Families have been urged to avoid divorce, streetism and child neglect if the country is to achieve sustainable social and economic development.

The call is from community develoment and social services catherine Namugala.

Ms Namugala says there is need for everyone to treasure and preserve the family as a basic unit of a stable and strong nation.

The minister was speaking when she officiated at this year’s commemoration of the International Day of the Family in Lusaka today under the theme ‘Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges.”

Ms Namugala said the theme was appropriate in view of the crucial role fathers are supposed to play in caring and providing for their families.

She noted with concern that although some fathers are in gainful economic activities, they do not take care of their families but instead abuse them emotionally and physically.

Ms Namugala said fathers should get involved in all domestic chores such as what the children will eat, their school work and escorting their wives to antenatal clinic.

The minister hoped that through the commemoration of this day, all stakeholders including government, religious groups and individuals will promote and carry out programmes on the family that stress the specific role of fathers for the betterment of the family and the nation as a whole.

She said on its part, government has put in place policies and programmes aimed at enabling families to effectively functuion.

The programmes include micro-finance, the public welafre assistance scheme, social cash transfer, food security pack and social security schemes.

Ms. Namugala noted that the problem of child delinquency and children taking to the street is partly as a result of the missing role of fathers.

The minister pointed out that the theme seeks to highlight the importance of fathers in the context of development because fathers are critical in establishment of stable families needed for national development.

She added that the institution of family is the first and most important socializing institution where shelter and security is to be found when facing difficulties in life.

She urged fathers to ensure that they get involved in all matters pertinent to family and not leave all family matters to the women folk.

And Speaking earlier at the flag-off march past at the main Lusaka post office, Deputy minister in the ministry of community development and social services Elijah Muchima said some fathers fail to provide adequately for their families not because they cannot afford to but because of irresponsible behavior.

Mr. Muchima observed that instead of spending the money on the welfare of the family certain fathers engage themselves in unnecessary expenditures and the family in the end suffers.

He challenged the people who gathered at the flag-off ceremony to ensure that there is solidity in their families as this is key to national development.

Meanwhile, Morgan Chilufya 32, father of two said it is unfortunate that some fathers chose to neglect their families for unnecessary activities which cause families to suffer.

The ministrty of health has warned of stern action against health personnel who send away patients when they fail to pay medical fees.

Ministry of Health Spokesperson, Canisius Banda says the ministry is alarmed at the high number of patients running to media houses to seek financial assistance from well wishers for medical treatment.

Dr Banda has blamees management in public health institutions who he says are failing to apply government policies and resources on the treatment of patients who cannot afford to pay medical fees.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr Banda explained that government has put in place Cost Sharing Exemption Policies in public health institutions to assist members of the public who cannot afford to pay for treatment.

He said government abolished medical user fees in 54 rural districts, but as for urban districts such as Kabwe Kitwe and Lusaka where user fees are still in force, a Cost Sharing Exemption policy has been put in place to assist people who cannot afford to raise the medical fees.

Dr Banda said the ministry of health expects managements in all public health institutions to follow the laid down criteria in qualifying members of the public who can be placed on the exemption policy.

President Levy Mwanawasa has lifted the suspension of MMD Lusaka Province Chairman, Geoffrey Chuumbwe.

Announcing the lifting of the suspension of Mr Chuumbwe to ZANIS in Lusaka today, MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga said Dr. Mwanawasa, who is also MMD President, unconditionally accepted the apology from Mr. Chuumbwe who was suspended some three weeks ago.

Mr Mabenga revealed that in his letter to Mr Chuumbwe copied to Mr. Mabenga, MMD National Secretary Katele Kalumba dated 8th May President Mwanawasa said he decided to lift the suspension of Mr. Chuumbwe because of the manner in which he put his statement.

MMD National Chairman, revealed that President Mwanawasa was against acts of violence expressed by Mr. Chuumbwe just like he condemned China for delivering arms at the time when the Southern African country was facing political instability.

Mr Mabenga said Dr. Mwanawasa noted that Mr Chuumbwe as a leader should know that the strength of a President is in dialogue and not violence.

Mr Chuumbwe will, therefore, resume duties as MMD Lusaka Province Chairman.

Meanwhile, a Church organisation has described Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata’s meeting with President Levy Mwanawasa today at State house as a demonstration of biblical principles.

Independent Churches of Zambia Board chairman Reverend David Masupa said the church was happy to see president Mwanawasa and Mr Sata reconcile in the interest of the nation.

Reverend Masupa said Mr. Sata has been a critic of president Mwanawasa since 2001 and that it was now time to work together in developing the country.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Reverend Masupa commended President Mwanawasa for embracing Mr Sata as a compatriot in the development of the country.

He noted that the reconciliation between the two opposing leaders was a showcase to the outside world and a true reflection of biblical principles based on the bible teaching on forgivingness.

Reverend Masupa further said the reconciliation should not only be between the two Leaders but also between the PF and the ruling MMD government at large.

Reverend Masupa said the church was sick and tired of seeing political leaders insulting each other saying the country now needs a new culture of politics aimed at benefiting and developing the country.

PF Leader Michale Sata today met President Levy Mwanawasa at State House where they held a closed door meeting before addressing the press.

An atmosphere of reconciliation was demonstrated with both leaders expressing their willingness to meet again and discuss national issues.

Patriotic Front President Michael Sata today met President Levy Mwanawasa at State House to thank him for facilitating his evacuation to South Africa for treatment following his severe heart attack two weeks ago.

And President Mwanawasa has welcomed Mr Sata’s gesture to work together saying he has always wanted the opposition to work with him to develop the country for the benefit of all Zambians.

Mr. Sata who has been a fierce critic of President Mwanawasa from the time he entered State House as republican president over seven years ago, described the one and half hour private meeting with President Mwanawasa as fruitful.

Mr. Sata said whatever differences between him and president Mwanawasa is now history and that it was time for the two leaders to build confidence and trust in each other for the benefit of the country.

At a joint press briefing at State House after their closed door talks, Mr. Sata said a new atmosphere has been created free from suspicion as the two leaders will now have direct access to each other.

Mr Sata who was in a jovial mood and punctuated his speech with jokes, thanked President Mwanawasa for taking a bold and timely decision to order his evacuation to South Africa for treatment.

He noted that though he was entitled to specialist treatment abroad at governmenty expense like any other citizen, it called for somebody to make the decision on time saying it was vital for him to personally meet President Mwanawasa and thank him for his wise and timely action to save his life.

Mr. Sata said his meeting with president Mwanawasa should not be misconstrued to mean that he wants to join the MMD but to assist president Mwanawasa in the governance of the country.

He said PF has always stood for peace and unity hence the need for the two leading political parties to work together in fostering development and unity in the country.

The PF leader said he will from now on not openly criticize President Mwanawasa as he has access to speak to him in person on a issue of national importance.

His party will later prepare a list of national issues among them the National Constitution Conference, NCC, for discussion with president Mwanawasa and his leadership.

He said the reconciliation between him and president Mwanawasa should also serve as an example to other countries in the region that dialogue is better than confrontation.

For his part, president Mwanawasa said his meeting with PF leader at State House today was one of the most important days during his seven years in power.

He emphasized that it was not right that political leaders should continue campaigning and attacking each other long after elections at the expense of development.

Dr Mwanawasa pointed out that it was sad that it took an illness for him and the PF leader to realize they needed each other.

Dr. Mwanawasa recollected that the PF leader had been maliciously making his job to govern the country difficult but that the news of Mr Sata’s illness gripped him and made him forget about all the hostilities between the two.

He said he realized at that point how much he needed Mr. Sata around and described him as a good fellow to have around.

Dr. Mwanawasa said he was glad that the meeting with Mr. Sata marks a new beginning and that there was need now to advance the interests of all Zambians.

He noted that he would like to leave a good legacy and development as president of the republic which children and their grand children will feel proud to talk about.

The president noted that insults and ill intended criticism do not build the country saying Mr. Sata was welcome to visit or phone him to discuss any issues that will build the nation.

The President hoped that Zambians have learnt something from the development between him and Mr. Sata saying he also would like to meet with opposition Heritage Party President Godfrey Miyanda who he described as once great friend.

He said he would like to see the old good friendship that existed between him and Brigadier General Miyanda revived.

And President Mwanawasa disclosed that in the true spirit of reconciliation, Mr. Sata will keep his passport which was confiscated from him by government before his illness.

Mr. Sata’s delegation to State House comprised party vice president and Lusaka Central member of Parliament Guy Scott, Munali Member of Parliament who is also PF Youth Chairperson Mumbi Phiri, Mandevu Member of Parliament who is also PF Health Chairperson and PF Home Affairs Chairperson Paul Lumbi.

Others were Winter Kabimba, PF Secretary General Edward Mumbi and PF Legal Affairs Chairperson Edgar Lungu.

Information Minister Mike Mulongoti, Defence Minister George Mpombo, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao and Agriculture Minister Sarah Saifwanda were among senior government and party officials who attended the Press briefing jointly held by President Mwanawasa and PF leader Michael Sata after their closed door meeting.

Others were MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga, Tourism Deputy Minister Vera Chiluba, Southern and Luapula Province Ministers Daniel Munkombwe and Charles Musosha respectively and Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja.

On arrival for the Press briefing Mr. Sata who looked jovial took time to greet and share jokes with senior government and MMD party officials.

Zambian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, UK Anderson Chibwe has urged Zambian Nationals living in UK illegally to take advantage of the new British Immigration Amnesty and return back home before October 1, this year.

Ambassador Chibwe said the new British rules give migrants living illegally in UK an incentives to return to their respective countries on their own.

He said those that comply with the rule will be given a shorter ban than those that will wait for the UK border agency to remove them.

Mr Chibwa has since appealed to all Zambian in the UK to respect the British Laws to avoid coming into conflict with the law.

He has also urged all those that intend to travel to the UK to be conversant with the new immigrations rules.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS today by the second Secretary for Press, in London, Rejoice Lukumba.

Ambassador Chibwe however noted that the new rules will not be applied to migrants who were in the UK as at March 17, 2008 and those that will return on their own to their respective countries before October 1, this year.

This follows the new immigration rules that the British government introduced to ban people who break the immigration Laws from returning to UK.

Mr. Chibwe noted that the new rules also provide that anyone who had previously used deception in an entry clearance application will have all future applications to travel to UK denied for 10years.

However the High Commissioner emphasized that migrants who breached UK immigration laws such as over staying, illegal entry and breaching the conditions of their leave by working illegally will be banned from returning to UK for one year and those that left voluntarily at their own expense, five years while those that were deported will be banned for 10years.

According to the letter from the Head of Unit UK Border Agency Mr. Mac Owen, the new immigration rules seek to provide a stronger sanction for breaches of the British Immigration Laws and reinforce the message that the people intending to travel to the UK obey the Laws or face the consequences.

He however stated that this follows last months warning statement that was issued by the British High Commissioner to Zambia Mr. Alistair Harrison that all Visa cheats who try to travel to UK by use of false documents will face an automatic ban.

Mr. Harrison stated that all applicants for the UK Visa will be required to provide finger scans as part of application process which will be used to identify the previously broken rules in the UK.

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu PF has accused Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa of siding with the opposition in its bid to oust President Robert Mugabe, in yet another sign of worsening relations between the two countries. Relations between the two countries have been deteriorating since Zimbabwe accused Zambia of trying to block its maize imports in the run-up to the March elections

The ruling party, which is gearing up for a bruising presidential election run-off between Mr Mugabe and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, said it was disappointed with Mr Mwanawasa because he had failed to call for the lifting of sanctions imposed by Western countries.

It said that, as the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Mr Mwanawasa had been tasked to ask the United States and Britain to scrap the “illegal” sanctions.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr Patrick Chinamasa, who chairs Zanu PF’s media sub-committee, said the sanctions had contributed to Mr Mugabe’s embarrassing defeat in the first round of the elections.

“SADC undertook to call for the lifting of the illegal sanctions but Mr Mwanawasa, as the chairperson, has not done so yet,” he said.

“It is his obligation to implement the resolution issued at the extraordinary summit held in Tanzania last year to remove immediately all forms of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.

“We have not heard him calling for the lifting of the sanctions … we have been adversely affected by the sanctions, as they are creating an uneven playing field.”

And the Zambian Government responded by saying the Zimbabwean government is not being fair to President Mwanawasa as chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by heaping abuse on him and then asking him to assist the country.

Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti said that Zimbabwe should quickly resolve its problems by holding free and fair elections before talking about the sanctions that have been imposed on that country.

He said it was surprising that the Zimbabwean government had allowed its newspaper, The Herald to heap abuses on President Mwanawasa and at the same time ask him to assist the country.

“The Zimbabweans need to exercise humility and show decency because they cannot insult President Mwanawasa and at the same time ask him to help them because as SADC chair he has done what he can,” he said.

He said Zimbabweans should hold the elections and whoever would emerge winner would then talk much about sanctions because to talk about sanctions now may be premature. He said the issue of sanctions was for Zimbabweans which they understood better.
He said President Mwanawasa from the on-set had done everything possible to help resolve the problems in Zimbabwe and the entire world was watching the situation.

“It is surprising that Mr Chinamasa, the man who lost an election is very vocal and bitter,” he said.

ZANAMA Chairman General Elvis Nkandu says there are many Zambians who sub-let their shops to foreigners as compared to marketeers only.

ZANIS reports that Mr Nkandu said that the warning by the President to marketeers in the habit of sub-letting shops to foreigners was commendable because it has been observed that some people were abusing the facilities which were meant to benefit them by sub-letting to foreigners at exorbitant rental charges.

He explained that sub-Letting has given advantage to foreigners than the locals as people from outside brought in goods which attract customers, thereby disadvantaging locally manufactured goods.

Mr Nkandu warned that his association would not protect any of his members who were sub-letting their stalls and shops.

He commended government for responding to the people’s cries that traded in the streets, who wanted more conducive trading places.

Caritas Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) Livingstone Diocese Coordinator John Mwewa has urged government to
be realistic when dealing with labour matters.

Mr Mwewa said union leaders have been pressurizing government to give an increment to public workers that was in accordance with the prevailing food basket.

He said it was important that government invests in its workforce because it is cardinal in the implementation of most government programmes.

Mr Mwewa noted that the 15 percent salary increment still presented a big margin in meeting basic household food levels.

He said in Livingstone, the food basket stood at K1, 620,000 in March.

Mr Mwewa said in order to meet these needs, there was need for government to look at the issue morally and
give public workers a decent increment that would go a long way in meeting the cost of the food basket.

Meanwhile, the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) in Kawambwa has supported its National Executive Committee(NEC) for rejecting the 15 percent increment.

CSAWUZ Kawambwa Branch, Mathews Mushibwe commended the executive in a press release to ZANIS in Kawambwa today.

Mr. Mushibwe said the 15 percent increase is a mockery to civil servants hence the support to the NEC for rejecting the increase.

He said NEC should go ahead and fight for the reasonable increment so that its members are compensated for the suffering they went through during the wage freeze and HIPC completion point.

Mr. Mushibwe urged NEC to stick to the 2002 collective agreement which gave members K150, 000.00, K250, 000.00 and K450, 000.00 respectively.

He said his branch has asked NEC not to stand back over housing allowance because this was settled and re-affirmed its support to NEC.

And Mr. Mushibwe warned that his branch is ready to take part in the strike which might be declared by NEC if the reconciliation fails to resolve the salary negotiation stand off.