The Secretary to the Cabinet says the high cost of fuel is unjustifed because Zambia has its own petroluem refinery.

Evans Chibiliti said there is need to investigate and review the entire costing mechanism of petroluem products.

Mr. Chibilit said it is unacceptable that Zambia is among nations with the high cost of fuel in the region when the country has its own refinery.

He ruled out possibilities of leakages on Tazama pipeline being one of the major contributing factors to the high cost of fuel.

The secretary to the treasury who is on a familiarization tour of TAZAMA pipeline facilities said he is glad that the pipeline is currently operating efficiently after the completion of the rehabilitation exercise.

He was speaking to Journalists after inspecting the Chinsala TAZAMA pipeline sub station.

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has maintained that churches contributing to noise pollution in residential areas would face the wrath of the law.

LCC Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta told ZANIS in an interview that churches adding to noise pollution in residential areas would be slapped with a penalty fee.

Mrs. Makanta said the resolve by the local authority follows mounting complaints from some residents in the city about some churches being a source of noise pollution during worship and noisy overnight prayers.

She pointed out that it is not right to expect the council to ignore such complaints because they involve the church.

Mrs. Makanta said the law applies to all persons, groups or organizations inclusive of the church.

She said it is unfortunate that some churches have since issued statements accusing the local authority of malice against the church.

Mrs. Makanta said statutory instrument number 44 of 2007 under local government chapter 281 of the laws of Zambia states that public gatherings in residential areas, such as church gatherings and parties, playing loud music likely to disturb residents, will attract a penalty fee of at least K450, 000.

She added that the council is further concerned at the increasing number of churches in residential areas that are breaching the Public Order and Nuisance Act.

Mrs. Makanta has since appealed to churches to conduct their prayer sessions in harmony with the laws.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Makanta has refuted allegations by car dealers in the city that the council is giving preferential treatment to foreign investor car dealers who trade from show rooms.

She announced that the council is currently trying to identify a piece of land where the local car dealers can sale their automobiles.

Mrs. Makanta said the local authority would soon call for a meeting with the car dealers to chart the way forward.

She said the council is concerned at the congestion caused in the central business district adding that the council is not against the local car dealers.

Mrs. Makanta stressed that automobiles are supposed to be sold in recognized show rooms in accordance with the stipulations of the law.

-President Mwanawasa has lashed out at the Food Reserve Agency-FRA’s failure to stand on its own despite government subsidies.

President Mwanawasa warned that if the FRA fails this year to demonstrate that the money pumped into the agency is growing, the government will have no option but to scrap off the agency.

Dr. Mwanawasa wondered why the FRA collects produce from farmers, sells the produce and on top of that gets government subsidy but still fails to stand on its own financially let alone pay farmers for their produce.

Dr. Mwanawasa said this in Vubwi constituency in Chadiza district in Eastern province today when he addressed a public rally.

He pointed out that it was saddening that FRA promptly gives hefty salaries to its staff at the expense of paying farmers.

“ Why is it that salaries for FRA staff are more than what other government workers are getting. FRA pays its workers lavishly. Government expects FRA this year to pay the difference and not to get back to government to ask for subsidy,” said President Mwanawasa.

“Where do you take the money. FRA you get paid promptly and so hefty, we break our backs as government for the people of Zambia not that a few like yourselves should benefit, why can’t you pay the farmers first before you pay salaries to your staff,” asked Dr. Mwanawasa.

President Mwanawasa further directly the FRA to maintain the current number of satellite depots around the country to enable farmers sell their produce at accessible points as apposed to the agency’s intention to reduce the number of depots on account of financial hardships.

The President noted that reducing the number of satellite depots would contradict government’s efforts to promote agriculture in the country.

He noted that government will continue supporting agriculture and urged the private sector to fully get involved in the market of agriculture products.

Dr Mwanawasa noted that agricultural produce marketing should not be left to government alone but warned the private sector against stealing from farmers.

The president also announced that government has decided to continue with the Fertiliser Support programme, FSP, in order to boost food production.

Dr Mwanawasa explained that government will in fact increase fertilizer supply to farmers around the country.

And Dr. Mwanawasa has expressed happiness at the completion of phase one of the construction of Chadiza hospital at a cost of K1.7 billion.

He said the second phase of the project will be embarked on soon at the total cost of K3.2 billion saying he is proud that the people of Chadiza will now access quality health care services close to them.

The president however pointed out that there was need for the ministry of health to ensure that hospitals are fully stocked with drugs saying it will be meaningless for government to build hospitals that have no drugs.

Dr Mwaanwasa said government was also working hard to improve the road and other social and economic infrastructure in Chadiza and the country at large.

Meanwhile, president Mwanawasa has appealed to civil servants working in rural areas to help government provide adequate and efficient services despite the hardships they face.

He noted that government appreciates the important contribution civil servants working in rural areas are making saying they should not despair as government was working hard to improve their services there.

At the same rally, President Mwanawasa paid tribute to the MMD party officials in Eastern province for their efforts to develop the nation.

He however called for continued commitment and hard work among party if the party and the nation was to further embrace development.

And speaking when he met the four chiefs from Chadiza district, President Mwanawasa said government was in the process of creating more constituencies to enable all Zambians fully participate in the political activities of the country.

He said the request by the traditional leaders to have Vubwi subdivided into more constituencies is a sure sign of the zeal by the people to get involved in the political activities in the country.

He however warned against having multiple constituencies that fail to enhance full political participation by the electorate.

And Dr. Mwanawasa said government regrets that a number of chiefs were applying for loans to buy small cars instead of buying bigger vehicles or tractors that will be of benefit to the chiefs themselves and their subjects.

He however said he was happy that some chiefs have applied for tractors a thing he said is very much welcome and wise in that it will bring more returns to the chiefs.

And Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha told the chiefs that his office was working in collaboration with the Malawian and Mozambican officials to resolve the land disputes.

He was responding to the four traditional leaders who expressed concern at the continued land disputes between Zambia and its neighbours Malawi and Mozambique.

Earlier at the rally, Vubwi Member of Parliament Eustakio Kazonga paid tribute to President Levy Mwanawasa for visiting the constituency.

Dr. Kazonga said President Mwanawasa was the first head of state to visit Vubwi since independence in 1964.

The Mp said the people of Vubwi were extremely delighted by the President’s visit which he said showed how much love and care the President has for them.

The President received a number of gifts from the people of Vubwi among them a bull, two goats, chickens and several other items.

The President was accompanied by Finance Minister Ng’andu Mgande, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao, Transport and Communication Minister Dora Siliya, Sceince and Technology Minister Peter Daka, MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga, some deputy Ministers and Senior MMD and government officials.

The President has since left Chadiza for Chipata enroute to Chama where he is tomorrow expected to commission the Chama inter-connector electricity project with his Malawian counterpart Bingu Mutharika.

Former Southern Province Minister, Joseph Mulyata has been acquitted of charges of abuse of authority of office. This was in a case in which Mulyata was charged with abuse of authority of office in connection with the release of an impounded bus belonging to Lusaka businessman, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.

Mulyata, 47, a member of parliament for Mongu central, was arrested on December 7 and released on K5 million bond the same day.

Particulars of the offence were that, on a date unknown but between July 13 and July 31, 2007 in Livingstone, Mulyata, being a person employed in the public service as then minister for southern province abused the authority of his office by directing officers from the Road Development Agency (RDA) to release a Germins Motorways bus registration MGL06.

The bus had been impounded for evading a weighbridge without paying the required fine, an act arbitrary and prejudicial to the interest of the Government of Zambia.

In his ruling delivered in a Livingstone magistrate’s court yesterday, Magistrate Edsen Shanduba acquitted Mr Mulyata saying he had been exonerated by one of the
witnesses.

Mr Shanduba said that prosecution witness Mubuyaeta Kapinda, who was then Road Development Agency (RDA) regional engineer, exonerated Mr Mulyata when he
testified in court that he willingly released the bus.

Mr Kapinda had told the court that he willingly released the bus after considering the circumstances that were prevailing at that time.

”After looking at the circumstances, I decided to release the bus. As a senior Government official, Mr Mulyata assured that the fine would be paid so I went
and got the keys and released the bus to the driver,” Mr Kapinda had said in his testimony.

Mr Kapinda had maintained in court that there was no directive from Mr Mulyata but a request that the bus be released and a fine to be paid later.

He explained that the Government did not lose in any way as the fine of US2000 for the release of the impounded bus had since been paid.

”The Government did not lose in any way. The decision to release the bus was purely my own,” Mr Kapinda had said.

In their submission, the defense stated that essential elements in the case had not been proved while in their submission the prosecution argued that Mr
Mulyata be found with a case to answer because he used his position as then southern province minister to release the bus.

The prosecution stated that Mulyata made the directive more than once while the defense argued that the prosecution had failed to say the exact words Mulyata
used in directing’the RDA officers to release the bus.

”In my view, the word directive, means to give orders and those orders must be followed. When a person is directed to do something, they do not have a choice.
Under these circumstances however, I do not agree that the request was in essence a directive.”

”The word directive is not synonymous with the word request. A request can either be granted or refused,” Mr Shanduba said.

Magistrate Shanduba maintained that according to the evidence adduced in court, the bus was released not because Mulyata directed the RDA officers but that Mr
Kapinda released the bus in his capacity as the then RDA regional engineer.

He said Mr Kapinda used his discretion to release the bus and it was on record that the US$2000 fine for the impounded bus had been paid.

In my view, there was no offence. Mr Kapinda exonerated Mulyata and in accordance with section 206 of the criminal procedure court of the Penal code, I
now dismiss this case. Mr Mulyata is now acquitted. Accused, you are now free. You can now go and sing a new song,” Mr Shanduba said.

Speaking in an interview shortly after being acquitted Mr Mulyata thanked his lawyers saying he was grateful that the case was finished and that he had been
vindicated.

”I have no ill feelings against anyone. Am just grateful that the case is over,” Mr Mulyata said.

University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East road campus students run amok Friday night and stoned vehicles in protest against governments alleged failure to increase their meal and project allowances.

But Quick action by vigilant officers from the Zambia Police Service prevented the irate students from stoning more motorists.

The current meal allowance is K10,000 per day while the project allowance stands at K300,000.

UNZASU President, Solomon Ng’ambi told ZNBC’s Effie Mpande who rushed to the scene that the students wanted their allowance to be hiked.

Mr. Ng’ambi said government last upped students allowances four years ago.

“The police officers have been deployed at the campus in order to protect public property,” the police said.

Although some students were arrested the police did not say how many.

Similar protests also took place at the Copperbelt University, where the government provides free bursaries to students who cannot afford to pay fees.

“The ring leaders of the protest have been identified and will be made to account for their action,” said Grace Mikunga, spokesperson of the Copperbelt University in a statement.

Student riots over low government funding levels of the two state-run universities have become increasingly common.

The government has said it plans to stop free bursaries offered to poor students because it has been the source of riots and demonstrations.