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Update on Levy Mwanawasa

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The Medical team attending to Republic President Dr. Levy Mwanawasa is encouraged and satisfied with the current status of his condition which has remained stable for the last two days.

Vice President Rupiah Banda said in a media statement posted on the State house web site today that President Mwanawasa has continued to receive medical treatment at the Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.

And Copperbelt Provincial Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima has said Republican President Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa is recovering satisfactorily from his illness in France.

Mr Mbulakulima said this during President Mwanawasa’s intercessory prayers organised by youths in Ndola at Lowenthal Theatre Hall this evening.

“This is a joyous day because our President is recovering and recovering satisfactorily,” he said.

The Minister said he was happy to superintend on Copperbelt Province because its people were united and had shown the unity during this period when the head of state was sick

The Minister, who thanked the youths in the district for organising the prayer meeting, encouraged Copperbelt residents to remain united because the province was the back bone of the country’s economy.

Mr Mbulakulima said he was optimistic that the President was going to come and that everyone would be at the Airport to receive him.

He said the Dr Mwanawasa had strong leadership attributes, which even the region, had seen and were now benefiting from.

And speaking earlier Copperbelt Deputy Permanent Secretary Christopher Mutembo said the fact that Zambia had been declared a Christian nation should comfort people because Jesus Christ dwelled in the country.

Mr. Mutembo urged the youth to pray to God so that the works of the enemy could be shamed.

He further called on the youths to pray for the first lady Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa and the entire first family at this trying time.

And in his comforting message, Apostle Chilanji Shinkolo of Crown of Fire Ministries, said that it was heavenly legal for people to pray for their Kings in this case the Republican President.

The apostle said when people pray situations change and that God was able to remove dark crowds and bring on healing which the country was crying for at the moment.

He encouraged people to pray and intercede for the President so that he could come home to continue his good leadership.

The intercessory prayer meeting attracted youths from all high schools and basic schools in Ndola, church organisations, non-governmental organisations, youth groups and political parties.

ZANIS/PC/MK/ENDS

Kombe Relishes Return To Zambia Fold

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It is a case of use it or lose it. That is how Power Dynamos striker Francis Kombe greeted the news of his Zambia recall today after being named to Herve Renard’s 2008 Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup squad.

The controversial striker returns for the first time since November 11 last year when he played in Zambia’s 1-0 away defeat to Tanzania in a friendly international.

“Am very pleased to be back,” Kombe said from Kitwe today. “I have just been given another chance to impress.

“I got to make sure I don’t disappoint because I don’t think I will get another chance like this again to play for Zambia.”

Kombe promising early international career stretching back to 2003 was blighted in 2005 by a 1-year dope ban after testing positive for marijuana while at disbanded South African club Silver Stars.

Kombe is currently the leagues top scorer on 8 goals.

He is set for his 8th cap when Zambia opens their Cosafa Cup campaign with a quarterfinal meeting against Zimbabwe in Secunda, Mpumalanga in South Africa on July 27.

The Power striker made his debut against Rwanda on March 24, 2003 away in a 3-0 victory when he scored his first and only senior goal to date for Zambia.

Meanwhile there is also another return to the fold this time for veteran defender Elijah Tana of Nchanga Rangers after his controversial axing from the final Africa Cup team for the Ghana tournament 7 months ago.

There is also another return to the Zambia team after 7 months for Angolan-based midfielder Ian Bakala since taking part at the Africa Cup finals in Ghana.

Also back in the team after half a year is ex-Under-23 defender Davies Nkausu of SuperSport United in South Africa after he failed to make the cut for the Africa Cup final squad in January.

Nkausu is one of two players from the defending South African league champions.

His club mate Noah Chivuta also returns to the team since playing in Zambia’s penalty shoot-out Cosafa Cup final loss to defending Cosafa Cup champions South Africa on October 24 last year in Bloemfontein.

Renard has also handed a debut call-up for the Green Eagles defender Kebby Hachipuka who is currently the subject of a transfer bid from Nkana.

Zambia Under-20 and Lusaka Dynamos goalkeeper William Chibale has also been handed a senior debut call-up.

However, Renard has decided to overlooked the popular Lusaka Dynamos duo of defender Hichani Himoonde who has a bereavement and fluid midfielder William Njovbu who is still recovering from injury.

There is also no place in the team for Power’s left-winger Kennedy Mudenda after impressing during Zambia’s last four 2009 CHAN qualifying games.

And goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has been excused from action to give 2nd choice Kalililo Kakonje and Mike Poto of Green Buffaloes including Chibale a chance to stand up and be counted.

Zambia goes into camp on Monday in Lusaka under assistant coach George Lwandamina while Renard will join the team after July 20 when he returns from a brief holiday in France.

Team:

Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Amazulu, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), William Chibale (Lusaka Dynamos)

Defenders: Dennis Banda, Sydney Lombe (Both Green Buffaloes) Kampamba Chintu (Free State Stars, South Africa), William Chinyama, Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Kebby Hachipuka (Green Eagles), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Elijah Tana (Nchanga Rangers), Billy Mwanza (Clubless), White Simwanza (Young Arrows)

Midfielders: Ian Bakala ( Primeiro de Agosto, Angola), Noah Chivuta (SuperSport United, South Africa), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Chikwanki Liyainga (Young Arrows),John Musukwa (Green Buffaloes) Lottie Phiri (Zesco United),

Strikers: Felix Sunzu (Avenir Sportif de La Marsa, Tunisia), Judge Mkandawire (Young Arrows), Given Singuluma (Bay United, South Africa)

Broadcast of NCC deliberations Welcomed

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NAKONDE residents in Northern Province have welcomed the announcement by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to broadcast live its deliberations.

One of the residents, Miriam Mumbi said the move by NCC to broadcast its deliberations is a step in the right direction.

Mumbi said it is important that members of the public follow the deliberations of NCC.

Mumbi however, expressed disappointment over the poor radio and television reception in Nakonde district.

She said there was an urgent need by government especially the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) to assist the national broadcaster to improve its radio and television reception.

Mumbi said information was power adding that people in the countryside would like to contribute to the development of the country by making informed decision but were failing to do that due to lack of information.

Mumbi said NCC should also help Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation [ZNBC] which has the largest audience to improve on its reception so as to enable follow the deliberations of NCC.

She lamented that people were keen to follow the happenings in the country through the national broadcaster but were failing to follow such events properly due to poor radio and television reception.

And Baptist Fellowship of Zambia [BFZ] Home missionary John Mulalika has said the move by NCC to broadcast its deliberations was welcome but the national broadcaster, ZNBC should also improve on its radio and television reception.

“People want to follow the deliberations of NCC but will not be able to follow that due poor radio and television reception of the national broadcaster,” he said.

NCC secretary Nuton Nguni announced yesterday that NCC would broadcast its deliberations on both ZNBC radio and television.

ENDS/ JM/ AM/ZANIS

More MMD Members Join in Condemning Tetamashimba

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The list of MMD members condemning MMD Party Spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba for his remarks on succession has started growing. The MMD Youths in Luanshya have called for his resignation over his succession utterances.

MMD District Youth Treasurer Paul Chiwaya told ZANIS in an interview that such utterances were unacceptable and irresponsible.

Mr. Chiwaya said the remarks are from a desperate and power-hungry man who has no heart for the President and the party.

He said that it was unfortunate that when most Zambians, including those from the opposition, were praying for the quick recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa, Mr. Tetamashimba is more concerned about succession issues.

Mr. Chiwaya said the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) should find a way of stopping such over- zealous members from issuing such statements to the press.

He has since appealed to all peace-loving Zambians to continue praying for the speedy recovery of Dr. Mwanawasa.

And the MMD in Kasama Central in Northern Province has added its voice in condemning the statement issued by Mr. Tentamashimba.

MMD Kasama Central Constituency chairperson Nathan Ilunga told ZANIS that Mr. Tetamashimba’s statement should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves as it is outrageous.

Mr. Ilunga accused Mr. Tetamashimba of being irresponsible and appealed to the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to find ways of restraining him before he causes confusion in the party.

He charged that there was no difference between Mr. Tentamashimba and Malone Zaza who erroneously tipped a South African Radio Station that President Mwanawasa had died.

Mr. Ilunga said the MMD convention will choose the successor to President Mwanawasa at an appropriate time.

The MMD constituency chairman has since appealed to all well-meaning party members to continue praying for the quick recovery of President Mwanawasa so that he can come and resume his normal duties.

And in Mazabuka, the ruling party in the district has since called on Mr. Tentamashimba to unreservedly apologize to the party, the nation and to President Mwanawasa.

District party chairman Trywell Himoonga told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that Mr. Tentamashimba’s remarks are highly provocative and ill-conceived.

Mr. Himoonga charged that Mr. Tentamashimba should not be talking about succession when the entire nation is pre-occupied with praying for the quick recovery of the President.

He urged the party National Executive Committee (NEC) to act with a sense of urgency and take necessary action against Mr. Tentamashimba for issuing a statement that borders on dividing the party and misleading the public on the gravity of the ailment of the President.

Mr. Himoonga said people are bound to think that the President will never function hence the party’s desire to replace him.

He said MMD will have difficulties to convince people in villages that the President is well due to such irresponsible utterances.

And speaking to Daily Mail yesterday, MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said President Mwanawasa had already initiated a constitutional process to change the party leadership.“As far as leadership change is concerned, President Mwanawasa has already initiated a constitutional process which demands that elections will start at the levels of branches, wards, constituency, district, provincial before the national convention.

He said the party saw no cause for any abrupt discussion of President Mwanawasa’s successor upon his return. He said the MMD had not received any report from Government or any other source suggesting that President Mwanawasa would be unable to provide party leadership upon his return.

Dr Kalumba, further disclosed that Mr Tetamashimba had written a letter to The Post newspaper, copied to him, indicating that he was partly misrepresented.

However, the same Daily Mail source quoted Mr Tetamashimba as saying he wondered why people were making an issue out of this matter.

“I don’t know why people want to make mountains out of this. They have misplaced motives. Katele never defended the President when some woman attacked him, but I did,” he said.

Mr Tetamashimba wondered what Dr Kalumba was up to by rising from nowhere and start defending the President after he got sick.

He alleged that Dr Kalumba had never defended the President and had even stopped helping him to campaign for MMD candidates during election periods.

ENDS/HC/AM/ZANIS

Siavonga man shot by Zimbabwean security personnel remains stable

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ZANIS - Authorities at Siavonga district hospital have removed the bullet from the leg of the 32-year old man of Siavonga Township who was recently shot and wounded by plain clothed Zimbabwean security personnel.

The victim was shot while fishing on Lake Kariba on Sunday.

And Siavonga-based senior security officers on Wednesday called for an urgent meeting with their Zimbabwean counterparts where the Zambian authorities expressed their displeasure at the shooting incidence.

Armed Zimbabwean security personnel on Sunday shot and wounded Peter Mumba a resident of Kanyelele compound in the left calf when they found him fishing on the lake.

The Zimbabwean security personnel on Sunday opened fire at Mumba on allegations that he was conducting his fishing business on their side of the lake.

Siavonga Hospital Medical Superintendent Joseph Kabungo confirmed to ZANIS in Siavonga today that a bullet that remained in Mumba’s leg following the shooting incidence that occurred on Sunday night was finally dislodged from his leg.

Dr. Kabungo said the 32 year old man was taken to the theatre yesterday were medical personnel at the hospital managed to conduct a successful operation that led to the removal of the bullet.

Dr. Kabungo said although Mumba has continued to lie in pain, his condition remains stable.

And senior security officers in the border town disclosed that they were forced to call for a meeting with their counterparts from Kariba in Zimbabwe because they felt the shooting of Mumba was unnecessary and unfair.

Reliable sources told ZANIS that the Zimbabweans conceded that it was wrong for them to use live bullets in such circumstances and apologized to Zambian officials for the injury caused.

The meeting involving various security wings from Zambia and Zimbabwe was held in the office of Siavonga police station officer-in-charge Charles Saimba.

Earlier Mumba told ZANIS from his hospital bed that he was shot in the left leg by plain clothed Zimbabwean security personnel that confronted them while fishing on the Lake.

Mumba, who insisted that he and his colleague were conducting their fishing business on the Zambian side of Lake Kariba, said the incidence happened on Sunday night around 20: 30 hours.

He said while fishing, a boat approached them and started firing gun shots at their small engine boat shooting him in the process.

Mumba said his colleague upon realizing danger dived in the water and disappeared.

Mumba said he was picked from his boat by six plain clothed armed Zimbabweans who after noticing the wound decided to take him to neighboring Kariba Hospital where he spent his night on Sunday.

He said while in the Zimbabwean hospital, the health personnel their tried to remove the bullet but failed and later decided to drive him back to the Zambian boarder where they handed him to the Zambian officials at Kariba Boarder post.

Mumba further disclosed that he saw his boat sink into the water after the engine and the body was damaged by the shots that were fired at it.

Get circumcised, reduce HIV/AIDS men told

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An HIV/AIDS Activist has called on men to desist from being shy and be circumcised for them to be a remedy to reduce the pandemic.

Mr. Robert Manengu, who is also the Vice Chairperson for Mize Cultural Association in Choma, told ZANIS in Maamba that men should be circumcised to save them from perishing.
Mr. Manengu said it was a well known fact world over that circumcision could reduce the HIV/AIDS pandemic to about 60 percent.
He said as long as people from other cultures fail to practice circumcision the pandemic would continue to cause suffering among Zambians.
“The problem is that men are ignorant about circumcision but in North Western province where circumcision is practiced the HIV/AIDS infections are lower as compared to other provinces in the country,” Mr Manengu said.

He noted that circumcision was no longer a cultural issue but a broad based remedy that could reduce the HIV/ADS infection.

Zambezi Escarpment Development Forum (ZEDFORM) Executive Director Nalukui Sitali said if people fail to treat HIV/AIDS seriously the pandemic would continue to affect them.
Mr. Sitali said they would be no meaningful development in the country if the pandemic was not addressed at the grassroots level.

Mr. said at the HIV/AIDS education campaign in Maamba were his organization partnered with Mize Cultural Association using the ‘Makishi’ dancing troops to entice people to come for HIV/AIDS messages.
He said his organization despite having no donor funding it has managed to continue disseminating HIV/AIDS to the local people in Sinazongwe and Choma district.

Maamba people in Sinazongwe district were treated to rare menu of entertainment in which the Makishi from Mize cultural association charmed the residents with their Luvale songs and dances.
The group camped in Maamba from Monday to Friday to intertain people and to educate them on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
[ZANIS]

Defiler jailed for 15 years

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Lusaka High Court judge Florence Lengalenga has sentenced a 26 year-old man to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a six year-old minor last year.

Judge Lengalenga sent Mutondo Masumba of Lusaka's Bauleni township to jail after the state proved that he defiled the minor between June 4th and 8th last year.

On the fateful day, after the mother of the minor had bathed her and released her to play, Mutondo asked her to escort him in the presence of her friends.

It was after the child followed him that he handed her sweets and defiled her.

The mother said she was informed by her daughter's friends that she had escorted an unknown man after noticing her daughter's absence from the premises where she was playing.

After her search proved futile she was informed by neighbours that her daughter had been taken to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) because she had been defiled.

The neighbours had noticed that the girl had blood coming out from her private parts and had bruises on her face and when they checked her they discovered that she had been defiled.

Judge Lengalenga is satisfied that the state had sufficiently discharged their burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that he had defiled the minor and sentenced him to the minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years.

And Judge Lengalenga has sentenced three men aged 22, 28 and 36 to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour after convicting them of aggravated robbery case.

The trio, Chifundu Sakala 22, of Lusaka's George township, James Banda 28 of Kabanana township and David Jere of Lilanda township were facing one count of aggravated robbery contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that the trio on May 16 this year while jointly and acting together with other persons unknown and whilst armed with iron bars and machetes, stole household goods from Harrison Sikasote worth over K7 million.

[ZNBC]

Girls dropping out due to pregnancies, marriages rise

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Mumbwa District of Central Province is experiencing an unprecedented rise in school dropouts due to early pregnancies and marriages.

Between 2005 and 2007, 461 girls dropped out of school due to early marriages, 433 girls drawn from 28 schools left school due to early pregnancy while 206 drooped out of school due to economic reasons.

Government has since expressed concern at the high rate of school dropouts in the district.

Education Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa says the obtaining scenario is unacceptable and should be reversed.

Professor Lungwangwa said government will however continue to partner with other stakeholders in order increase access to education through the development of infrastructure.

Prof Lungwangwa said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mumbwa District Commissioner Dowell Chilimboyi during the official hand over of the newly rehabilitated Butinti Basic School by Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) in Mumbwa yesterday.

He said government will continue to build and rehabilitate school infrastructure in the country because education plays a critical role in poverty reduction.

Prof Lungwangwa said government will not only aim at attaining education for all as a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) in 2015, but will also strive to improve its quality.

He said this will be done by reducing the teacher to pupil ratio, building and rehabilitation of school infrastructure and provision of learning materials to pupils at all levels.

Prof Lungwangwa has since urged parents in the district to concentrate on encouraging girls to focus on education and not rushing them into early marriages.

And speaking earlier CCF National Director Victor Koyi disclosed that his organization has extended its presence in Mumbwa District for another three years.

He said CCF intends to build ten pre-schools and rehabilitate 12 more basic schools during the three years in its efforts to supplement government’s efforts to increase access to education and providing quality education.

Meanwhile Butinti Basic School Head Teacher John Muleka said the rehabilitated school infrastructure has motivated pupils who were once demoralized to have classes in the old dilapidated school building.

Butinti Basic School which was built in 1959 was rehabilitated at a cost of over K250 million.

ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS

Mobile Phone Plant starts in August

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By Sanday Chongo Kabange

Starting from August, handsets for Malaysian cell phone manufacturer, M.Mobile will be produced in Zambia. An official told Network World that M.Mobile would be investing more than $3 million in the plant, which will assemble units for local and regional markets.

The first targeted market is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

The Zambian M.Mobile plant will be capable of producing 50,000 and 70,000 mobile phones per month.The announcement is huge news for Zambia as it will mean the country’s first mobile phone manufacturing plant.

Aside from that, M.Mobile was also the first plant in Malaysia and the world’s first Muslim-owned mobile phone R&D and marketing company. The company’s website lists its missions as wanting to “launch the world’s first and only company providing Islamic Mobile Phone Solutions, develop and market a full range of innovative, attractive, reliable and quality Islamic mobile communication products and to be the platform through which Islamic mobile phone technology is transferred into Muslim countries”.

M.Mobile currently operates under it’s parent company Kosmo Technology which acquired a 30 percent stake in the company two years ago.

Talk of Levy’s Successor ill-timed

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Movement for Multi-Party Democrac (MMD) Chairperson for Mining and Mineral Development, Kaunda Lembalemba says calls for the party to start considering party leadership succession are ill-timed.

Mr. Lembalemba who is also former Mines Minister said the call is regrettable as it comes at a time when the President is hospitalised in Paris – France.

He has asked MMD Spokesperson, Ben Tetamashimba to apologise and withdraw the story attributed to him in a daily tabloid newspaper.

Mr. Lembalemba told ZNBC news that all MMD members should ignore Mr. Tetamashimba’s suggestion and instead concentrate on prayers for the President.

Mr. Tetamashimba was quoted saying it will be important for the party to begin to consider President Mwanawasa’s successor when he comes back.
[ZNBC]

UNZA faces massive exodus of tutors

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Lusaka, 10th July, 2008, ZANIS- University of Zambia (UNZA) chancellor, Jacob Mwanza has bemoaned the continued brain drain of the lecturing staff at the high institution of learning.

Professor Mwanza said the academic staff have continued to leave the University for Greener Pastures owing t o unattractive conditions of service prevailing at UNZA..

He added that most universities in the country are having difficulties vying for the best research talent because salaries for similar jobs in the industry are higher than those at the higher institutions of learning.

Professor Mwanza said this in Lusaka today during the 38th graduation ceremony of the University of Zambia.

He added that recurring student and staff unrest, inadequate student hostels and funding by government to the institution has continued to impact negatively on the reputation of the university’s operations.

Professor Mwanza explained that there was need to empower the academic staff in order motivate them to fully participate in the affairs of the university.

He added that the lecturers must be rewarded and recognized for their efforts in accordance with their potentialities.

He observed that stability and continuity of the academic calendar is vital if the teaching and research are to be carried un-interrupted at the institution.

“We should work towards replacing strikes, demonstrations and go-slows with dialogue,” Professor Mwanza said.

Speaking earlier, UNZA Vice chancellor, Stephen Simukanga said UNZA management is considering submitting a proposal to government for the increment tuition fees.

Professor Simukanga noted that tuition fees is the major source of income for the institution adding that the current fees were low to sustain the operations of the university.

He also observed that increased student enrolment has lead to over crowding in hostels due to limited accommodation.

Professor Simukanga was however hopeful that the problem of accommodation at the institution would cease once the hostels under construction at the institution are completed.

He urged the graduating students to use the knowledge they have acquired to contribute to the development of the nation.

“Use your qualifications towards improving the Zambian society,” Professor Simukanga said.

[ZANIS]

Namwala quartet nabbed for suspected murder

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Namwala, July 10, 2008, -ZANIS-Police in Namwala have arrested four people in connection
with the alleged poisoning of a teacher three month ago.

The four have been arrested to help with investigations into what caused the death of
Hastings Munene aged 37 who was a teacher at Lubanaga Basic school and died on March 11, this year.

Before his death he was last seen in the company of the four drinking beer together at a named local bar.

District commissioner Ms Eunice Nawa confirmed the arrest of the quartet to ZANIS in Namwala today.

Ms. Nawa named some of the suspects as Lillian Mwango, a teacher at Lubanga Shabongwe
basic school and Epson Choongo, a bar owner.

The others are a security guard at the Lubanga School and another named man.

The arrests follows a postmortem conducted in Lusaka on the deceased whose results indicated that
the deceased was poisoned on the fateful day.

Mr. Munene’s body was later found near Namwala farmers training centre on the same day at around
13:00 hours and the body was then taken to Lusaka by Forensic officers for a postmortem.
Ends/FM/AM/ZANIS

Man nabbed for being in possession of human body remains

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Police in Senanga have arrested a man who was caught with partially decomposed human body remains.

Fry Ndala of Kaungaluti in Senanga district was allegedly found with a skeleton of a named young man who passed away last year.

It was suspected that the body was exhumed by the accused who is also a traditional healer.

The skeleton from the heap born to the toes and the ribs were confiscated and buried by the police as the angry mob of villagers demanded justice.

The mob claimed to have found the items behind the accused man’s house.

And Ndala in an interview with ZANIS pleaded ignorance of the skeleton.

Ndala dismissed the accusations as malicious and hateful.

Police in the area have since instituted investigations into the matter.

Early this year another man of Lui Wanyau in Senanga District woke up to a rude shock when he found an exhumed body of a baby at the door step of his house.

[ZANIS]

Malone Zaza Apologises over Levy’s Death

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Malone Zaza, a Zambian based in South Africa has apologized unreservedly to President Levy Mwanawasa for alarming the nation that Dr. Mwanawasa who is currently admitted in Percy Military Hospital in Paris France had died.

Zaza , a 26 year third years information system student at the University of South Africa (UNISA) has also apologized to the president’s family, relatives , to the Zambian people and the international community for the pain and anguish he caused them over his statement.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande told ZANIS in a press statement this evening that ZAZA has appealed to the president and all Zambians to forgive him, saying he did not mean to cause any harm.

“ I wish to apologise unreservedly to the President , his family , the people of Zambia and the international community at large for the pain and anguish caused to them by my irresponsible statement.

I have learnt a bitter lesson from this experience. Please forgive me. I am sorry,’ he added.

Zaza who admitted having told Radio 702 said he was a law abiding citizen who loved president Mwanawasa and has since wished him a quick recovery.

He blamed the radio station for spreading the news without first verifying it .

He stated that if the radio station has called the high commission to verify , it would have realised that the tip he had given them was just a rumour.

He said his information to the radio station was intended to be a tip which he expected the station to follow up and verify before putting the news on air.

ZAZA made the disclosure yesterday evening during an interview with the Zambian high commission held at the new Café in Randburg, Johannesburg.

Mr. Pande said ZAZA has denied having introduced himself to Talk Radio 702 as head of protocol at the Zambia High Commissioner in Pretoria.

“I couldn’t have done such a thing. I was merely giving them a tip as a Zambian citizen who had received information that our president is died,” he said.

He said because of the previous day’s rumors he has heard that President Mwanawasa had died , Zaza upon receiving an SMS from a Zambian decided to phone the radio station to inform them about the message.

“ I introduced myself as Malone ZAZA , a Zambian citizen. At no point did I introduce myself as head of protocol at the Zambia High Commission in Pretoria. I don’t know where they got that from, he added.

Having being in a meeting the whole day of Thursday, Zaza disclosed that he later on received a call from his parents in Zambia telling him that there was an item on the international news wire quoting him of having said President Mwasawasa had died.

He explained that it was after that call that he realized that SMS he had earlier received about the president’s death was not true.

Last week, the Zambian Student is reported to have told the radio station that President Mwanawasa had died, the news which was later broadcasted by the BBC, Sky news and other International Media organisations

ZANIS/MK/ENDS

LWSCO Can’t Pay Terminal Benefits

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Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSCO) says it has no capacity to pay terminal benefits to workers who are retiring now following the merger of the company with Kafue, Chongwe and Luangwa district councils early this year.

LWSCO Managing Director, George Ndongwe said the LWSCO management is still holding meetings with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing on how the issue of employees will be dealt with.

Mr. Ndongwe said that the company has since submitted a list of proposed board members to the Minister for approval so that the company starts operating effectively.

He said the water utility company has spent over K2.Billion in its rehabilitation programme.

He however said the company is happy with the its performance in the provision of services to the town since taking over the running of water services from the local authority.

LWSCO Managing Director made the remarks yesterday at a Labour Day giving award ceremony held in Kafue at the House of Excellency.

Mr Ndongwe said he had doubted whether the company would perform according to the expectation of the people when LWSCO took over Kafue water services.

Mr. Ndongwe stated that the company is considering salary adjustments following its performance this year once resources are made available.

He said the company would want to give awards to every worker but unfortunately cannot do so due to limited resources.

He urged other workers to work hard next year so that they can be given awards also.

Speaking earlier, Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) Kafue branch Chairman Oswald Ntimbo LWSCO to take up the responsibility of settling workers retirement benefits.

He said the company should not heap the burden on the Kafue District Council stating that the company took over the responsibility of human resource when it took over the water utility .

And Kafue Water Area General Manager David Ngenda has advised workers to promote the spirit of dialogue if the company is to improve its operations .

ZANIS/BS/MK

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