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Police launch investigations on 42 construction companies

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Police has launched investigations into the case where 42 construction companies have been cited for alleged shoddy works and barred from government tenders.

Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo says two teams headed by two assistant Commissioners of Police Maxwell Nzoe and Lubinda Situmbeko have since been constituted to head the investigating teams.

This follows President Mwanawasa’s directive that no contracts should be awarded to the 42 construction firms whose names were submitted to the law enforcement agencies for investigations for alleged shoddy work on government contracts early this month.

Mr. Mateyo revealed this during a press briefing in Lusaka today.

He added that the police teams will work in collaboration with other security wings such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission during the investigations.

Mr.Mateyo said the two groups will be dispatched to various parts of the country to investigate the allegations and submit a report to government.

And in his Easter message, Mr Mateyo has called on the public to play an integral part in enhancing compliance of the road traffic to reduce road carnage.

He said police presence will be increased during the holidays as people tend to drink more and travel a lot.

Mr. Mateyo has however acknowledged that the crime rate in Zambia has dropped to considerable rates.

China to play Zambian music

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China’s Director General in the department of International Cooperation, Ma Xuming pledged to assist ZNBC broadcast some of its programs on China Central Television Station (CCTV).

Mr. Xuming said the ministry of Information in China is ready to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its Zambian counterparts for technical and training support in order to educate and effectively disseminate information between the two countries.

He said the Chinese people appreciate programs from Zambia especially Zambian music adding that it would be great if it was televised on CCTV.

Government has commended China for its continued technical and training support to Zambia.

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Michael Mulongoti thanked China for assisting government to acquire transmitters and equipment which has enabled the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) to effectively disseminate information on radio and television.

Mr. Mulongoti said this in Lusaka today when the visiting Chinese delegation led by Ma Xuming paid a courtesy call on him at his office.

Mr Mulongoti who is also Chief government Spokesperson called for continued support and exchange of information between the two countries to improve the media industry.

He said people in Zambia and China need to share and learn about each other’s culture and economic developments in order strengthen their ties.

Mr Mulongoti further appealed for assistance from China in the upgrading of television equipment adding that most of it is obsolete.

Economic boom in North West increases HIV/AIDs

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North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkolola Hazemba says there is urgent need to scale up HIV/AIDS preventive activities in the Province due to the increase in economic activities.

Mr. Hazemba said a lot of people from different places with various backgrounds have trekked to the province due to booming activities thereby posing a lot of challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary said this when he officially opened a one-day stakeholders consultative meeting on ”Development of the HIV Prevention Strategy” organized by National AIDS Council (N.A.C),in Solwezi today.

Mr.Hazemba implored all players to reflect on God’s plan for sex adding that it was intended to perpetuate the human race and not to be abused.

He warned that it was therefore wrong for people to abuse this gift of God by indulging in activities outside plans of the almighty.

Mr. Hazemba urged all participants from various sectors to prepare HIV prevention strategies that were inclusive of different interest groups for them to stand the test of time.

Speaking at the same meeting, N.A.C HIV Preventive Team Group Vice-Chairperson, Florence Mulenga said Government through N.A.C had embarked on a process to develop an evidence based HIV prevention strategy that was simple and actionable.

Ms Mulenga said with such actionable evidence based prevention strategy, the country hoped to achieve the Millennium Development Goal(M.D.G) number six on HIV/AIDS.

M.D.G number six focuses on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases with targets such as halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015 and halt and begin to reverse incidences of malaria and other major diseases by 2015.

State launches National Food and Nutrition Policy

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Government has launched the National Food and Nutrition Policy aimed at achieving sustainable food and nutrition security in the country.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka today, Health Minister Brian Chituwo stated that the policy will also incorporate nutrition issues into developmental programmes and provide for monitoring of all nutrition interventions.

Dr. Chituwo said the policy was timely because malnutrition remained the most public health problem and biggest contributor to child mortality which is a major challenge in attaining the Millennium Developing Goals on Child health.

He noted that addressing child health through nutritional security is a key health priority as stated in the’Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP).

Dr. Chituwo observed that according to the latest Demographic Health Survey, the current statistics for children aged below five years indicate that 28 percent are underweight, 5 percent are wasted and 47 percent are stunted.

He said the under-five malnutrition levels are still high and the country requires robust strategies through a multi sectoral approach to adequately address them.

He added that government will facilitate the implementation of the policy measures by creating an enabling socio-economic environment to ensure that the rights to adequate food and to be free from hunger and malnutrition are realized.

Dr. Chituwo also said his Ministry is spearheading the development of a degree programme in food and nutrition at the University of Zambia in a bid to have adequate trained staff.

He said the Ministry has established an office to address the double burden of under-nutrition and over-nutrition which results in obesity.

And Ministry of Education Director of planning and information Felix Phiri commended the Ministry of health for launching the policy saying his ministry will incorporate the policy in the curricular at all levels of learning .

Adams wont be dettered by racial remarks against him

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Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)’s Presidential aspiring candidate, Hanif Adams says he is not bothered by racial remarks being done against him by his opponents.

ZANIS Sports reports Adams, who is also Lusaka Dynamos proprietor, saying that no amount of racism shall derail him from achieving his goal of leading the next FAZ Executive committee.

Adams said the racist remarks don’t bother him or affect his campaign in any way because he knows who he is as he was born and bred in Zambia.

Adams said an interview, Thursday, that for this reason he has advanced his campaign trials with the latest being one in Mazabuka, today.

He said that he has so far received positive response from the various affiliate clubs in the provinces he has visited in his campaigns.

He said sympathizers have given him encouragement and assurance that he was the right man for the FAZ top seat.

The Lusaka Dynamos proprietor said he is so far keeping a positive attitude towards the election adding that he was hoping for the best results in the elections he said would be tough.

To round off his campaigns, he will tour Kabwe and Chipata districts on Monday and Tuesday,respectively.

Adams said that he will, on Friday which is the day before the election, hold a press conference in Lusaka at Club Infinity to present his manifesto.

30 Companies tender for share in Maamba mine

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Thirty foreign and local companies have tendered for shares in Zambia’s major coal supplier to its copper mines, a senior industry official said on Wednesday.

Joseph Chikolwa, chief executive officer of ZCCM Investments Holdings, which wholly owns the Maamba Collieries Ltd mine, said tenders would close on March 28.

“We do not have a fixed percentage to give to the successful bidder but we have decided to leave it open for negotiation with the successful bidder depending on the value they are going to add to Maamba Collieries,” Chikolwa told Reuters.

“In terms of the response, we have had over thirty interested parties expressing interest to submit proposals so we can say the response has been very good.”

He declined to name the companies.

ZCCM Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) plans to inject $12 million into operations of the Maamba Collieries Ltd. as it seeks permanent equity partners.

Maamba produced about 600,000 tonnes of coal per year in the 1980s, but years of undercapitalisation have led to a fall in production.

Maamba mine has seen production slump in recent years due to undercapitalization and operational losses.
Maamba Collieries has 78 million known coal reserves to last over 70 years while the coal mine has capacity to produce up to one million tones of coal per year, officials say.

“The coal at Maamba can be used to help solve the power deficit the country and the (southern Africa) region is currently facing,” said Chikolwa.

Govt. concludes process of purchasing bullet proofs

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Government has completed the process of purchasing bullet proofs for police officers to increase their security while on duty.

Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS today.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said the police officers’ duty to secure the nation is a sacrifice and government will do everything possible to ensure that their lives are safeguarded.

The Minister was responding to calls from the Human Rights Commission for government to increase the security of police officers who mostly work at night.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha also disclosed that government will spend about K3 billion to reconnect 40 police houses in Lilayi that have had no electricity for weeks.

He said government is currently working on the process and the houses will soon be reconnected.

He further added that government has commissioned the construction of 500 housing units for police officers in Livingstone, Chipata, Kasama and Ndola.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha stated that the sites for construction have already been handed over to the contractors for the commencement of construction.

He said the housing units are expected to be completed by December 31, this year to pave way for the next batch of 1000 housing units in other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has floated tenders for the construction of boarder post infrastructure in Northern, North Western and Western provinces.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha also said government will this year complete construction of border infrastructure at Kanyala border post in Eastern province that was started last year.

He said the border posts are expected to effectively aid operations of all the border staff.

DEC rounds up illegal drug trafficers

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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested two Somali nationals, a Congolese and several Zambians for trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

In a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison officer Rosten Chulu said the Commission arrested Audi Maxamad 36 and Saynab Gelle Hasha 42 both Somali nationals residing in Ndola’s Ndeke Township for trafficking in 10 bundles of Mira weighing 4.2kg.

Also arrested is a Congolese national Kasongo Mulembwe 36 of 6 Choma avenue, Parklands, in Kitwe for trafficking in three bottles of Lignocaine weighing 0.36g.

Mr. Chulu said that the Commission has arrested MacLean Mwanza Sibeso a businessman of 960 Kanyama Site and Service for unlawfully trafficking in 1010 tablets of Diazepam weighing 170g.

He added that the Commission in Kasama conducted a joint operation with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Fiseya village where Leinondi Chasaya 45 a headman of the village was arrested for trafficking in 59.52kg fresh cannabis plants and being in possession of one shot gun with three rounds of ammunition including five empty cartridges.

Others arrested in the same operation include Anthony Chinguse 38, a peasant farmer of Fiseya village for trafficking in 65.90kg of cannabis and Kabwe Chakolokotwa 32 of the same village for trafficking in 41.35kg of cannabis and being in possession of three shot guns.

Mr. Chulu added that officers also managed to seize 165kg of cannabis in the same area and 30kg of cannabis in Kalungu area in Nakonde District saying the two suspects believed to be the owners of the contraband are on the run and that a manhunt has since been launched.

He said in North Western Province the Commission has arrested Felina Samutondu 61 of Kapenda Kabulamema Village for trafficking in 13.024 of cannabis seeds and loose cannabis.

Also arrested is Chinyemba Maybin 23 of Zambia compound in Solwezi for trafficking in 1.5kg of cannabis and Charles Kalyata 33 of Kawanda in Kabompo for trafficking in 409kg of cannabis.

Mr. Chulu also said in Southern Province DEC has arrested Kelvin Silombwana 28 of Kazungula Victim camp site for trafficking in 326kg of cannabis while in Luapula the Commission has arrested Joseph Kabwe 41, a traditional doctor for trafficking in 650kg of cannabis.

All suspects will appear in court soon.

New Chinese mining company coming

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A major Chinese mining company, Zhonghui Mining Industry, Zambia Limited is to be established on the Copperbelt province.

This came to light today when a Chinese delegation comprising officials from the Export-import Bank of China (Exim) and Zhonghui mining group, paid a courtesy call on the Vice President, Rupiah Banda at his office.

Mr. Banda said government is happy with the coming of Zhonghui Guohua Industrial Group Company Limited.

He said Zambia and China has for a long time shared warm relations, adding that government would ensure that these relations grew even stronger.

Mr. Banda said the coming of the new mining company emanates from the visit of President Levy Mwanawasa to the China-Africa Summit and the reciprocal visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao last year.

And Exim bank Executive Vice President, Liu Liange said China’s cooperation with Zambia and the African continent was based on mutual friendship.

Mr. Liange, who is the Chinese delegation leader, said Exim bank was interested in advancing China’s economic policy in Africa.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, Kalombo Mwansa, Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Cecil Holmes and Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor, Denny Kalyalya among others.

Konkola Blades Replace Mwila

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They were losers and winners in the search for coaches in the top-flight so early in the new season.

Lusaka Dynamos for starters have lost in their protracted bid to hold on the coach Oswald Mutapa who oversaw a good run last season that saw them finish 6th after mounting a strong challenge to finish in 2nd place.

Mutapa’s employers Zambia Police decided to deploy him back to his old club and Dynamos’ promoted city rivals Nkwazi who are sponsored by the service.

The development will leave Dynamos under the care of Lucas Phiri and Joel Kabemba for the foreseeable future.

It is still unclear whether Mutapa will travel to Kitwe away with the Police outfit to face Power Dynamos on Good Friday in a week 2 fixture.

Elsewhere, Konkola Blades have confirmed they have appointed a new coach in the form of little known Chewe Mulenga.

The 41-year-old former Blades player takes over from Charles Mwila who was sacked last Sunday after six months on the job.

This will be Mwila’s first coaching experience in Zambia after managing teams in Zimbabwe and Botswana since retiring as a player in 2004.

Mulenga, who also played for Green Buffaloes and Kabwe Warriors, has coached Masvingo United of Zimbabwe and TAFIC of Botswana.

He has also played for Zimbabwean clubs Highlanders, Amazulu and Railstars.

Mulenga’s first day on the job will be on Good Friday when Blades travel to Railway Ground to face Kabwe Warriors.

Blades are 13th from one game played after losing 2-1 in their league opener to Buffaloes last Saturday in Chililabombwe.

Elsewhere, Power will confirm on Thursday whether they will play their home game against Nkwazi at their Arthur Davies Stadium home ground, club officials have stated.

Arthur Davies is undergoing renovations that will start with its open wing spectators
area before works shift to the grandstand.

Once works are complete, Arthur Davies will be the first football venue with all-bucket seating in Zambia and will maintain its current 15 000 spectator capacity.

38 clubs in Southern Province back Kalusha

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Thirty eight (38) football teams in southern province have thrown their weight behind Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice president Kalusha Bwalya’s aspiration to take over the organisation’s top seat.

ZANIS sports reports the clubs’ spokesperson Opper Hamiyanze saying in a statement released in Choma , Wednesday, that the teams still stand by their earlier declaration made in Livingstone to back Kalusha.

Hamiyanze said the clubs in the province maintained that they are resolved to support Kalusha adding that nothing will change their resolution.

He said the teams believe that ‘ Great Kalu ‘ has vast experience appreciated world over and that his connections with the outside world can take Zambian football to another level.

He said once elected as FAZ president, Kalusha Bwalya has the potential of introducing football colleges to produce quality Zambian football professionals fit for big clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal.

Outgoing FAZ president Teddy Mulonga and Lusaka Dynamoes proprietor Anif Adams have also announced their intentions of challenging for the FAZ hot seat during the FAZ AGM on March 29

State Seeks Help From WHO

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THE Government has appealed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help Zambia mitigate the impact of floods following the high risk of malaria and cholera outbreaks.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, said the floods that Zambia was experiencing could trigger outbreaks of diseases, hence the need to provide adequate medical kits.

Mr Pande said this in Lusaka when he received letters of credence from newly appointed WHO country representative to Zambia, Olusegun Babaniyi.

“Although I am aware that WHO is involved in the partnership of special initiatives and programmes in Zambia in collaboration with the ministry of Health, my appeal is for WHO to help Zambia mitigate the impact of floods by providing various medical kits to help reduce outbreaks of malaria,” Mr Pande said.

The minister said the Government enjoyed cordial relationship with WHO since 1964 when the two ratified the basic agreement for provision of technical advisory and human resource development.

“The Government also appreciates the support you render in formulation of reproductive Health policy strategies and guidelines for Zambia,” he said

Speaking earlier, Dr Babaniyi assured the Government that WHO would always work hand in hand with the Health ministry to improve the delivery of health services in Zambia.

Dr Babaniyi, a Nigerian national, holds a Msc in Epidemiology from the Harvard school of Public Health in Boston which he obtained in 1984.

“It’s my privilege to be appointed here in Zambia. I promise that WHO will always work with the Zambian Government to ensure that the health sector is working to the expectations and provides the basic services to the citizens,” Dr Babaniyi said

And the Australian government has allocated US$2 million in humanitarian assistance to Zambia and two other countries, which have been ravaged by floods.

This is according to a statement by parliamentary secretary for international development assistance, Bob McMullan, that was made available to Times in Lusaka yesterday.

Apart from Zambia others are Malawi and Mozambique.

The humanitarian assistance to the three countries would be provided through the AusAID, the Australian aid agency.

The support will include the provision of access to safe water, sanitation facilities, emergency shelter, seeds and agro equipment as well as family kits containing blankets, mosquito nets, cutlery and cookery.

“The Australian government, through AusAID, will provide $2 million in humanitarian assistance to flood victims in Southern Africa.

I’m Innocent, Cries Francis Kaunda

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FORMER Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) chairman, Francis Kaunda, has denied allegations that he abused his office and conspired to defraud ZCCM by offering Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School maintaining that he is a man of high integrity.

In the first count, Kaunda, is charged with abuse of authority after he allegedly offered Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School.

In the second count, Kaunda and Access Financial Services (AFS) director, Faustin Kabwe, are charged with conspiracy to defraud after they allegedly conspired to defraud ZCCM by offering Ndola Primary School to Ndola Trust School, an act that was prejudicial to the interest of the Government.

High Court deputy registrar, Edward Musona, found the two with a case to answer and subsequently put them on their defence.

Testifying in the matter, Kaunda, 70, a business consultant, maintained that he was denying the charges against him.

He explained, during evidence led by his lawyer, Fred Mudenda, that in 1974, then Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, appointed him managing director of Metal Marketing Corporation of Zambia (MEMACO) and later Nchanga Consolidated Copper Mines (NCCM).

Kaunda testified that in 1981, NCCM and Roan Copper Mines (RCM) were merged and that Dr Kaunda appointed him chairman and chief executive of ZCCM, which he headed for 10 years.

He told the court that he was removed as chairman of ZCCM without reason or explanation when there was change of Government in 1991 and that during his career, he handled huge sums of money and that his integrity was never questioned.

Kaunda said in March 1997, he received a surprise call from then Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, that he was having sleepless nights concerning the privatisation of ZCCM and asked him if he could assist.

He stated that he suspected that Dr Chiluba asked him to help because of the manner he left office and that it took the Government almost two years to pay him his terminal benefits.

Kaunda said as a patriot, he accepted to assist and did not know that he was going to be appointed chairman of the privatisation team.

He said that his contract was signed on May 14, 1997 by then secretary to the Treasury, Professor Boniface Mweene, and that the contract stated that he was a public officer and a consultant.

Kaunda said it was not true that he was contracted to sell core assets.

Hearing continues.

Ministry of works and Supply reverts to centralized issuance of fuel

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The Ministry of Works and Supply says it has reverted to the centralized issuance of fuel to its departments in order to enhance accountability.

Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Col. Bizyayo Nkunika says the decentralized issuance of fuel by various departments has brought a lot of accountability problems.

The Ps made the remarks when he appeared before the Parliamentary Watch committee, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chaired by Luena Mp Charles Milupi, to answer queries contained in the Auditor Generals’ Report for the year ended 2006..

The Report indicates that fuel costing about K972 million involving 46 transactions purchased from various stations was not reconciled with invoices and statements from suppliers.

Col. Nkunika told the committee that the ministry would now control the issuance of fuel for all its departments.

He also told the committee that the ministry has started deducting money from officers that failed to retire imprest so as to recover the money.

He said in order to encourage officers to retire imprest, the ministry has stopped giving imprest to officers that are owing the ministry unretired imprest.

Committee members of parliament raised concern over the continued reports of unretired imprest in almost all government ministries.

Mbabala Mp Emmanuel Hachipuka stated that the measure taken by the ministry if implemented by all government ministries would bring government to a halt as officers would fail to execute their duties.

Committee Chairman Mr. Milupi observed that lack of enforcement of the law has contributed to the issues being raised in the Auditor General’s report.

He wondered why the ministry was failing to enforce the provisions contained in the financial regulations , which he said would have helped in reducing cases of unretired imprest by officers.

Earlier ,The Permanent Secretary disclosed that lack of qualified accountants at provincial levels has contributed to the failure by the officers submitting returns to the ministry.

He said the ministry has started a process of recruting qualified officers that will be sent to the provinces .

He also stated that the ministry has assigned an assistant accountant to government as a corrective measure of delayed banking reported in the report.

Col Nkunika also said the ministry has instituted investigation to ascertain how the 19 general receipt books were destroyed by water.

The AG’s report indicate that 19 receipt books were destroyed by water when the offices were flooded ,thereby making it difficult to establish the total collections from the receipt books.

But Ministry Chief Accountant, Dick Chela said the ministry would ascertain the total revenue using the cash books although he stated the process would take a long time to complete.

Mr. Milupi however advised the Chief Accountant to ensure the ministry adheres to the financial regulations so as to reduce on some of the queries raised in the report.

He further advised the ministry’s Controlling officer to use the window period for responding to queries from the AG ‘s office to clear issues that need clarifications.

Kalusha Bwalya leads opinion polls

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Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Vice president Kalusha Bwalya is leading among the three candidates contesting in the forth coming FAZ elections slated for 29 march 2008.

ZANIS Sports reports this is according to Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVOSOFA) opinion polls results , Tuesday, for the March 8 to 15 period, released Tuesday.

The ZAVOSOFA polls reveal that Kalusha is leading polls with 65 percent, while Lusaka Dynamoes proprietor Annif Adams polled 25 percent.

Mulonga, on the other hand polled a dismal 5 percent.

Although Anif seems to be a less force to get the hot seat, the battle line seems to lie heavly on Kalu and Mulonga who are claiming to enjoy massive support in the country.

Kalu, according to press reports has a lions share of support in Luapula, Copperbelt, Eastern and Northern Provinces of Zambia while his ‘ FAZ boss ‘ claims to have Western and Northwesten Provinces backing him.

What remains is to only wait for the March 29 FAZ elections to see who leads and further develops Zambian soccer, more than ever before.

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