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NCC committees record progress

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The National Constitution Conference-NCC Committees that are sitting have so far recorded a 100 percent turnout since commencement of sittings.

NCC Spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis told ZANIS that it is exciting that the three committees are exceedingly engaged in their work.

Mrs. Zaloumis noted that the Judicial, Citizenship and Public Committees were all working extremely well and in accordance to their terms of references.

She said so far the NCC Executive was exceptionally happy with the proceedings of discussions saying although the Committees have not finished, the progression is remarkable.

Mrs. Zaloumis said the Executive was closely watching the progress of the three Committees.

She however urged members of the public to take time to listen to the discussions and observed that those who attend the meetings are few and are almost the same people.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zaloumis disclosed that the NCC Chairperson recently traveled to Eastern Province where he spoke to members of the public through community radios on how far the NCC has gone with the constitution process.

She explained that the tour by Dr. Chifumu Banda was in line with the NCC’s programme to sensitize members of public on the mandate of the NCC.

Govt Terminate Kavindele’s Railway Contract

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The government has terminated the permit for The North-Western Rail to construct a railway line from Chingola to Solwezi.

Communications and Transport Minister, Dora Siliya confirmed the development.

Mrs. Siliya said the action has been taken in public interest because the North-Western Rail has taken long to construct the railway line.

She said the company was issued with the permit to construct a railway line from Chingola to Solwezi in 2005.

Mrs. Siliya said government is a hurry to construct the railway from Chingola to Solwezi to link Angola’s Jimbe border.

She said in the next few years there will be pressure on roads from Livingstone to the Copperbelt and the situation needs to be arrested by expanding on other forms of transports like rail.

The North-Western Rail is run by former republican Vice President, Enock Kavindele.

And Minister Dora Siliya has commended the Catholic Church for supplementing government’s efforts in up lifting the living standard of the under privileged in society.

Ms Siliya noted that the Catholic Church has practically shown interest to work closely with government by helping the needy in communities.

She said this in Lusaka today when she officiated at the St Ignatius Fundraising walk for the under privileged in society organized by the branch women’s league organization.

Ms Siliya noted that government alone can not solve all the problems that people are faced with in their communities hence the need for other stakeholders to come on board and emulate what the Catholic Church is doing.

She has since thanked the women for organizing such an event, adding that this will go a long way in helping the less privileged in the country.

And speaking earlier, St Ignatius Women’s league group chairperson Priscilla Chimba said the organizations’ objective is to help the needy in society.

Mrs. Chimba said her organization works towards closing the gaps between the rich and the poor and would want to reach out where government can not.

She disclosed that the organization has also adapted to two wards at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and Chilenje transient home were they are helping meet the basic needs for patients.

She thanked government for the support and pledged to continue working hard in uplifting the living standards of people in community.

LCC kicks off installation of new traffic lights in Lusaka

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The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has commenced the installation of new traffic lights in Lusaka at a cost of K1.5 billion.

Speaking in an interview, LCC Public Relations Officer Henry Kapata said works have commenced at three junctions, namely Kamloops-Alick Nkatha , Lumumba-Ben Bella and Malila-Lumumba road junctions.

Mr. Kapata said the Council has contracted Aeradeo Zambia Limited to install the light emitting diodes which have a life span of ten years with financial support from the National Road Fund Agency and the Road Development Agency.

He said works have started at Kamloops-Alick Nkata junction and are expected to be commissioned in seven days while the rest of the works at other junctions will be completed by 14th June, this year.

He added that the LCC is seriously considering Solar system as an alternative source of energy for street lights to avoid inconveniences arising from ZESCO power cuts and shortages.

Meanwhile, the LCC has called on the Road Traffic Commission to mount constant patrols in the central business area to address problems of inadequate parking space and traffic jams.

Mr. Kapata said unregistered taxis and illegal car dealers have continued to contribute to increased traffic jams and inadequate parking space especially along Cairo Road.

He appealed to the business community to partner with the local authority in securing more cramps as the council is considering stiffer punishments for careless parking through the introduction of by laws.

Mbesuma Left out of the Zambian Squad

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Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma has been left out of the Zambia national squad after failing to get in touch with Football Association of Zambia FAZ. Six players flew from Lusaka International this afternoon to join the rest of the squad. These include: Clifford Mulenga, Isaac Chansa, James Chamanga, Roger Kola and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

Aboard the same flight was the Zambia Under 21 national squad who are heading to Damman to play Saudi Arabia under 21 in a friendly match on Sunday. Kickoff will be 21:00hrs Zambia time

Weekend Football Fixtures

International Friendly

25/05/2008

Tehran

Iran- Zambia

Faz Premier League

Week 10

24/05/2008

City of Lusaka- Young Arrows

Lusaka Dynamos- Zesco United

Red Arrows- Zanaco

Nkana – Nkwazi

Nchanga Rangers- Power Dynamos

Green Eagles- Konkola Blades

Roan United- Kabwe Warriors

Chambishi – Green Buffaloes

Division 1

25/05/2008

North

Week 11

Prisons Leopards- Muchindu

Afrisports- Tazara Express

Indeni- Zamtel

Forest Rangers- Mufulira Wanderers

Mufulira Blackpool- Lime Hotspurs

Medical Stars- Chindwin

Mining Rangers- Kalewa

Ndola United- Kitwe United

South

Week 12

LUsaka Celtic- Builders Brigade

Nampundwe- Petauke United

Kambuku – Mazabuka United

Nakambala Leopards- Zamcoal Diggers

Lusaka City Council- Young Buffaloes

Riflemen- Lusaka Tigers

Livingstone Pirates- National Assembly

Profund Warriors- Kalomo Jetters

Chilanga Heroes – Young Green Eagles

26/05/2008

South

Week 13

Petauke United – Lusaka Celtic

Builders Brigade- Kambuku

Zamcoal Diggers- Nampundwe

Mazabuka United- Lusaka City Council

Young Buffaloes- Livingstone Pirates

Kalomo Jetters- Riflemen

National Assembly- Chilanga Heroes

Young Green Eagles- Profund Warriors

Five Lusaka wards selected for development projects

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Five wards in Lusaka have been selected for a ward development planning pilot project.

Acting District Commissioner of Lusaka, Douglas Kalimanzbila, said under the project, communities will be actively involved in the planning and implementation of ward development plans.

The selected wards are Kanyama, Lima, Chakunkula, Lilayi and Independence.

He said the planning process involves the participation of all stakeholders including men, women, youths and vulnerable groups in the communities.

He said this during the official launch of independence ward 14 development planning process held at the Lusaka museum in Lusaka today.

He pointed out that government is determined to involve people at grassroot level in decision making through the decentralization process.

He urged the selected wards to work hard and ensure the success of the project in order to attract more funding from government and the donor community.

Speaking earlier, Lusaka Central Member of Parliament, Guy Scott, said the ward development planning process is key to efforts of eradicating poverty and enhancing development at both ward and national levels.

Dr Scott said in a speech read for him by Independence Wards councilor Paul Chatele that decentralization is significant in empowering the grassroots and improving the general living standards of the people.

Meanwhile, President of the Federation of the ward Development Committee, Adrian Nsefu, has welcomed the reconciliation of President Mwanawasa and Patriotic Front leader,Michael Sata.

Mr Nsefu expressed hope that the reconciliation would trickle down to ward councilors in the interest of fostering national development.

Two UNZA students Shot and Wounded by Police

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Two university of Zambia students have been shot and wounded while a police officer has been injured following clashes at the Great East Road campus in the capital, Lusaka.

Zambia Police Service spokesperson Ben Kapeso has confirmed the development to ZNBC.

The students were wounded, after they attacked riot police with stones and police responded by firing in the air.

Earlier police had difficulties controlling the unruly students who attempted to stone motorists along the Great East Road.

The students were only pushed back after a police reinforcement arrived on the scene.

The students also blocked the entrance to the campus and turned cars away.

During the clashes on campus, the student pelted riot police with bottles and stones and hurled insults.

Police also fired teargas at student hostels to disperse them.

Government has described as regrettable the shooting of the two University of Zambia, UNZA, Great East campus students in Lusaka during a riot this morning.

Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mike Mulongoti, said government will, however, not close the university as calm has returned to the institution.

He added that tight security has also been put in place to prevent further violence at the country’s highest learning institution.

Mr Mulongoti, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, said this during a media briefing at his office in Lusaka today.

He advised the students to adopt dialogue as a mean of putting across grievances.

Mr Mulongoti has also called on the student union leadership to ensure that student grievances are resolved through peaceful means and condemn rioting and destroying other people’s property.

He explained that the two students were shot at when a mob of students charged against the police and injured one police officer.

Mr Mulongoti also described the condition of the two students as out of danger adding that both the Inspector General of Police and Hospital authorities have confirmed the stable conditions of the victims.

He said it was not the intention of the police officers to open fire adding that the law will take its course once evidence is established against the police officers.

Starving headmen flock to DCs office

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About 29 village headmen from Chief Sinazongwe area gathered at the office of Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) to demand for an explanation over government’s delay in sending relief food to flood victims.

The team leader Molosi Muntanga who is also the traditional representative for Chief Sinazongwe said all the people in Malima area were severely affected of hunger.

Mr. Muntanga said the village headmen decided to have an audience with the DC following ameeting that they held in Malima that the hunger situation has become unbearable in the area.

Representing the DC who is on leave Sinazongwe District Administrative Officer Sokoloku Daka told the headmen that government would send relief food any time this week.

Mr. Daka said a programme has been drawn on how relief food would be distributed to the affected districts in Southern Province.

He said the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the office of the vice president have also sent officers to assess the exact impact of the affected communities in the districts.

Mr. Daka said relief food would only be given to the most vulnerable people in the district.

Sinazongwe vice traditional chief representative Edgar Siabana said the current relief food that Woman for Change distributed in the area did not have any impact because five people out of more than 1000 people in each village had benefited.

“We are all affected and there should be no selection in the distribution of relief food,” Mr. Siabana said.

However, the village headmen have demanded for a meeting with officials from the Rural Electrification Authority to explain why Malima has remained without being connected to power for a long time.

Mr. Mutanga noted that the project for power started a long time during the Gwembe Tonga project that phased out but nothing has been done to address the scenario.

“We want officials from Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation and Rural Electrification Authority to come here and tell us when power would be connected to Schools, Clinics, and to our houses,” Mr Muntanga said.

Sinazongwe District Council Secretary Oliver Muuka told the gathering that there was a plan outlining areas that were required to be electrified but he has no direct answer to tell them on the exact period when work would commerce.
Mr. Muuka said the issue of ZESCO was complex because the district has projects that have been paid for to connect power but the utility company has failed to install it.

He named Kariba South Primary School and Siansowa middle Basic School as projects that ZESCO has failed to electrify even when money was paid to the company.
[ZANIS]

Grandfather defiles granddaughter

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A 16 year old girl has been defiled by his grandfather in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.

Maamba police has since arrested the man who allegedly defiled the girl on two occasions in December 2007 and this year in April.

Police sources identified the man as Joseph Jere of Maamba old Township who enticed the girl into having sex with him.

Last month during the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) both Sinazongwe and Maamba police reported the increasing number of defilement cases in the district.

In February Sinazongwe District Acting Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Sitwiinda Sikabanga revealed stunning results of 128 girls who were married in 2007 from January to December while 87 girls were pregnant.

Mrs. Sikabanga told the gathering that included village headmen from Chief Sinazongwe area and Senior Chief Mweemba that 99 married girls were recorded from the 43 government Schools in the district and 83 three pregnancies.

She said out of the 36 Community Schools in the district 29 girls got married while four had pregnancies.
Police sources said most parents fail to report defilement cases on time and prefer to settle them outside court.
[ZANIS]

Levy Accepts Proposal to Name Bridge after him

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Works and Supply Minister, Kapembwa Simbao has disclosed that President Mwanawasa has accepted the proposal from the local chiefs and citizens to name the bridge as Levy Patrick Mwanawasa Bridge.

Mr Simbao said the President did not object to the proposal of naming the bridge after him.

Yesterday, President Mwanawasa inspected the on going construction works of the Chembe bridge across the Luapula river.

The bridge, which is 320 meters long, linking Luapula and Copperbelt province through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, is being constructed at a cost of K46.3 billion out of which K31 billion has already been paid out.

Dr Mwanawasa was accompanied by Works and Supply Minister, Kapembwa Simbao, Local Government and Housing Minister, Sylvia Masebo, Copperbelt Minister, Mwansa Mbulakulima, deputy ministers and permanent secretaries.

The President was taken on a tour by Project Director, Henry Musonda, of Kilan and Musonda consulting engineers and China Hennan Director for Africa, Zhang Chang Ping.

Earlier, Mr Musonda told the President during a pre tour briefing that the lifespan of the bridge is 10 generations in Zambia.

He said so far ten out of the total 13 segments that would make up the upper deck of the bridge have already been cast.

He said casting of the deck of the Six pier would be completed by June 16 this year while the other works would be finished by the end of August this year.

Mr Musonda explained that the bridge was high enough not to be disturbed in the event of rising water levels.

Meanwhile Mr Ping assured Dr Mwanawasa and the people of Zambia that the bridge is very strong that it would not compromise China Hennan’s workmanship.

He said China Hennan was proud of having partnered with government in undertaking a huge project of constructing a bridge.

Dr Mwanawasa who later met Chief Milambo and other traditional leaders at Chembe has since returned to Lusaka.

Govt still focuses at decentralising health sector

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Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fully decentralise the health sector in efforts of ensuring improved access to health services by the people.

Health Deputy Minister, Lwipa Puma, said government is also determined to explore new technologies that maximize production in the sector.

Dr Puma said this in a speech ready for him by Ministry of Health Director of Policy, Chrispin Sichone, during the launch of the BD FACSCount CD4 per cent unveiled by BD Bio-sciences Southern Africa at the Intercontinental hotel in Lusaka this evening.

He said government is confident of meeting the objectives of improved health service delivery through active involvement of the private sector.

He noted that by last year, an estimated 30.6 million people were living with HIV out of which about 2.6 million were children.

Dr Puma said government is concerned at the rising number of children living with the virus in the country.

The Deputy Minister regretted that most facilities in the country are only able to perform an absolute CD-4 Count and not the improved CD-4 per centage that is technologised.

He observed that access to CD-4 test and viral load testing has been a major challenge in the management of HIV/AIDS in Zambia.

Speaking earlier, BD Bio-sciences Southern Africa Business Manager Christina Kocovaos, disclosed that her organization will pump US$9 million in the management of HIV/AIDS in Zambia for the next five years.

Ms Kocovaos said her organization has so far trained 100 health personnel to administer drugs

Agro PS takes ZAMBEEF to task

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Agriculture permanent secretary, Isaac Phiri, today took ZAMBEEF to task for allegedly failing to plough back profits into the communities it was operating from.

Speaking when he toured the Namwala ZAMBEEF abattoir today, Professor Phiri challenged the company not only to be interested in making profits but take social responsibility seriously in order to enhance its cooperate image.

Professor Phiri said ZAMBEEF should have taken up the initiative of supplementing government effort in vaccinating cattle in the district when the Foot and mouth disease broke out in the district.

“You are in cattle business and, therefore, you should have taken it upon yourselves to ensure that you protect the livestock population in the district so that your business is not disrupted by cattle movement ban,” said Professor Phiri.

“Your business partners are the cattle farmers and, therefore, you need to plough back to them by ensuring you vaccinate some of their livestock,” he added.

And Professor Phiri accused ZAMBEEF of allegedly exploiting farmers by enforcing what he termed as ‘poor beef prices.’

He noted that was very unfair for the company, after making huge amounts of money form farmers, to charge K9,000 per 130 kilogrammes live weight and K8,000 below 130 Kilogrammes.

“The fact that you are the only buyers of beef here does not give you the right to buy cattle at a price of your wanting without regards for poor farmers,” professor Phiri said while urging farmers in the district to form groupings to increase their bargaining power for the right price for beef.

And southern province ZAMBEEF general manager, Nelson Mawanai, said the company would take the concerns raised seriously.

Zambia 2- 2 Libya-Updated

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Herve Renard’s reign as Zambian coach began on a bright start after his team drew 2-2 away in a friendly international in Tripoli on Thursday evening.

Libya rallied twice to finish level against their guests who now remain unbeaten against their hosts in three successive meetings.

Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka and Young Arrows winger Chiwanki Liyanga each scored for Zambia with Libya finding the target in-between.

Liyanga’s goal was his first international goal in his 4th senior cap while Mayuka joins midfielder Felix Katongo of Stades Rennes in 3 international goals for Zambia so far this year.

The team leaves for Tehran today and will be joined there by Zanaco striker Roger Kola, Katongo, midfielder Isaac Chansa of Helsingborg in Sweden and Clifford Mulenga from South African Premier League side Bidvest Wits.

Zambia face Iran in Tehran this Sunday in their final friendly international before heading to Ghana ahead of their 2010 World/Africa Cup Group 11 qualifier against Togo in Accra on May 31.

Zambia still on course for $415 million mine tax target

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Zambia is on course to collect a projected $415 million from new mining taxes in 2008 following compliance by mining companies, a senior tax official said on Thursday, contradicting a top treasury official.

The new tax regime, which came into effect on April 1, increased mineral royalty to 3 percent from 0.6 percent, while corporate tax on miners rose to 30 percent from 25 percent.

Zambia also introduced a 15 percent variable profit tax on taxable income above 8 percent and a minimum of 25 percent windfall profit tax.

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner-general Chriticles Mwansa said in a statement mining companies had complied with the new tax law and paid the mineral royalties at 3 percent.

Mwansa said mining companies paid the tax authority $8.4 million in May compared with the $1.4 million that they used to pay per month before the introduction of the new taxes.

“I am confident that the targeted $415 million will be collected. The compliance levels so far by the mining companies are very encouraging, hence we are extremely hopeful that the government will meet the target.

“The first payments for mineral royalty were due on May 14, 2008 following the introduction of new taxes but the bulk of the revenue will be paid in June when the first returns and payments for company income tax and other taxes are due,” Mwansa said.

Emmanuel Ngulube, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance, said on Monday the first money of the projected $415 million this year would start coming in June, and that a power outage would affect mine production.

Ngulube said he therefore expected the revenue to reduce.

Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande said on Wednesday Zambia was on course to achieve a targeted 1.0 million tonnes of refined copper in three years after resolving a controversy over new mining taxes with foreign investors,

Magande said all but two foreign mining firms in mineral-rich Zambia had agreed to pay the increased taxes, after initial threats of litigation in international courts.

The bigger tax bite had outraged mining firms, which said the move could discourage investment in the sector, a major employer in Zambia accounting for a large share of foreign earnings.

[REUTERS]

Don’t Sell off Small-scale Mining licenses to Foreigners

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Government has called on Zambians to desist from selling their small-scale mining licenses to foreign investors.

Mines and Minerals Development Minister Kalombo Mwansa says the trend must come to an end if the country is to see a reduction in poverty and create wealth for its citizens through the country’s resources.

Dr. Mwansa was speaking when he launched the Federations of Small-scale Miners Association in Lusaka today.

He urged the newly launched Federations of Small-scale Miners Association to fight the tendency among Zambians to pass on the economic empowerment to foreign investors.

Dr. Mwansa observed that Zambians who sell off their mining licenses have remained poor while the new owners of the mines have reaped handsomely from the mining activities.

He said government established the mining sector revolving fund in 2005 to help small-scale miners sustain their mining undertakings.

And speaking earlier, Federations of Small-scale Miners Association interim President Lyapa Manza explained that 14 regional mining associations have come together to form one national body that will serve as an umbrella body for small-scale miners.

He said the federation has been formed with the key objective of promoting the sustainable development of the small-scale mining sector.

He added that a well organized and supported small-scale mining industry has the potential of contributing immensely to not only poverty eradication but the economic well being of the country.

Cyclist seriously injured in a bicycle collision in Lundazi

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A 30-year-old teacher of Mphamba Day Secondary School in Lundazi District is lying unconscious in Lundazi District hospital after being involved in a head-on bicycle collision.

Both police and Lundazi District Director of Health, Allan Chisenga, confirmed the accident to ZANIS in Lundazi which happened around 07 hours yesterday along the Lundazi-Mphamba road.

The victim has been identified as Perry Chingwele, a resident of Lundazi Boarding school teachers’ compound.

Dr. Chisenga said Chingwele sustained severe head injuries.

Dr. Chisenga explained that Chingwele sustained a depression skull injury on the right side of the head.

He disclosed that plans have been made for the immediate evacuation of Chingwele to St. Francis Hospital in Katete District for further medical attention.

And police sources named the other cyclist involved in the same accident as, Sam Phiri, aged 28 of Chikoloka village Chief Mphamba, who escaped unhurt.

And Lundazi residents have expressed worry over the increase in the number of accidents happening along Mphamba road.

They have since appealed to management at Mphamba secondary and new Kabinda Day High Secondary ro consider mounting humps on the road to reduce further accidents.

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