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Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission given a six week ultimatum

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Government has given the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) a six weeks ultimatum to start disbursing the citizen economic empowerment funds to the intended recipients.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Felix Mutati said the process of disbursing funds by the commission should be speeded up so that people do not lose hope in the commission.

Mr. Mutati noted that there is need for the CEEC to start working out modalities and publish the guidelines on how the citizen should access the funds.

He advised the CEEC to come up with a strategy of reaching out to all parts of country and ensure that the fund is accessible to all beneficiaries within six weeks.

Speaking at the launch of CEEC Company Logo, the Minister ordered the commission to ensure that they start disbursing the funds before it holds any other gatherings like workshops, seminars among others.

He said he did not want to see a situation were he will start explaining what the CEEC is all about when parliament resumes sitting in June.

Meanwhile, Government has implored the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the economic funds.

Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Felix Mutati says the Commission should further ensure that the funds are accessible by all the targeted beneficiaries in the country.

Mr. Mutati explained that the economic funds should not be treated as a Bank loan or grant but be seen as a grant meant for empowering the local citizens so that they can contribute to national development.

He noted that the collateral and payment terms should be flexible and not discourage people to apply for the funds.

Mr. Mutati said government has pledged its support to ensure that people are economically empowered for the betterment of their lives.

He stressed that people want to see transformation of funds from policy to implementation.

The Minister was speaking in Lusaka today when he officiated at the launch of CEEC Organisation Logo.

And speaking earlier, CEEC Commissioner Dillon Chipungu said the Organisation aims at changing the way business is conducted in the country.

Mr. Chipungu said the Commission remains committed to promote economic transformation in order to increase the participation of Zambian citizens in the economic activities of the country.

Mugabe to attend SADC meeting

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Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe will attend an emergency meeting of regional leaders on the presidential poll delay in Lusaka.

The BBC reports that his Deputy Information Minister, Bright Matonga said that if there is a SADC meeting, President Mugabe will definitely be there.

The opposition said its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the election outright.

It has accused the government of using the delay to engineer a second-round victory for Mr. Mugabe.

President Levy Mwanawasa, who chairs the 14-nation Sadc grouping, called the emergency meeting for Saturday.

Zambia’s Information Minister Mike Mulongoti told the BBC that Mr. Mugabe’s presence would not necessarily be helpful.

The Movement for Democratic Change’s leader, Mr. Tsvangirai, is touring Southern Africa in a bid to get regional leaders to put pressure on the Zimbabwean government to announce the results of the presidential election.

PF councillors boycot Chishimba’s meeting

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Patriotic Front Councillors in Kasama yesterday boycotted a meeting called by Kasama Central Member of Parliament Xavier Chishimba to discuss the disbursement of K260 million Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for 2006 and 2007 respectively.

The councillors, who included Kasama Mayor, Sebastian Chipope, maintained that they do not recognize Dr. Chishimba as MP because he was an expelled party member.

They said they had nothing to discuss with the embattled MP whom they accused of frustrating developmental programmes in the district.

The councillors said they would continue to uphold their party’s directive not to entertain Dr. Chishimba’s manoeuvres to win back support from PF members after his expulsion from the party.

But Dr. Chishimba dismissed his purported expulsion from the PF and vowed to continue executing his duties as Kasama Central Member of Parliament.

The MP described the councillors’ actions to shun his proposed meeting on the disbursement of CDF as retrogressive, and warned that they risked becoming irrelevant to the development of his constituency if they do not change their attitudes.

Dr Chishimba also accused the councillors of having vested interests in the allocations of resources to beneficiaries in his constituency, saying the clubs earmarked to benefit from the CDF were just formed a few weeks before the funds were aportined.

He further said he would go ahead and constitute a new committee to oversee the disbursement of the K260 million CDF which was lying idle in commercial banks in order to spearhead development in his constituency.

High water bill due to misuse of water – LWSC

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Luakanga Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC), Managing Director Joseph Munalula has attributed the huge bills incurred by consumers to the misuse of the commodity and not the newly introduced metering system.

He said the metering system was an efficient way of ensuring that consumers paid for the service utilized.

Mr. Munalula said this in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe that the utility company is a credible institution that has the interest of its customers at heart.

“The metres were introduced due to the demand of the consumers who wanted to pay for what they used in a particular month as opposed to fixed charges,” Mr Munalula added.

He said that the water utility company’s water charges are amongst the lowest in the country.

The Company mangers remarks comes in the wake of comments from an opposition Patriotic Front Ngungu ward councilor who expressed disappointment with the company’s abnormal fluctuating water bills.

Provide for your workers, KK tells employers

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First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda says employers have a huge responsibility of providing the necessary HIV/AIDS workplace policies to cater for the wellbeing of the workers and their families.

Speaking at a retreat for the Zambia Business Coalition on HIV and AIDS (ZBCA) in Lusaka today, Dr. Kaunda said the private sector is the engine of development and therefore needs healthy workers in order to play its rightful role in the country’s economy.

Dr. Kaunda who is also Patron of ZBCA, commended the coalition for ensuring that the corporate world remains committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He said ZBCA has over the past seven years developed a track record in supporting the implementation of HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.

The former head of state said the coalition has gained experience in a wide range of issues regarding policy formulation, workplace programme formulation and support for the implementation of HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.

Dr. Kaunda added that ZBCA has also embarked on a three year strategic business and operational plan which comprises recruitment and retention of workers, coordination of technical service provision and support for national efforts.

He however noted that ZBCA faces challenges of inadequate resources resulting in an outstanding K73 millionin staff dues.

He urged the Board and staff of the organisation to come up with innovative ways addressing the challenges.

And ZBCA Chairperson Chriticles Mwansa said for ZBCA to maintain its position as a focal point organisation in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the private sector, there is need for member organisations to assist in mobilizing resources for the organisation’s activities.

Mr. Mwansa who is also ZRA Commissioner General, pledged the secretariat’s commitment to helping member companies establish policies that mitigate the effect of HIV and AIDS in workplaces.

ZBCA is a coalition of companies aimed at supporting HIV/AIDS workplace programmes.

It was launched in 2000 and currently has a membership of 73 companies.

GRZ allocates K800m for rural ICTs

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Government says it has allocated K800 million in this year’s budget for the enhancement of information communication technology, ICT, in rural areas.

Director in the Department of Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Transport, Victor Mbumwe said this in Lusaka today at the Launch of the book by E-Brain Forum Zambia.

Mr Mbumwe said the allocation of the funds is a demonstration of government’s commitment to providing information communication technology (ICT) to people living in rural areas.

The book titled ‘Options and Challenges for Connectivity and Energy in Zambia,’ is aimed at promoting ICT in developing countries as a tool for poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

Mr Mbumwe said government has introduced the Rural Energy Powered ICT Services Entrepreneurship (REPRISE) to establish innovative services in areas with no connectivity.

He said there is need for ICT service providers and the private sector to supplement government efforts by extending their services to rural areas.

Mr. Mbumwe however commended the mobile phone providers in the country for taking their services to all the 73 districts in the country..

He also disclosed that the Communication Authority, CAZ, has provided funds for people and institutions to undertake research in various ICT fields.

He urged E-Brain to apply for the funds in order for them to do more research.

And author of the book Dean Mulozi bemoaned the high ICT connectivity fees in Zambia.

Mr. Mulozi said this makes it difficult for people in rural areas to access the ICTs.

He said though Zambia has made progress in mobile communications, there is need for the country to promote the use of the internet

New Zambia Coach To Be Unveiled in Two Weeks

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Faz will unveil the new Zambia coach in a fortnight’s time while a government team and delegates from Football House will tomorrow, Friday inspect Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.

Faz vice president Emmanuel Munaile confirmed the developments today in Kalusha Bwalya regimes first press briefing since sweeping to power on Match 29.

“The association realizes the anxiety in the nation regarding the recruitment of a national coach,” Munaile said.

“We envisage that the new coach will be in position to start work before the first week of May 2008.”

Munaile also revealed that Phiri would not be part of the new coaching set-up.

“With regard to the position of Mr. Patrick Phiri, the association will not be renewing his contract as national coach,” Munalile said.

“The contract extension was performance related and came to an end on March 31, 2008.

“We wish to thank Mr. Phiri for the invaluable service he has rendered to the nation and would wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Meanwhile, Phiri’s last act on official Faz duty will see him represent Zambia at the 2008 Africa Cup finals review seminar to be held in Cairo from April 21 to 23.

And a Faz and government team led by Bwalya and a senior sports ministry official will inspect Konkola Stadium on Friday, April 11 where Zambia hopes to host its international competitive matches.

Munaile also added that the prospect of hosting a home qualifier outside Zambia was likely.

However, Munaile said Faz was optimistic a Fifa inspection team that will inspect Konkola next month ahead of Zambia June 20 World Cup qualifying home match against Swaziland would give the venue the thumbs-up to host the match.

Konkola has been shut since 11 months ago after 11 fans where killed in a stampede on June 2 at the end of Zambia’s Africa Cup qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.

Zambia to host four 2010 WC countries

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South Africa has given Zambia the mandate to host four countries that will qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Director-general of Zambia’s Local Organising Committee of the 2011 All-Africa Games (Coja), David Diangamo told the Parliamentary Committee on Sport, Youth and Child Affairs in Lusaka yesterday that South Africa believes that the giving of four slots to Zambia was the best way of helping the country benefit from the tournament.

He said the four countries would be staying in Zambia and would be flying to South Africa to play their respective games and return afterwards.

Diangamo said South Africa had also offered to purchase big televisions to be put at Lusaka’s Independence Stadium and other stadiums to enable fans that would not afford to travel to South Africa, enjoy the matches on television.

“I am happy to report to this house that South Africa has given four slots to Zambia to host countries that will qualify for the 2010 World Cup,” said Diangamo, who was in South Africa, attending the Supreme Sports Council for Sport in Africa meeting.

Diangamo said the onus was now on Zambia to speed up the rehabilitation of Independence Stadium and other stadiums.

He said Coja would do everything possible in ensuring that sports infrastructure were built and rehabilitated for not only the 2011 All-Africa Games but for the 2010 World Cup.

De facto coup in Zimbabwe – opposition leader

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is implementing a de facto military coup to keep himself in power but will be ousted with the help of other African countries, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said.

“We’ll manage to get Mugabe out. Mugabe is being deserted. No one wants to touch Mugabe in the region now. Eventually, we will ease him out,” Tsvangirai told Time Magazine.

Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accuses Mugabe, 84, of prolonging the delay in issuing the results of a March 29 presidential election while he plans a violent response to his biggest defeat since taking power in 1980.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party lost control of parliament for the first time in an election on March 29 but no results of the parallel presidential vote have been issued.

“This is, in a sense, a de facto military coup. They have rolled out military forces across the whole country, to prepare for a run-off and try to cow the population. It’s an attempt to try to create conditions for Mugabe to win,” Tsvangirai said.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said on Friday the ruling party was preparing for a runoff after its tallies showed neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe won the required absolute majority.

The MDC rejected both a runoff and ZANU-PF attempts to have at least 14 seats recounted in the parliamentary vote. It says Tsvangirai has won and should immediately end Mugabe’s 28-year rule.

The regional body SADC, concerned at the increasing possibility of violence because of the election deadlock, has called an emergency summit in Lusaka on Saturday.

Tsvangirai said he would try to persuade the regional leaders to put pressure on Mugabe to step down.

SADC has been criticised in the past for failing to pressure Mugabe despite the economic collapse in Zimbabwe, now suffering the world’s highest inflation, chronic shortages of food and fuel and a near worthless currency.
Reuters

Activists to walk from Kitwe to Lusaka

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Two Lusaka-based anti corruption activists are next week expected to undertake a 15 days sponsored walk from Kitwe to Lusaka dubbed “save Zambia from corruption” to cover about 358 kilometers.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka made the announcement today at a media briefing in Lusaka.

Mr. Lifuka said the main objective of the walk against corruption campaign is to draw public support in the fight against corruption.

He added that the walk is also aimed at urging Zambians to take an active individual role against the scourge.

Mr. Lifuka said while the government should provide leadership Zambians should also play a meaningful role to create the environment for national development.

He said corruption in Zambia and many developing countries is becoming endemic especially in the public service sector impacting negatively on the economy.

Mr. Lifuka said TIZ is concerned about recent corruption perception index which have notably indicated a negative trend in the manner Zambia is performing in addressing corruption.

He said the walk against corruption campaign has drawn support and sponsorship from about 14 organisations at a cost of over K100 million to cover all logistical and financial needs.

Mr. Lifuka has since called upon other companies and stakeholders to support the initiative.

And one of the participants in the walk against corruption campaign participants, Ms. Wendy Mwachilenga said the walk is also targeted at distributing anti corruption printed messages to road users and traffic police officers.

Ms. Mwachilenga added that walking is an instrument that is of human interest and can be used for attracting attention from road users and people in settlements along the way.

She has since challenged Zambians to embark on various individual initiatives aimed at fighting corruption in the country in order to compliment government’s efforts in fighting the scourge.

The two participants Wendy Mwachilenga and Richard Mwanza are expected to walk from Kitwe to Lusaka from the 15th to 30th of this month.

Kawambwa Tea in a crisis

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Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has disconnected power at Kawambwa Tea Company for failure by the company to settle K104 million it owes the power utility company.

56 tones of tea leaves worthy millions of Kwacha have been wasted following the disconnection of power.

Presidential affairs Minister Cecil Holmes has described the disconnection of power which has affected operation as unfortunate. Mr. Holmes who toured the company during his visit of developmental projects in Luapala province said such developments should not be allowed to continue.

The Minister said the tea leaves that have been wasted as a result of power disconnection on Monday are resources for the people.

Mr. Holmes wondered why the company has failed to pay ZESCO bill when it is able to export the commodity.

The Provincial minister was saddened to learn of the suffering of the people at the company , which was producing large quantities of tea for exports.

Mr. Holmes who shed tears after he heard women from the tea estate compound complaining bitterly about workers’ suffering stated that there is need to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Mr. Holmes who was accompanied by Luapula Province Minister, Crispin Musosha pointed out that management should assist government in resolving the problem at the company.
Meanwhile factory Manager, George Mwansa who was at the plant during the minister’s visit admitted that the company was operating under severe problems.

Mr. Mwansa said there is need to financial injection either from government or the investors if the company is to prosper.

And earlier, Tea Estate Workers’ union vice Chairperson Blaston Chanssa revealed that employees in the area have become destitutes.

Mr. Chansa said workers have not been paid their salaries and wages for three months adding that some children in the area have even stopped school.

Kitwe police arrest two more murder suspects

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POLICE in Kitwe have arrested two more suspects in connection with the attacks and murders that have rocked the city in the past two weeks.

This brings the number of suspects arrested so far to five.
Copperbelt Province police commanding officer, Antonneil Mutentwa, confirmed the arrest of the two suspects in an interview in Kitwe yesterday.

Mr Mutentwa said Reuben Nyirongo, 24, who was arrested at the weekend, led the police to the arrest of the two.

Nyirongo informed the police that he was in the company of the arrested suspects at the time a Kitwe resident, Gilbert Zimba, was attacked.

He identified the two as Lameck Chomba, 28, of house number 433 in Kitwe’s Old Ndeke Township, and Christopher Siwale, 31, of house number 680 in the same area.

Mr Mutentwa said Siwale and Chomba were picked up around 14:30 hours on Tuesday from Chingola where Zesco had engaged them in some casual work.

The police received information that Chomba and Siwale were among the 1,000 casual workers Zesco had contracted to work on some power lines in Chingola.

They were found with a purse, jersey, and two cell phones.
One of the phones belonged to Mr Zimba.

The first suspect was arrested last week on Thursday in Kalulushi, while two others were arrested in Kitwe’s Ndeke Village Township some days later.

And bandits on Tuesday night snatched K4 million from a 68-year-old Ndola resident.
Police said the incident happened near Kamfinsa Mission on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriageway as the victim was driving back to Ndola.

Police explained that a car that had been trailing the victim suddenly parked next to him and the bandits produced a gun as they demanded for money.

Police identified the victim as Gorge Mwansa of house number CH 852, Chifubu Township.

In Chipata, a three-year-old boy of Mthiransembe Township drowned in a well on Tuesday evening.

Eastern Province police chief, Emlyn Mushondwa, confirmed this in Chipata yesterday and identified the boy as Alick Banda.

“A three year old child fell into a well in Mthiransembe. Mr Frank Banda of House number G38 reported the accident to police on Tuesday evening and said that it happened around 18:00 hours,” Mr Mushondwa said.

[Times of Zambia]

Rock kills miner at MCM

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A MINER at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) in Mufulira yesterday died on the spot and four others sustained serious injuries following a heavy rock fall in an underground accident.

Mufulira district commissioner, Dyson Mulwa, confirmed the death of Lottie Kanta in the accident that happened between 09:00 hours and 09:30 hours.
Mr Kanta, 37, was a jackhammer operator at MCM.

The injured, who are admitted to Mufulira's Malcolm Watson Hospital, are: Webby Shitima, Webby Mwila, Jonas Mpetamopya and Tressford Mpundu.

Mr Mulwa said the actual cause of the rock fall has not yet been established. Details are being awaited from the contractor, Consorcio Tauro Limited.

"We want to urge the mine to increase their safety because we are losing lives almost every month," he said.

[Zambia Daily]

ZESCO fails to install power to Sinazongwe irrigation Schemes

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By Tovin Ngombe

Agriculture experts and the African Development Bank (ADB) has said the Zambia Electricity Corporation (ZESCO) has failed to install power where irrigation Schemes are earmarked to be constructed in Sinazongwe district despite being paid two years ago.

ADB Agriculture Specialist Lewis Bangwe said at the tour of the Small Scale Irrigation Project (SSIP) in Sinazongwe that it was critical for power to be installed at Nzenga before construction of the irrigation Scheme commences in three months time.

Mr. Bangwe said at the moment the SSIP in Sinazongwe would focus on two projects at Buleya Malima which is already completed and at Nzenga which is situated near Chief Sinazongwe’s palace.

He said the remaining two projects at Simupande and at Sinazongwe would be moved forwards and government would take up the challenge to ensure that they were also constructed.

Mr. Bangwe noted that communities that would be aggrieved as a resulted of the delay in starting the construction of the Irrigation Scheme should be encouraged to avoid their losing hope since the project was still on course.

However, Sinazongwe Acting District Agriculture Coordinator Tundu Kaonga said the issue of ZESCO’s failure to installed power to the areas earmarked for irrigation schemes has been outstanding and nothing has been done.

Mr. Kaonga said money was paid to ZESCO in 2004 to have power be installed but they have failed to bring it despite making several appeals to them.

He said the failure to have the power installed at Nzenga would further delay the construction of the Scheme because the contractor may require power to execute certain works.
Chief Irrigation Engineer under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative Gorge Sikuleka told the farmers at Nzenga to work with government to ensure that the project was completed on time.

Mr. Sekuleka said government got a loan on behalf of the farmers to construct irrigation Schemes in Sinazongwe to caution the high levels hunger in the district.

Nzenga Community Chairperson for Small Scale Irrigation Scheme Goerge Jalata thanked government for their plans to construct the Scheme.

He said the construction of the Irrigation Scheme would reduce the hunger situation in the district which receives extreme weather as there was either drought or floods.

Kola’s Goals Get Kaumba’s Nod

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Zambia Under-23 coach Peter Kaumba was left speechless today after a breathtaking display by new call-up Roger Kola in the teams 6-2 win over City of Lusaka in a training game played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

The Zanaco and former Zambia Under-20 striker scored a fine hat trick in the second half of their training game at Woodlands where they will face Swaziland in the Caf Africa Nations Championship preliminary round, final return leg tie on Saturday.

Kola’s performance was a clear contrast to the first half display from the man he replaced after the break Reuben Tembo.

Tembo showed little effort and his place in Saturday’s starting line-up against Swaziland is seriously under threat following Kola’s convincing display.

Meanwhile, Zambia took a 2-0 lead half way through the match through Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka.

Mayuka controlled the ball with his right before shooting with his left a sublime shot past Fred Mankomba on the edge of the area after receiving a long punt from goalkeeper Mike Poto.

Power Dynamos winger Kennedy Mudenda made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute when he virtually walked into the net with the ball after a cheeky back-heel assist inside the 6-yard area from Mayuka.

Kaumba rested his starting 11 from the first half leaving only Mudenda and captain Clive Sichondwe from Warriors to play another extra 40 minutes before begin substituted.

Kola then scored two quick-fire classy goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half starting with a header before rounding Mankomba for Zambia’s 4th goal of the game.

Mudenda then added his second of the day with an awesome shot from inside the area to make it 5-0.

City sandwiched two goals in-between Zambia’s 6th with ex-Under-23 striker Mazuba Mkandawire skipping his marker to score the Woodlands sides first of two consolation goals on the day.

Defender Evans Mukosai later converted City’s second and final goal from the spot.

Kola scored his third to wrap-up his impressive display that Kaumba will surely be looking forward to seeing being replicated this weekend in Zambia’s must win match against Swaziland.

The Zanaco striker used his body to deflect the ball from a Simon Bwalya initial shot while surrounded by forest of City players.
And Swaziland are due to arrive in Lusaka Thursday evening at 20:50 from Johannesburg.

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