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Prices for basic foods go up

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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) says Zambia recorded an unprecedented increase in the cost of basic food last month.

JCTR Social Conditions Programme Member, Miniva Chibuye said prices of mealie meal and other foods increased drastically in February.

Mrs. Chibuye said in a statement to ZNBC news in Lusaka that the price of a 25 kilogramme bag of break fast mealie meal went up by by K4, 700.

She also said the prices of cooking oil rose by K4, 900 while the price of a kilogramme of dry fish increased to K50,000 compared to January when it stood at K34,000.
[ZNBC]

LuSE praised

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Standard Chartered Bank has commended the Lusaka Stock Exchange(LuSE) for encouraging local Zambians to invest and work with the bank

Standard Chartered Bank Head of Cooperate Affairs, Luke Njovu says as of March 7, 2008, the stock share was at K650.00 having an eight times gain since the allocation of the shares four years ago.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Njovu said bank subscribers have had an eight times gain over the past four years.

Mr. Njovu added that the gain has raised the investor confidence that the bank requires.

He further said trading locally with LuSE has been beneficial not only to the investors but also to the bank.

And Invest Trust Public Relations and Marketing Manager,Andre Makulu says sales of shares through LuSE have been impressive.

He said 25 percent shares and a one hundred billion bond that were offloaded for sale as of May last year through LuSE have all been taken up.

He further observed that through LuSE, Invest Trust last year won the Gata Bank Africa second best award for best performance in Africa.

Mr. Makulu has since encouraged corporate firms and individuals to invest in LuSE for good business.

N/West Rail Financers Threaten

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A consortium of American investors has threatened to withdraw its $400 million financing for the North West rail Project.

This follows the reluctancy by Mining giants Lumwana and Kansanshi to sign a committment agreement for the use of the rail line set to be completed in 2010.

North West Rail Limited Chairperson, Enock Kavindele disclosed this in an interview with ZNBC news.

Mr. Kavindele appealed to the government to help entice the two mining companies into using of the rail track.

Last week, Finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande said government is ready to assist in the rail project if there are any financing problems.

HE said this is because government appreciates the economic significancy of the rail project.

Weekend Scorecard & Top Scorers Chart

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2008 CHARITY SHIELD FINAL

09/03/2008

Kafubu Stadium, Luanshya

Green Buffaloes 2(Wilson Mutupa 89″, Morgan Hanjema 106″ eat)- Kabwe Warriors (Emmanuel Mayuka 48″)

Teams

Buffaloes: Mike Poto, Sydney Lombe, Dan Zulu, Dennis Banda, Lawrence Phiri, Sekelani Mwale, John Musukwa (Sub: Dears kakunta), Musukwa Mwewa, Morgan Hanjema, Sebastian Mwansa (Wilson Mutupa 69″), Brian Chilando (Reuben Tembo 34″)

Kabwe Warriors: Stephen Kabwe, Clive Sichondwe, Michael Katongo, Festus Mangamu, Humphrey Malikoni, Felix Simukonda, Siloni Jere, Metuselah Chipupu, Alfred Luputa (Sub: Michael Kabamba 30″), Vias Mwendalubi(Sub: Joseph Milanzi 82″), Roy Makayi (Sub: Emmanuel Mayuka 46″)

Red Cards: Metuselah Chipupu (Warriors, 21″), Dan Zulu (Buffaloes, 52″).

Referee: Bernard Chabala (Mufulira)

After games Played 09/03/2008

LEAGUE & CUP:

Morgan Hanjeema (Green Buffalkoes): 3

Reuben Tembo (Green Buffaloes):2

Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors): 2

Wilson Mutupa (Green Buffaloes): 1

Nicholas Zulu (Zesco United): 1

Elson Mkandawire (Zesco United): 1

Newa Mwewa (Green Buffaloes): 1

Sebastian Mwansa (Green Buffaloes): 1

William Njobvu (Green Buffaloes): 1

Chambishi smelter fires 89 and rehires 347 workers

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Chinese-owned Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) on Monday fired 89 workers and rehired 347 others after a strike and riots last week, industry officials said on Monday.

The company originally fired all 500 workers but agreed to rehire staff after a screening process to identify the leaders of riots over pay and service conditions that left property damaged and a Chinese manager injured.

CCS company secretary Sun Chuanqi and National Union of Mining and Allied Workers (Numaw) General Secretary Albert Mando separately confirmed that 89 workers were sacked.

“They (CCS management) have fired 89 workers and reprieved 347 others who have since reported back for work,” Mando told Reuters by telephone from Chambishi.
The union would contest the firing of the 89 workers.

“The workers will appeal against the dismissals. We regret the workers took that kind of action, but we are aware they acted (emotionally),” he said.

Mando said salary negotiations, which broke down prior to the strike and rioting, would only restart after the issue of the sacked workers was resolved.

Sun said the construction of one of Zambia’s largest copper smelters has restarted.

“Operations are back to normal and we hope to complete constructing the smelter in December and start to produce 150,000 tonnes of copper per year from 2009,” he said.

He however said internal disciplinary procedures at the company are continuing while workers still interested in their jobs are being scrutinised.

Mr. Chuanqi said that disciplinary action will be taken against any employee who will be found to have participated in the damage of company property.

The strike highlighted tensions between Zambian workers and Chinese managers in the mining industry.

Chambishi Copper Smelter is the first of 50 Chinese companies that plan to invest over $800 million in a tax-free zone in Zambia within the next five years, Zambian officials say.

Parliamentary Committee cheered by government’s move

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The Parliamentary Committee on Estimates and Expenditure has supported the move taken by government to deregister companies in the construction industry that are abrogating the provisions of their contracts.

Parliamentary Committee on Estimates and Expenditure Chairperson Charles Milupi says the move taken by government was welcome as it would help to create sanity and transparency in the construction industry.

Mr. Milupi was commenting on the 42 companies that the Office of the President has submitted to the Law Enforcement Agencies for possible prosecution.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it was sad that government was spending a lot of resources on shoddy works that could be channeled to other developmental programmes.

Mr. Milupi, who is also Luena Member of Parliament said companies that would be found to have certified works of poor workmanship should be liable for prosecution and commensurate sanctions.

He said his committee is saddened with the reports it has continued to receive from the public and government of some companies that are abrogating the provisions of the contracts.

Mr. Milupi said his committee would support government’s move not to award contractors that are performing poor works on government projects adding that the committee will remain committed to supporting measures aimed at bringing sanity and satisfaction standards in the Zambian construction industry.

The Parliamentarian stated that contractors, consultants and clients found abrogating the provisions of the contracts should be severely dealt with in order to bring transparency and accountability in the utilization of public funds.

Mr. Milupi has since cautioned local contractors to follow the lay down professional ethics in a bid to avoid their companies from being deregistered from the National Council for Construction.

Last week, President Mwanawasa directed all controlling officers and government departments to stop awarding new contracts to the 42 companies until the investigations were concluded and decisions made in respect of each company.

The President’s directive came in the wake of the 42 companies that were submitted to the Law Enforcement Agencies after the Auditor General’s Office concluded investigations to scrutinize their performance.

Dr Mwanawasa called on Law enforcement Agencies to expeditiously conclude investigations in order to foster transparency and accountability in the construction industry.

He said his Office shall continue to take a keen interest in ensuring that public resources are utilized with great sense of fiduciary duty to the Zambian people.

14 Zambians nabbed for drug trafficking

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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested 14 Zambians in various parts of the country for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in psychotropic substances.

In Central Province the Commission nabbed Shadrech Mwape 31, a peasant farmer of Chipilaushi village, for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 1.1 tonnes and Josphat Kunda 25, also of the same village for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 421 kilogrammes .

DEC Public Relations and Press Liaison Officer Rosten Chulu confirmed this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Chulu said others arrested in Central Province are Chipilaushi Chisenga 58, for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 50 kilogrammes, Dan Zulu 29, for trafficking in 35 kilogrammes of cannabis and Nixon Muleya 43, for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 33 kilogrammes.

Others are Ronald Chisenga 32, for unlawful cultivation of cannabis weighing 11.6 kilogrammes, Gift Maambo 25, for trafficking in 3.5 kilogrammes of cannabis and Boaz Mutoya 39, for trafficking in 200grams of cannabis.

Mr. Chulu said the Commission has also arrested John Mukupa 39, from Luapula Province for trafficking in 11grams of cannabis.

He said in Lusaka the commission arrested five suspects for trafficking in various quantities of drugs.

All suspects will appear in court soon.

Council embarks on the evaluation of properties in the city

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The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has embarked on the evaluation of property in Lusaka city.

LCC Public Relations officer, Henry Kapata, says the evaluation exercise which will take 18 months is expected to capture over 50,000 housing units, industrial and commercial property.

Mr. Kapata told ZANIS in an interview that currently the LCC data base has only 30,000 properties registered but that the council has projected that Lusaka city has over 80,000 properties.

Mr. Kapata said the council has engaged a government consultant to conduct the exercise.

He pointed out that the LCC has been unable to undertake the exercise for the past ten years due to financial constraints.

He appealed to residents of Lusaka to co-operate with the inspectors who will be going round evaluating property.

Government targets to put 8,000 children on ARVs this year

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Government is this year targeting to put at least 8,000 children on pediatric Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) treatment programme.

Health Minister, Brain Chituwo says currently over 13,000 children are on ARVs adding that the ministry wants to double the number in a bid to ensure that all children who are HIV positive are put on the life-prolonging drugs.

Dr Chituwo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the provision of ARVs for children has been made possible with the help of Unit Aid and the Clinton Foundation.

He disclosed that the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with government to ensure that the drugs are made available and are affordable to the Zambian people.

Dr Chituwo pointed out that the signing of the MOU has ensured that the Zambian Medical Stores has a constant supply of the drugs.

He added that government has since purchased three Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnosis laboratory equipment to detect the HIV/AIDS virus in children.

Dr Chituwo noted that in the past it was difficult for the ministry to test children for the virus due to lack of appropriate laboratory equipment for children.

He noted that the PCR equipment is very advanced adding that it is able to test dry blood samples for the virus.

Dr Chituwo said the equipment has been placed at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Kalingalinga clinic as a referral and Arthur Davison Hospital in Ndola.

He however said that government is doing its best to prevent Mother to Child transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus.

Government will address climate change – Levy

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President Levy Mwanawasa says government is alive of the adverse impact of climate change and has hence developed strategies that will ensure that the country overcomes its vulnerability to environmental changes are put in place.

President Mwanawasa said government would not spare any effort aimed at ensuring that issues climate change are effectively addressed for the benefit of the country.

Dr. Mwanawasa disclosed government has already developed a National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) that needs to be implemented without delay.

He said Zambia would build on the initiatives of the commonwealth and other international organizations such as United Nations, to ensure that the country responds to the challenges of climate change in an effective manner.

The president was speaking during his national address on the commemoration of the Commonwealth Day which falls today, being cerebrated under the theme ‘Environment our Future’.

He said the commonwealth in choosing this day has recognized that environmental problems in particular climate change is one of the most important global challenges facing the world.

Dr. Mwanawasa said climate change would have catastrophic consequences on not only the future generation but also the present.

“ These negative impacts entail the increase in frequency and intensity pf extreme weather events such as droughts and floods , which inevitably has a negative effect on the well being of the commonwealth peoples and their prospects for development and attainment of the MDGs,” he added.

Dr. Mwanawasa pointed out that this year, many countries in Southern Africa including Zambia have been devastated by floods and droughts respectively.

Zambia he said has suffered the consequences of the floods which include destruction of crops and infrastructure such as roads, bridges and buildings.

He has since commended the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) for the work it was doing in respond to the effects on floods on humanity.

“ I wish to acknowledge the tremendous support that this unit had received from all well wishers , especially the private sector and international community,’ he added.

CHARITY SHIELD RESULTS

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Green Buffaloes Football club this afternoon beat Kabwe Warriors 2-1 after extra time to win this year’s Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu Charity Shield trophy. John Musukwa and Morgan Hanjema scored for Buffaloes while Striker Emmanuel Mayuka scored Warriors’s goal.

Levy blacklists 42 construction firms

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President Mwanawasa has directed government departments not to award contracts to firms that have been cited in the auditor general’s report for irregular operations.

Darlington Mwape, a presidential legal aide, said a total of 42 companies have been blacklisted from getting any government contracts while the anti-corruption commission probes them.

This is according to a statement released to ZNBC news by the president’s Special Assistant for legal affairs, Darlington Mwape.

President Mwanawasa had directed the Auditor general’s office to investigate contracts to some firms, which have failed to execute the projects to required standards.

The president had questioned why such companies had continued to win tenders to implement government projects when their performance was below par.

Mr. Mwape said the Auditor General’s Office has now handed over dossiers on its findings to law enforcement officers for further investigations and possible prosecution.

He said millions of dollars of public funds had been lost through various contracts in which the firms received payments without carrying out the work, mainly involving road construction.

He said the Auditor General’s office scrutinised the conduct and performance of 42 companies.

Government will not back paddle on new mining taxes – Mulongoti

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Government has maintained that it will go ahead and implement the new mining taxes despite threats of legal action by the mining firms.

Chief Government Spokesperson Michael Mulongoti says government would proceed and ensure that Zambians benefited from their God given natural resources.

Mr. Mulongoti said this in Lusaka today when he officiated at a breakfast meeting organised by the Professional Management Review (PMR).

He noted that government has decided to re-visit the mining agreements and introduce a new fiscal and regulatory regime to bring about equitable distribution of wealth in the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Mulongoti has challenged the private sector in the country to partner with government to ensure there is continued growth in the national economy.

Mr. Mulongoti further disclosed that Zambia has recorded unprecedented increase in the number of applications for investment licenses, work permits and enquiries on the investment opportunities in the mining, energy, agriculture and banking and financial services sectors.

He said this is due to the sound economic management programmes put in place by government adding that government would remain committed to supporting investors who will add impetus to ensure that the country meets the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and make the vision 2030 a reality.

Earlier, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has challenged Zambian entrepreneurs to be innovative and start manufacturing products that would penetrate on the international markets.

Mr. Mutati said the Zambian entrepreneurs must aim at breaking the barriers to doing business and ensure that they make a challenge in the Zambian business sector.

He further disclosed that government is this year targeting a growth of US$3 billion in the business sector due to the good enabling environment and increased investment levels in the sector.

And Professional Management Review (PMR) Chief Executive Officer Johan Hattingh said his company will remain committed to promoting Zambian companies by showcasing their products on the international markets.

Youths urged to be pro-active in the National Constitution Reforms

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The Forum for Leadership Search Zambia has urged youths in the country to be instrumental and remain proactive in the National Constitution Reforms as they celebrate youth day this week.

Forum Executive Director, Edwin Lifwekelo , in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said youths must reflect on their role in the Constitutional Reforms and the country’s political and economic affairs.

He said their participation in the constitution making is vital and must therefore ensure that the country has a Constitution that will meet their aspiration as they are a link between the past, present and the future.

“We must engage each other with a great sense of objectivity. Youths must assume leadership of this great process of giving into ourselves a good constitution that can stand a test of time,” Mr. Lifwekelo said.

Mr. Lifwekelo has since urged youth groups in the country who are not in the National Constitution Conference (NCC) to make their submissions on matters affecting them through youths organization that are participating in the NCC.

He said the country is calling on the youths to take up their responsibility on the NCC as the NCC is the logistical step taken to stop the endless constitutional road map.

Mr. Lifwekelo said the youths are in a mess of poverty and unemployment because they have allowed past governments to override their wishes and impose illegitimate and defective constitutions.

Global fund chief jets into Zambia

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Chairperson of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Rajat Kumar Gupta has arrived in the country for a two-day visit.

Mr. Gupta arrived at the Lusaka International Airport around 15:10hours aboard an Ethiopian Airline.

On hand to receive him was Elizabeth Mataka, the Vice Chairperson for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, National Aids Council (NAC)Director General, Dr Ben Chirwa, United Nations(UN)Resident Coordinator Aneases Chuma and officials from the ministry of foreign affairs.

Speaking on arrival, Mr. Gupta told journalists that he is in Zambia to assess how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has been utilized in the country.

He said he was looking forward to conduct field trips in Zambia to see for himself how the fund has performed.

Mr. Gupta noted that it was important that countries that receive the funds utilize money for the intended purposes as this will encourage the organisation to release more funds.

He said the Global fund has systems in place which ensure that grants given to various countries are put to good use

Mr. Gupta explained that he has been in Africa for nine days and has so far visited Uganda and Ethiopia for similar programmes.

He said he was impressed with how the fund has been implemented in Ethiopia with regard to malaria prevention programmes.

Mr. Gupta however expressed concern that the Prevention of the Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) programmes were not performing well in Africa.

He noted that most countries have no excuse for not reducing the infection rates as solutions have been tabled across but infection rates do not seem to reduce.

And Mrs Mataka hailed Mr Gupta for visiting Zambia adding that she hopes he will see the positive impact of the funds in Zambia.

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