nicholas Zulu (Zesco United): 3
Francis Kombe (Power Dynamos): 3
Morgan Hanjeema (Green Buffalkoes): 3

Kruger Mwansa (Young Arrows) : 2
Simon Bwalya (Power Dynamos): 2
Lottie Phiri (Zesco United): 2
Mathew Macha (Nchanga Rangers): 2
Sebastian Mwansa (Green Buffaloes): 2
Wilson Mutupa (Green Buffaloes): 2

Zambian girl abused in America

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A seven year old girl, who was taken for specialized surgical operation in the United States of America, is said to have suffered abuse and is now living in a deprived state, her foster parents have revealed.

The foster parents, Rodgers and Sandra Wykelund, revealed this to Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Jennipher Musonda, when she visited Emmas Kids Orphanage in Mufulira on a fact finding mission.

The Wykelunds told Ms Musonda that the named girl has been denied her return to Zambia by an American couple who claim to have adopted her after her successful surgeries.

According to the Wykelunds, the girlis being abused by the couple and she is living in a deprived state as they (Wykelunds) have no contact with her as foster parents for two years now.

It is alleged that Beatrice has been turned into a media show piece in American by the couple where over 200 pictures of her before surgery have been reportedly taken and being used to raise money for the same couple.

Ms Wykelund who returned from America last week said efforts to get girl from the couple, which she did not name, has became difficult because the couple claim they have adopted her legally under the American law and the matter is before the courts in that country.

The girl’s stay in America was based on the premise that she undergoes a surgical operation to rectify her facial deformity and thereafter return home.

The foster parents are now seeking the intervention of the Zambian government to have the girl return home.

The Wykelunds are running Emmas Kids Orphanage in Mufulira with over 200 children, mostly former street children.

And Ms Musonda said her office will compile a report on the matter to government through the Ministry of Community Development and social wServices to enable the girl return home.

The PS stressed that the girl is Zambian and it is not possible for a foreign family to take advantage of the situation to adopt her without the consent of government.

American national deported

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The Immigration Department has deported a 27 year old American national after serving his jail sentence for trafficking in psychotropic substances.

Immigration Public Relations Officer Mulako Mbagweta told ZANIS in Lusaka today that Kimmel Daron Vincent who served as a peace corps was deported via the Lusaka international airport on an Ethiopian airline to his country of origin.

She added that earlier Mr. Vincent had been convicted by the Mpika Magistrate Court for trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 6 of Cap 96 of the laws of Zambia.

Ms. Mbagweta explained that after serving the sentence for an undisclosed period of time Mr. Vincent was them handed over to the immigration department for deportation.

She has since urged security wings to continue submitting details of arrested foreign nationals to the department to enable it facilitate their deportation upon serving their sentence or any other punitive actions against.

Meanwhile the immigration department public relations officer has disclosed that the 26 Onshore construction workers who are Indian nationals who protested against their employers for poor working conditions are this afternoon expected to be sent back to their country of origin.

She said the 26 will be deported via the international airport on an Ethiopian airline adding that they only had temporal permits to work and stay in the country before they protested against poor working and living conditions from their employers.

On Monday over 360 Onshore construction workers protested and opted for an industrial strike to force management to succumb to their demands for better conditions of service.

However management has refused to succumb to their demands adding that the company had signed agreements with each employee on the conditions of service before coming into the country.

One of the employees Subhas Mallick is reported in one of the daily newspapers as having said 70 percent of the workers have opted to be dispatched back to India their country of origin.

Lusaka Car dealers protest

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A group of car dealers today stormed the Lusaka City Council (LCC) offices at civics center to complain about the council’s announcement to remove them from the central business district.

LCC Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta confirmed the move by the automobile dealers to ZANIS in Lusaka adding that the dealers also demanded further clarification on the matter.

Mrs. Makanta said the LCC is concerned with the congestion being caused by the car dealers who usually park their vehicles meant for sale for a long time inconveniencing other motorists wanting to conduct business in the central district.

She said LCC through its city planning department is currently considering finding an open place where the car dealers can park their vehicles for sale to the public.

Mrs. Makanta however explained that the council can only allow the dealers in the central business district for a limited time to maintain consistent traffic flow and parking space for other motorists.

She commended the car dealers for seeking clarification on the matter in a peaceful and mature manner without resorting to violence.

But Katunjila Car Dealers Association committee member Martin Mpundu accused foreign investors dealing in car sales as having incited the council to remove them from town adding that their business has been competitive.

Mr. Mpundu said association members had been paying the council levy for selling cars in the central business district but were surprised at the council’s decision to stop collecting the levy and later giving them an ultimatum to vacate the central business district.

He said the automobile traders should not be looked down upon in preference to bigger and organized dealers as they also contribute to the country’s revenue through the payment of taxes at the border when importing the vehicles into the country.

He said his association is however willing to relocate to any appropriate area where the LCC would want to relocate the automobile dealers and pay the necessary levys and taxes.

Meanwhile, the LCC public relations manager has described as unfortunate the gradual return of street vendors on the city’s main streets.

Mrs. Makanta attributed the trend to lack of man power among the council police who have been deployed in the city center.

She however appealed to the Zambia Police Service to compliment LCC police efforts to ensure that street vendors are brought to book.

Mrs. Makanta has also urged members of the public to desist from buying merchandise from street vendors adding that the practice encourages the vendors to continue trading in undesignated places.

Govt. to swiftly fight crime in SADC

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Government says it will swiftly respond towards addressing escalating criminal activities in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Home Affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe says there was urgent need for police in the region to take action and stop the crime.

Mr. Bonshe said police officers must formulate strategies that would help governments in the SADC region to fight crime in a better and coordinated manner.

He was speaking today when he officially opened the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) meeting at Chrismar hotel in Livingstone.

He said police must devise strategies of combating regional criminal syndicates, noting that this would reduce crime in the region.

He said members of the public needed to feel secure hence the need for the police to double their efforts in the fighting crime.

And speaking earlier, Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, said his command would ensure that thieves in Zambia were not allowed to move freely.

Mr. Mateyo said the police have a duty to ensure that criminals were not going about conducting business.

He said the meeting was timely as it was important for the police in the region to plan together and map up strategies on how to fight crime.

He said it was only peaceful environments that would attract investor confidence in the region, thereby boosting economies of SADC countries.

”Let us not allow criminals to take over us. Let us try and suppress them. Our duty is to ensure that the rule of law prevails in our countries,” he said.

Head of Interpol at the SARPCCO secretariat, Villio Hifindaka, said it was important for the police to let criminals know that there would be no comfort for them in the SADC region.

ZANIS/FM/KSH/ENDS.

MMD not Opposed to 50% plus one Threshold, Mulongoti

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Government has dismissed claims that the ruling party MMD, was not in favour of the proposed 50 per cent plus one threshold to win a presidential election.

Chief Government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mulongoti said the MMD was not scared of the proposed provision of the 50 plus one threshold.

He said, in fact, only the MMD has sufficient national support to score a 50 plus one threshold to win presidential elections in Zambia.

Mr. Mulongoti said Government further advises Zambians to read the situation in other countries where this is applicable as it is dangerous to ignore the political developments in those countries.

He said President Mwanawasa would not derive any personal gain from opposing the proposed threshold as he was serving his last term of office.

Mr. Mulongoti also said complaints by some opposition political parties that it had excluded some stakeholders from attending the National Constitution Conference (NCC) were baseless.

He said government has strove to be all-inclusive in constituting the composition of the NCC and therefore insinuations that some key stakeholder have been left out were unjustified.

He said those who chose not to be on the NCC, such as the three church mother bodies and the Non-governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC), have only themselves to blame.

Opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata is quoted to have recently said that it would not do for Zambians to have a constitution without addressing the issue of majority vote for a presidential candidate.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) vice president Richard Kapita is alleged to have stated that President Mwanawasa was instilling fear in the MMD members sitting on the NCC.

Mr. Kapita is said to have alleged that it would be difficult for the conference to come up with a formidable constitution because of the same threats.

Young Arrows Open Five Point Lead

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Young Arrows opened up a 5 point lead at the summit of the FAZ Premier League table today after a 1-0 win over Zanaco at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.
Although Young Arrows dominated Zanaco throughout, it wasn’t a pretty game and the leaders showed little to suggest they were the real thing despite securing their 4th win over the season and maintain their 1000 per cent record since the season started.
Striker Judge Mkandawire secured Young Arrows 3 points from the spot in the 48th min after Zanaco defender Michael Bwalya handled the ball in the area.

Young Arrows are on 13 points, five ahead of 2nd placed Zesco United whose away game at Kabwe Warriors this afternoon ended in deadlock.

Zesco moved to 2nd after a scoreless draw away at 4th placed Warriors with both teams on 8 points.

Fodson Kabole future at Power is in doubt after Power Dynamos lost their 4th game of the season after going down 3-0 at Arthur Davies to Green Buffaloes.

Brian Chilando scored one in the 66th after Reuben Tembo shipped in a brace with goals in the 2nd and 28th minutes to hand Buffaloes their first league win after three successive defeats.

Buffaloes moved from 14th to 10th on 6 points after today’s win while Power is just above them in 9th position.

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