Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary, Tomaz Salomao, has commended President Levy Mwanawasa for providing good leadership that would help accelerate the implementation of the regional body’s development agenda.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Gaborone today ahead of President Mwanawasa’s visit to the SADC secretariat on Thursday this week, Dr Salomao said since assuming the chairmanship of SADC in August last year, Dr. Mwanawasa has been working hard to provide the necessary guidance to the secretariat in meeting the set objectives of the regional economic body.

He said Dr. Mwanawasa has particularly been concerned with the need to launch the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) by August this year as agreed by the heads of state at their summit in Lusaka last year.

Dr. Salomao said during his visit, Dr. Mwanawasa would assess how ready the SADC secretariat was in implementing the FTA and other development programmes, which include the master plan on infrastructure development as well as issues of human and social development.

He said the president would meet the secretariat staff to encourage them to work hard in implementing the decisions of the SADC heads of state, which are aimed at enhancing regional integration.

He cited the establishment of the FTA by August 2008, the establishment of the common market by 2015, monetary union by 2016 and a regional single currency by 2018 as some of the key programmes.

“It is an ambitious programme and President Mwanawasa is constantly reminding us that time is not on our side. We need to fast track the implementation process if we are to be part of the global economy,” said Dr Salomao.

Dr. Salomao added that an audit carried out by an independent consultant recently showed that all the 14 SADC member states are ready for the launch of the FTA which is the first step to the envisaged objective of regional integration.

He called upon all member states to quickly ratify the protocol on free movement of people which he said was cardinal in the implementation of the FTA.

On the construction of the new SADC secretariat which President Mwanawasa is expected to inspect during his visit here, Dr. Salomao said the US$30 million project was on schedule.

He said once completed in May 2009, the new office complex would alleviate the current shortage of office accommodation the secretariat was experiencing.

“As you may be aware, the building that houses the SADC secretariat now belongs to the government of the Republic of Botswana and is not adequate to accommodate all our operatives who are scattered all over the city of Gaborone at the moment. It is for this reason that the SADC heads of state took a decision in 2004 to build a new office complex whose construction is now underway,” he explained.

Meanwhile,Government says the launch of the Customs Union by COMESA in August this year and the Free Trade Area by SADC will boost Zambia’s trade with member countries of both regional groupings.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Davison Chilimpamushi told ZANIS that the development will scale up mutually beneficial trade among member countries of both regional bodies.

Mr. Chilimpamushi pointed out that currently there are no problems Zambia is experiencing over her affiliation to both regional bodies.

He said Zambia remains a committed member of both COMESA and SADC.

Mr. Chilimpamushi explained that Cabinet is the only body that can decide on whether Zambia should continue with her dual membership or select one of the two regional bodies.

Mr. Chilimpamushi, however, maintained that there are more benefits of belonging to both regional bodies.

SADC has 14 member countries while COMESA is composed of 19 member States and Zambia is a member of both regional groupings.

Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has said government was worried about some churches that were vindictive in pursuing certain individuals instead of promoting unity and forgiveness.

Speaking when a delegation of Livingstone based clergymen called on him at his office to welcome him in the province, Mr. Munkombwe said it was important for the church and government to work together towards national development.

He said the church played an important role in advocating for the establishment of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) but wondered why it has been reluctant to sit on the NCC.

Mr. Munkombwe said the Church should always wish government success in its activities and programmes.

”We want this peace which has prevailed to continue. Therefore as a church, you should never harbour vindictiveness or hatred,” he said.

And Mr. Munkombwe said he would ensure that he worked to the satisfaction of the people of southern province without any political inclination.

And speaking earlier, Sworn of the Spirit Ministries Reverend, Carlos Siansima said the Church in Livingstone would support Mr. Munkombwe’s leadership.

Father Katete of the Anglican Church said the church criticise government when it deserved to be criticised.

Father Katete said the church should also pray for government, noting that Mr. Munkombwe was not only a minister for the MMD but for everyone.

Former president Frederick Chiluba has has been ordered to appear before the Task Force Investigations officers at 10:00 hours on Thursday, his aide said.

Chiluba received the summons at his residence in Lusaka today, a day after he returned from South Africa where he underwent treatment for a cardiac complication, Emmanuel Mwamba said.

“The call-out (summons) did not disclose the reasons. He is wanted on Thursday,” Mwamba said.

Chiluba, who is already facing several graft charges before a magistrate court, is accused of having stolen huge sums of public funds together with his close aides and officials during his 10-year rule.

The ex-leader has denied the charges, saying his arrest was politically motivated by President Levy Mwanawasa.

A Zambian magistrate court ruled last month that Chiluba, 65, should face a corruption trial in May.

Chiluba and two businessmen co-defendants are facing charges of theft of about 500,000 US dollars in state funds.

PF spokesperson, Given Lubinda, has urged the electorate to weigh the cost of holding by-elections against the propensity by some MPs to strangle democracy.

Mr Lubinda said in an interview yesterday that the electorate complaining about the cost of by-elections should ask themselves as to whether it was right for the MPs to go against intra-party democracy which ultimately resulted into strangling democracy at national level.

“These MP’s are stabbing, strangling democracy and people must start asking themselves what is the cost of by-election compared to democracy.

“Let the people do the equating. What is the opportunity cost of having politicians that you cannot shepherd,” Mr Lubinda said.

On the constant attacks between the MPs taking part in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) and those against, he said after wide consultations, the PF had resolved that it would no longer reiterate.

He said this was resolved after realising that most of the issues brought out were in the affidavits filed in the courts of law.

“For now we shall reserve our comments until the courts have tried the matter,” Mr Lubinda said.

And PF on the Copperbelt has advised party members not to be shaken by the expulsions taking place in the party because it was a self-cleansing process.

Provincial treasurer, Mwenya Musenge, said party members should not worry about the expulsions because the self-cleansing process had just started in the party.

Mr Musenge, who is Nkana member of Parliament (MP), said the party would continue to uphold discipline in the party and ensure that members were obedient.

Meanwhile the Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has advised the Patriotic Front (PF) to work towards reducing internal wrangles.

SACCORD, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) involved in amicable resolution of disputes, said it was a concern for the public once parties were engaged in wrangles instead of providing checks and balances.

SACCORD executive director, Lee Habasonda, said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it was sad that internal political party politics had failed to mature, and the wrangles were a manifestation of failure to manage internal democratic processes.

“It is disheartening that even frivolous differences within political parties result in expulsions, suspensions and rumour-mongering in the media when they can be resolved administratively,” he said.

Mr Habasonda said that this kind of public perception of political parties was seriously undermining their value to the consolidation and progression of democracy in the country.

He advised the PF to sit with its MPs and decide whether the action to expel or suspend MPs was in the interest of the party.

Government has commenced the revision of labour laws in the country.

Ministry of Labour and Social Security Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa told ZANIS in an interview today that the ministry has already tabled the Industrial and labour relations amendment bill before parliament to pave way for its amendment.

He said the revision of labour laws is on course and the tabling of the Industrial and Labour relations amendment bill in parliament on 20th March is only the starting point in the process of revising all labour laws in the country.

Mr. Chisupa said the bill was revised in consultation with all stakeholders and expressed hope that it will address contentious industrial and labour matters once amended.

Mr. Chisupa added that his ministry is happy that most of the companies in the country are complying with the revised minimum wage for employees.

He said the current K490, 000 wage for the lowest paid and K1.1 million for the highest paid has been complied with as indicated by inspections by the ministry’s inspectors.

Mr. Chisupa was reacting to calls from the International Labour Organisation that government should revise and modernise the country’s labour laws.