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ECZ calls for non-confrontational politics in Kanyama

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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has appealed to all political parties and candidates participating in the Kanyama by-elections to avoid confrontation and violence in the run-up to the February 21 by-elections.

And the Electoral Commission of Zambia has warned of legal action against political parties and party supporters that will be found influencing electorates that they surrender their voter’s cards.

Addressing the press in Lusaka today, ECZ Commissioner Joseph Jalasi says as the date for the by-elections draws nearer it is important that political parties and Kanyama aspiring candidates avoid campaigns of character assassination in order to help have free and fair elections.

Mr. Jalasi said political parties participating in the Kanyama by-elections must avoid name calling and disruption of other political parties meetings in a bid to enhance the countries young democracy.

He further urged political parties and the candidates to familiarize themselves with the electoral code of conduct in order to avoid electoral malpractices.

Mr. Jalasi said there is need for all political parties, candidates and election agents to familiarize themselves with the electoral code of conduct and avoid violating the provisions in the Electoral Act in order to help strengthen the Zambian electoral system.

And the Electoral Commission of Zambia has warned of legal action against political parties and party supporters that will be found influencing electorates that they surrender their voter’s cards.

ECZ Commissioner Joseph Jalasi said at the press briefing in Lusaka today that it is a criminal offence to exert undue influence on a person to surrender a voter’s card or to receive such cards with the sole purpose of disenfranchising a person.

Mr. Jalasi said the Commission will not take kindly of political parties and their supporters that will be found collecting voter’s cards from electorates and further warned of legal action against the violators of the Electoral Act.

Levy meets World Bank Chief

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President Levy Mwanawasa today held private bilateral talks with World Bank president Robert Zoellick, which mainly focussed on the economic development of Zambia.

The talks that lasted about 45 minutes starting at 11:00 hours Zambian time, were held at the United Nations Economic Commission Conference Centre here in Addis Ababa at the ongoing African Union Heads of States and Government Summit, which officially convened yesterday.
Briefing ZANIS shortly after the meeting between President Mwanawasa and the World Bank head, Commerce Minister Felix Mutati said the meeting was held to look at the performance of Zambia’s priority economic sectors, among them, agriculture, infrastructure development and mining.

Mr Mutati said during the talks, Dr Mwanawasa stressed the need for sustainable support to Zambia following the floods that have affected the country for the past two years destroying infrastructure such as roads, bridges and schools.
He pointed out that the floods have had severe impact on Zambia and made a request to the World Bank Chief, who has promised to first assess the situation on the ground before any assistance is sought for Zambia.

The President also discussed on how the drainage system in the country could be addressed.
In addition, the World Bank also wanted to know about Zambia’s mining tax regime, to which President Mwanawasa explained that the mining sector was key to Zambia’s economic development and that it was imperative for the sector to contribute a fair share to the economy particularly to infrastructure development like roads.

The President told the World Bank Chief that Government’s action to revise the mining tax regime was in response to public outcry that Zambians were not getting a fair share of revenue from the mining sector.

During the official ceremonial opening of the National Assembly two weeks ago, President Mwanawasa in his speech announced that Government had put in place measures aimed at revising the mine tax which put Zambia in the lowest position among copper producing countries in the world.

He, however, said the mining regime, once effected, would earn the country in excess of US$400 million revenue. This means that the tax would now be at 47 percent pushing the country in to the middle position among copper producers.
During the meeting, Dr Mwanawasa also highlighted the agriculture sector as equally a key sector to Zambia’s economic development.

Shortly after the meeting, President Mwanawasa went into a closed session of the ongoing AU Summit on United Nations (UN) Reforms Committee.
Zambia and Namibia are members of the UN reforms 10 -member Committee representing the Southern African countries. The African Union comprises five regions including North, West, Central and East Africa.

During official opening of the 10th AU Summit yesterday, outgoing AU Commission Chairperson Professor Alpha Oumar Konare told the high level meeting that Africa had only one seat in the UN Security Council and appealed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to help adress the situation.

Meanwhile,

World Bank Chief to assess floods in Zambia

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World Bank president Robert Zoellick says he will visit Zambia to assess the flood situation in an effort to establish what kind of assistance the country needs to mitigate the impact of the calamity.

Mr Zoellick says his plans follows President Mwanawasa’s request for assistance towards mitigating the devastating effects of the floods.

The World Bank Head who also attended the official opening of the 10th AU Heads of State and Government Summit yesterday disclosed this to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) here in the Ethiopian capital-Addis Ababa at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Centre.

This was shortly after he held private talks with President Mwanawasa today on Zambia’s economic development.

Zoellick who was flanked by the World Bank Vice President for Africa Obiageli Ezekwesili said when he leaves Ethiopia, he would travel to Zambia to assess the flood situation.
The World Bank Chief said he looked to Zambia as a good partner and pledged to help mobilise support in form of concessional loans to be given free towards the country’s economic development.

“Zambia has been disciplined in its fiscal management and its debt record has been good,” Mr Zoellick said, and underscored the need to support its economic reforms.
Mr Zoellick observed that Zambia was making good progress on its economy but noted that the only challenge the country was faced with was how to utilise resources to develop for the future.

The World Bank has been working closely with Zambia on the country’s economic programmes.

Meanwhile,

Zambia loses bid for AU Position

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Zambia’s Inonge Mbikusita Lemanika has lost her bid for the African Union (AU) Commission position with the Gabonese candidate scooping the election with 31 votes out of a total of 46 ballots cast.

And the position for the Commission Vice Chairperson has been scooped by Kenya’s Erastus Mwencha from the East African region beating the only opponent from Egypt Eldin Abdel Latif.

This follows an election which took place during the on going 10th AU Heads of States and Government Summit under a closed door session here at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Conference Centre n the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa today.

ZANIS reports from Addis Ababa that the Gabonese Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Ping won the election with 46 votes while Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA) came second with 12 votes.

The Sierra Leone candidate Abdulai Conteh, Chief Justice in Latin America’s Belize, who was earlier on reported to have pulled out of the race managed a paltry three votes.

The electoral college comprises African Presidents who are allowed to cast one vote.

Mr Ping replaces Malian Professor Konare who has been AU Commission Chairperson since 2003.

Professor Konare succeeded Cote D Ivoire’s Amara Essy, who run the Secretariat from 2002 to 2003. The election for the AU Commission Chairperson is held every after five years.

The position has been held by the two Western African nationals but the new Commission Chair is from the Central African region.

Earlier, Burundi, Swaziland and Mauritius withdrew from the race.

The election of the Commission Chairperson and other Commissioners was under discussion by the AU Foreign Ministers Executive Council on Tuesday but the matter was transferred to the Heads of State and Government Conference saying that it was not possible to elect the Commissioners without the Commission Chairperson or vice Chairperson.

To be elected as Commission Chairperson, the candidate needs to receive two thirds of the votes of eligible members. Countries under sanction do not have the right to vote.

Earlier calculations according to PANAPRESS were that if eight countries under sanction are excluded, one needs to have 30 votes to win the election.

Susceptible Maamba/Batooka road to be rebuilt

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Road Development Agency (RDA) Acting Director Erasmus Chilundika has said the Maamba/Batooka road leading to Sinazongwe district which has become susceptible to flood s will be rebuilt this year.

Mr. Chilundika told ZANIS in a telephone interview that advertisement has already been placed in the newspapers for credible contractors to bid for the tender.

He said despite the floods that has washed away culverts and cut of the entire district from the rest of the country, the road has also reached the rehabilitation stage.

“We are calling on contractors to carryout a permanent repair works though in the mean time we will continue working on the emergencies,” Mr Chilundika noted.

Sinazongwe district has been cut from the rest of the country for the fourth time within one month two weeks with the latest on occurring on Wednesday.

The Acting Director said a Belly bridge would be mounted on collapsed culvert at Sikalamba stream in Sinazeze.

He said the bridge was temporal and would be removed during the dry season to pave way for the reconstruction of the entire road.

Mr. Chilundika said Southern Province was the hardest hit with floods this year though the Agency have undergone similar incidence of falling culverts along the Great East road because it has also reached the stage for rehabilitation.

He said the Belly Bridge would be brought on the site in Sinazongwe on Friday.

The Director noted that though the Belly Bridge to be brought was short it would be supported by providing an embankment to ensure that it fits on the stream.

Mr Chilunda pointed out that overloading of coal along the Maamba/ Batooka road has resulted into weakening the road which was built in 1960s.
[ZANIS]

Levy fires Mbita Chitala (Update with Mbita’s article)

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President Mwanawasa has terminated the appointment of Zambia’s amdasasador to Libya Mbita Chitala and recalled him with immediate effect.

The action by President Mwanawasa has been propmted by an article on the Union Government of Africa, which ambassador Chitala wrote and is posted on the internet.
This is contained in a statement by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations, David Kombe.

According to the statement, in the course of the article, Mr. Chitala advocates policies contrary to those of the Zambian government and attacks majority of African leaders for not adopting such policies and establishing a Union Government.
In the article, he argues that it is a lame excuse as some of the leaders have arguments that they have to consult their people and that there is need to integrate the regional economic communities.

The statement further said Mr. Chitala was not given any authority by relevant superio officials of the Zambian government.

Mr. Kombe said the article has caused untold embarrasment to President Mwanawasa and the government of Zambia.
He disclosed that a Foreign Minister of the country whose leader was described in very unkind words has intimated that he will send a note of protest to the Zambian government regarding the article.

[ZNBC]

Opinion: The Federal Union of African States Must be Established Now
By Ambassador Mbita Chitala
26/01/2008 16:29:00
 
 

Introduction

This presentation addresses the subject of the historical necessity and inevitability of the federated African state. The central argument of the article is that continental integration and empowerment can only succeed if the coordination of efforts is at a continental level through first, the formation of one all African State, that is, by way of a political decision and that economic integration shall only be complementary.

This article does not discuss the benefits that will be derived from Africa’s political integration (insure peace keeping, combat disease, environmental concerns, poverty, corruption, oversee good governance, equi-distribute Africa’s wealth) as this is already a settled argument nor does it discuss the method and road map for achieving this historical inevitability as this is a detail to be designed by professional managers.

This write up is aimed at imploring African leaders to make the political decision and establish the united one African state as they meet at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 31 January, 2008.

Status of Africa’s Unity

Post independence Africa presents a divided and balkanized states, weak, and for more than four decades has continued to be a play ground for unabated abuse, exploitation and oppression of its peoples by other more organized political regions as exemplified by the hegemonic control the Europeans and Americans still hold on Africa.

Africa’s age old yearnings for political and economic integration have been thwarted, of course variously explained by many factors and interest opinions. These factors include the influence of self-seeking, narrow-minded nationalist African leaders who have continued to opt for personal glory and fame at the expense of the larger Africa using the legalistic excuse of sovereignty, the influence of the vestiges of colonial aberrations and neo-colonial psyches and dominion where Africa in the international division of labour has continued to play the role as a supplier of raw materials and net importer of manufactured commodities which in the process condemns Africa to continue being exploited by way of unequal exchange.

In the area of consciousness, cultural imperialism has been ensuring that Africa is divided between two blocs – Anglophone and Francophone – and this division has been sustained by the former colonial powers variously such as establishing institutions like the British Commonwealth with their British Council, and the French Francophone with their Alliance Francais.

These have continued to sew divisions among Africans by false ideologies such as the Christian-Moslem dichotomy, the Arab-African dichotomy and the ethnicity or tribal ideologies that are used to divide and weaken Africans. With globalization, Africa has further deepened its integration to the global finance capital from a weak stand point where it cannot get an equal share of the benefits of globalization.

African countries have attempted to unite the many small post colonial social formations to address this issue of poverty, underdevelopment and insecurity of Africa but often have fallen short because of the above reasons or because they used unsustainable unworkable methods such as desiring to have economic integration before political unity.

The most notable attempt was the Abuja Treaty – Regulation CM/464 of the 26th OAU Council of Ministers who wanted to create five regional communities who would play the role of the future continental common market. The recommendation was based on the realization that integrating 53 differently ruled African States would be unsustainable because of the unripe consciousness, the influence of geography, ecosystems and operational precedence. This attempt failed and more regional communities continued being formed.

In pre-Abuja Treaty, there were 8 Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including SACU, MRU, ECOWAS, CEPAL, ECCAS, IOC, IGAD and UMA. In post Abuja Treaty, more RECs have been established. These include SADC, UEMOA, CEMAC, COMESA, CEN-SAD, EAC.

All these have been set up in spite of duplication of programmes and their multiplicity, cross cutting membership and inefficiencies have compromised African integration. An attempt towards rationalizing them has failed because of lack of political will and resentment and opposition by the established public service supported by entrenched rules and contracts.

It is unacceptable for African leaders to continue procrastinating or making lame selfish excuses of going to consult their peoples and so on such as has been the case in the last ten years. There is no need for these countries to hold referendums as Muammar Gaddaffi challenged his colleagues at the Accra Summit.

The opposition to integration that was exhibited by Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa in Accra is regrettable as it was based on the false assumption that these three countries would on their own develop to be sub imperialist powers.

It is gratifying that Liberia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Chad and Libya came strongly for immediate political unity. The rest remained look warm. It is no wonder the Africans in South Africa and Kenya have already shown their leaders what they think of their acts in Accra. What is required as the first act is to agree on political integration by establishing the Federated Union of African States.

This was the consensus that was reached after the transformation of the OAU into the AU on 9th September, 1999 at Sirte in Libya where all African Leaders committed themselves to the establishment of the United States of Africa.

“Those who want to move on a snails pace or are opposed to Africa’s political integration should be left out for now. Their own nationals will deal with them in due course and compel them to join the bigger good – the Federated United States of Africa.”

It was therefore amazing at the meeting in Accra, Ghana in July, 2007 that about 50% of African countries continued to give lame excuses at delaying this historical necessity which has as a result continued the tendency of the marginalization of the continent in global affairs as well as deepened the underdevelopment of its people.

As the leaders go to meet again in Addis Ababa on January, 31st, 2008, all progressive Africans are hoping that the final solution to African Unity and integration will be found. Now, Africa has entered the globalization process from a point of weakness.

New constraints have emerged, particularly with timeframes imposed by initiatives such as the EU, the WTO, China and so on. It is therefore imperative that a new momentum and initiative within a better structured continental framework with improved follow up on both the political leadership and rationalization and implementation of one African economic set up be launched.

Political Integration First, then Economic Integration

Former Zambian President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and former Algerian President Ben Bela are the only two Africans still living who can attest from first hand account the ideals yearned by Africa’s founding fathers of a strong and independent one African State that was championed by African heroes such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Neyere, Patrice Lumumba, Toure, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Emperor Haile Sellassie, Jomo Kenyatta and other African patriots.

These ideals have been taken up by a few progressive African leaders notably Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and the Senegalese President Wade who have been trying to persuade fellow African leaders to move forward on this African integration process. In the last ten years, Libya has had to spend a lot of money and effort trying to have the project realized.

Muammar Gaddafi and the leaders of this progressive tendency have been opposed by a conservative fringe whose chief response has been that they are not ready or they must first consult their people or that they are afraid of losing their sovereignty or simply remain non committal. This bloc has been lukewarm and has chosen the road towards Africa’s integration by first strengthening regional economic groupings and assumed that the integration process will ripen on its own. The logic of this route is to further divide Africa. This is the route championed by African colonial masters now united as the European Union.

It has been argued by some African leaders and supported by neo colonial think tanks at the secretariats of the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union and the United Nations that the challenges Africa faces is for the Regional Economic Communities ( RECs) to harmonize their programmes so as to attain convergence and ultimately the African Economic Community.

Even though the REC’s are not among the organs of the African Union (AU), it has been argued by these think tanks that they can still be used as building blocks of the African Union government as they were anticipated to be for the African Economic Community under the Abuja Treaty.

It has been obvious from all and sundry that such an approach would forever thwart the advancement of the African confederation and would play in the hands of Africa’s enemies who want to continue subjecting the continent to age old disadvantages such as imperialist exploitation and marginalization of the Africans in global affairs.

To the progressive Africans, it must be obvious that this incremental approach is not only unsustainable but must be overthrown and be replaced by a Nkrumah/Nasser and currently Gaddafi/Wade approach that argues for “seek ye the political kingdom first, and all would follow”.

The argument that Africa should first rationalize and harmonize the more than fourteen (14) regional economic cooperation groupings and use them as the basis for advancing to Federal Africa is a view point that is against historical experience.

In practice, it is utter mechanistic nonsense and is a road to continued balkanization of the continent, weakening Africa and ensuring that it continues to be a market for imperialist capital. Only political unity can advance the economic integration agenda and break the suffocating tentacles of imperialism which have for the last 200 years constrained Africa’s advancement.

The only Question at Addis Ababa and Africa’s Prayer

It is important that Africans, as they meet at Addis Ababa on 31st January, 2008 realize that unless they create political space in the sense of an all Africa Federal State, all what Africa has always aspired for will be in vain. We will have to wait for another generation to attempt at unity again. What a waste of ten years investment of our time and resources!

At the Accra Summit of the African Union in July, 2007, the decision to establish the federated State of Africa was postponed for six months to allow for further national consultations. About 50% of African States mainly in the CEN-SAD group were for the immediate establishment of the United States of Africa. Another group mainly from the SADC area was lukewarm to the ideal and politely opposed the immediate creation of the African Union State.

They regressed to the outdated Abuja Treaty argument of basing unity on the gradual development of regional groupings.

Today, Africa faces the challenges that Nkrumah and his colleagues faced at the beginning of this argument which resulted in the creation of two blocs – the Casablanca and Monrovia blocs among African leaders. The question then was principally how to advance the decolonization of Africa.

The bloc led by Nkrumah, Nasser, Nyerere, Haile Sellasie, Ben Bella, Kaunda, Toure, Lumumba and others won the day against the African reactionaries who advocated for some regulated independence. Today, there are about 53 politically independent African States – most of them are weak and are simply outposts of imperialist exploitation and subjugation.

It is necessary, nay, a historical inevitability that Africa must first address and achieve political unity under one State for any meaningful progress to be made towards playing any equal role in the global community. The harmonization and rationalization of the REC’s will also follow naturally as politics will lead.

The argument which has been advanced by some of our leaders that political unity will only be reached if and when all African States accede to the ideal by way of consensus is obviously, not a useful position. For practical reasons, this 100% unanimity is utopian as some African States are under the hegemony of imperialism or are simply reactionary and/or will never be allowed by their imperialist masters to accede to Africa’s political integration. These countries should not be allowed to hold progress of other Africans. They should no longer delay this movement towards Africa’s emancipation and unity.

Those who want to move on a snails pace or are opposed to Africa’s political integration should be left out for now. Their own nationals will deal with them in due course and compel them to join the bigger good – the Federated United States of Africa.

About The Author
Ambassador Mbita Chitala
Ambassador of Zambia to Libya
(These are personal views of the author)

Relief food only for vulnerable flood victims, Levy

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President Mwanawasa has said relief food would not be given for free to all flood victims but that only the vulnerable among those would benefit.

Dr Mwanawasa, however, said those who are able bodied and those with money among the flood victims will have to work for the food.

ZANIS reports that the President said this would be so because he did not want his Government to encourage laziness because among those who are affected by floods, there are some people who did not cultivate any food last season.

The President said this last night when he addressed Zambians resident in Ethiopia during a dinner hosted in his honour at the residence of Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Patrick Sinyinza.

Dr Mwanawasa added that the food could not be given free because there was need for the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to make money for it to survive, hence such a move.

And Dr Mwanawasa told Zambians resident here that despite the floods, Zambia had not collapsed adding that the calamity had not befallen all parts of the country.

He assured that the country would be able to feed its people from the previous harvests.

On mining, the President announced that from next week a Bill on the proposed mining tax regime would be introduced in parliament.

The move follows Dr Mwanawasa’s announcement during the ceremonial opening of parliament this year that Government had decided to revise the tax regime because Zambia was not getting a fair share of its mining wealth.

Dr Mwanawasa disclosed that a mining firm he could not name had written to Government asking it to reconsider its decision but that the state maintained its position.

The mining firm, Dr Mwanawasa said was told that Zambia was not getting a fair share of revenue from the mining sector despite the mines making huge profits.

The President said the mines would still remain with substantial profits.

He said the tax which was the lowest among copper producers in the country would now move from 31 percent to 47 percent and was expected to earn the country in excess of US$415 million.

He said this money would be used towards the economic development of the country.

President Mwanawasa reiterated that the scenario was unacceptable when the prices of copper on the international market had skyrocketed.

“Last year we collected US$141 million from the mine tax when the position is that mining companies had made over US$400 billion’’, he explained

On the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), he assured the gathering that the tension that surrounded this had now been addressed and it had been accepted by almost all members of Civil Society, opposition and some churches.

He added that only some senior members of the Catholic Church were still opposed to NCC.

He hoped that the 2011 elections would be held under a new republican Constitution that will stand a test of time and asked for encouragement and prayers from the Zambian community here for Zambia to be able to find a solution to this.

The President who reiterated an announcement that Government would in March this year procure earth moving equipment after securing a loan of US$ 39 million from the Chinese Government added that there was need to work on feeder roads as these were in areas where agriculture was taking place.

Turning to the Zambian Community here, the President gave a clarion call to them to invest back home and be able to assist their relatives who were in need.

He underscored that it was imperative that they invest back home because once they left Ehiopia they would not become destitute.

At the same occasion when asked by President Mwanawasa to make a presentation, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande disclosed that Government had not received any reports from Ethiopia on Zambians being engaged in criminal activities.

Mr Pande said Zambians in other countries were languishing in prisons because of having committed various offences.

He prodded Zambians living here to follow rules and regulations of Ethiopia.

He said he was also impressed that most of them were serving in international agencies like the United Nations but advised that they should keep abreast of events back home.

On tourism, he said the sector was doing well and that Government was targeting one million tourists by 2010 adding that some countries solely depended on tourism yet they were not endowed with vast natural resources like Zambia and hoped that this would become a major money spinner for the country.

Commerce Minister Felix Mutati who was also asked to make a presentation told the gathering that Government was performing extremely well economically as evidenced by the reduced inflation to single digit, distinguished debt and reduced interest rates.

Mr Mutati said Government was determined that whatever has been budgeted for this year would be spent accordingly as this was meant to change the face of Zambia.

The Commerce Minister also added that Government was planning to take the development of industries to rural areas in order to empower the locals there.

On agriculture, he said, Zambia had food surplus in the last three years of over 200,000 tonnes of maize.

On flights in Livingstone, he said in 2002 this stood at seven per week but that today this had increased to 35 flights per day.

And Chairperson of the Zambian community here Washington Mukumbila said the community has continued to grow with 35 families amounting to 200 Zambians including children.

Mr Mukumbila who is in charge of printing at the AU attributed the increase in number to those who are serving at the Zambian mission and at the UN agencies.

He paid tribute to President Mwanawasa for the positive economic strides that Government has made so far and pledged support towards him and the Government.

Those present were Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Ben Tetamashimba, Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima, Zambia’s candidate to the AU Commission Inonge Mbikutsita Lewanika, Special Assistant to the President on Politics Marvis Muyunda and other senior Government officials.

Motorist on Maamba/Batooka road warned

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Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) has warned motorists coming to Sinazongwe to be careful following the 29 dangerous spots that have been identified on Maamba/Batooka and are about to fall any time.

Mr. Laiven Apuleni said drivers should drive slowly to avoid any accident.

On Wednesday Sinazongwe district was cut off from the rest of the country following the collapse of the culvert along the Sikalamba stream in Sinazeze.

Mr. Apuleni said the collapse of the culverts at Sikalamba stream was the worst as compared to the three culverts that collapsed on the same road in December and January this year.

He described the incident as sad situation for Sinazongwe adding that it was also a sign to show that the Maamba/Batooka road has outlived its usefulness since it was built in the 1960s.

The DC said the only way was to completely rebuild the entire road to avoid patching it at every spot.

He said the construction of the culverts at Sikalamba stream would cost government a lot of money since the gap that the floods had left was too big.

A Check at the site By ZANIS found long queues of vehicles and people watching helplessly at the Road Construction Company (RCC) which has been deployed to reconstruct the culverts.

The youths have also taken advantage of the situation by over charging business men to carry their mealie meal, beer, and other assorted items across the stream.

Mr. Apuleni said situation would lead to increase of the prices of essential commodities such as mealie meal and sugar.

“The situation is bad for people’s budget, it’s the worst that the district has witnessed since floods started,” Mr. Apuleni said.

RCC Bottom Road site Engineer William Makoni said Belly Bridge would be used on the damaged road.

Mr. Makoni said if his workers brought it on Thursday they could finish building it on Friday and by evening vehicles would be allowed to pass.

Sinazongwe district has been cut off from the rest of the country for the fourth time within the period of one month two weeks.
[ZANIS]

Grandstand: Zambia Makes A Respectable Exit

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So Zambia shamed the pessimists with the 1-1 draw against Egypt?

I anticipated another massacre but I was wrong.

Zambia at least depart the Africa Cup with a respectable four points but not enough to push them into the quarterfinals after finishing three points behind Cameroon in third place.

They made at least amends for that shambolic 5-1 loss to Cameroon and lucky 3-0 win over inexperienced Sudan in their opening two Group C games.

Against Egypt, Zambia was carried on its shoulders by three players- A feat that even the Greek god Atlas would have found very difficult to do single-handedly back in the day.

Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was outstanding in-between the sticks with performances that have been noted by some scouts and agents despite leaking five against Cameroon.

Felix Katongo, despite being a terrible passer of the ball, gave us hope with some midfield entertainment when it was bleak, black and chances of qualifying to the next stage became slim.

And then there was Christopher Katongo.

Zambia tried not to miss him against Sudan by getting the required 3-0 result that became the standard in Group C.

Later, Katongo made his mark and showed us there is life after Collins Mbesuma but also reminded us that there could be life without the Brondby striker in another couple of years should another messiah not be found soon.

Two late goals in two successive games brought back shades of Kalusha without the free-kicks and Katongo will duly be promoted from sergeant when he gets back home by the Zambia Army.

As for the 1-1 score line against Egypt it was a fair, and again, respectable result though it made no difference as Zambia bowed out of the Africa Cup at the group stage for sixth consecutive time.

Meanwhile, there is some hope in defence for Zambia after Kampamba Chintu made his first Africa Cup match after warming the bench on his first and only other trip in 2000.

Chintu has seemingly matured from his edgy defending at Warriors three years ago before moving to South Africa.

Now the question is how long will one of the last survivors from the class of 99 keep his sudden bust of form?

The South African-based player from Free State Stars showed signs of a confident defender when he replaced the injured and workaholic Billy Mwanza in the 33rd minute.

It was another good display from Chintu after I last saw him playing as a defensive midfielder against South Africa in the Cosafa Castle Cup final in Bloemfontein on October 24 last year.

Chintu formed a stable paring with Hichani Himoonde in Zambia’s last 57 minutes although the jury has given the latter a lot of stick in the two Group C games despite being Chipolopolo’s most prospective talent in defence.

However, Joseph Musonda and Clive Hachilensa (Touch wood) through the wings continued to make a sieve impregnable to water from a gashing tap.

And then there is the case of the midfield.

We’ve been through this route before in the last three games with a midfield that lacked any defensive resourcefulness and was guilty of three opposition stampedes in as many games in front of a backline without rivets.

Isaac Chansa needs to dig in a bit more or will continue to warm the bench at Helsingborgs in Sweden.

Is Ian Bakala the best utility midfielder we have? We all doubt that. His time is up.

One of the biggest disappoints was not Jacob Mulenga but the shock of seeing Dube Phiri play two clueless games as a starter and substitute against Sudan and Egypt.

Patrick Phiri got this one very, very wrong and should have given a chance to someone with more spark and adventure like Kabwe Warriors striker Emmanuel Mayuka.

Meanwhile, this edition of the Africa Cup has showed us that the way we play our football has no business at this tournament.

Zambia needs to evolve into a unit to match the power game of the all-conquering performances of the West and North African teams.

We do posses talent with such attributes but it is discriminated against from grassroots.

We have failed to breed the power player in our so-called academies and we will continue to suffer at the ultimate stage because of that.

You will just have to watch the Under-17 team to figure out what kind of player’s are being groomed through the system from the grassroots all the way into the league and onwards.

A lot of hard work lies ahead for those still dreaming of the possibility of better things to come in Angola and South Africa in two years time.

Be calm, Choma soccer fans advised

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Choma District Commissioner Mungoni Simulilika has appealed for calm among soccer fans in the area who on Tuesday took to the streets.

They were demonstrating against a move by the Zambia National Service command to relocate Choma based Green Eagles Football team to Kabwe following the team’s elevation to FAZ premier league.

Mr Simulilika told ZANIS in Choma that there was no need for the fans to resort to further demonstrations as their petition was receiving appropriate attention.

He said the soccer fans must remain calm and await the response of higher authorities who are handling the matter.

Some residents including prominent businessmen and civic leaders marched through Choma town centre and staged a peaceful demonstration demanding that government intervenes and orders ZNS command to rescind its decision to move Green Eagles football team to Kabwe.

First Lady to address OAFLA meeting in Addis

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First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa is today expected to address the Organisation of African First Ladies on HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) after the official opening ceremony of the 10th African Union heads of state and government summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The Zambian First Lady who is OAFLA Chairperson is expected to be among 41 First Ladies who will attend the OAFLA meeting on Violence against Women and Children.

This is according to the latest programme released by the AU Communications Centre and obtained by ZANIS at the AU Conference media centre in Addis Ababa.

The programme shows that Mrs Mwanawasa First Lady will address the meeting at 13:00 hours Zambian time.

During the meeting, survivors and victims are expected to share experiences on Female Genital Mutilation which is commonly practised in West Africa, early marriage and rape.

Others to make presentations will include the African Union senior representatives who will address the meeting on the continental body’s perspective on HIV/AIDS, gender equality and human rights.

At the same gathering which will be opened by Ethiopian First Lady Azeb Mesfin, local religious and community leaders will also share their experiences on violence against women and children and efforts being devised to prevent, respond and support these vulnerable groups from all forms of violence.

The gathering will be punctuated by a musical performance by designated performers known as Mela Belu.

South Africa’s medical practitioner Dr Biki Samuel Minyuku will also make a presentation on prevention, response and support regarding that country’s experience.

The meeting is aimed at promoting 365 days of ‘No Violence Against Women and Children.’

The African First Ladies will also pledge to act as champions and advocates to prevent violence against women and children.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa was yesterday afternoon among heads of state and government who attended the closed door session of the African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, under the framework of the African Union 10th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa.

The meeting started about 13:00 hours Zambian time and went on late into the afternoon.

Ethiopian Prime minister Meles Zenawi opened the meeting. Summit.

National Housing Bonds Trust to issue bonds on LUSE

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The National Housing Bonds Trust (NHBT) will soon issue the first bond on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LUSE) to raise funds for the construction of houses countrywide.

Local Government and Housing Minister Silvia Masebo disclosed this when she officiated at the NHBT stakeholders meeting held in Lusaka today.

Ms. Masebo said the local authorities that are supposed to address the country’s backlog of over one million housing units are unable to provide housing due to the inadequate revenue base.

She said government decided to approve the issuance of housing bonds by local authorities through the Lusaka Stock Exchange to raise cheap and long-term finance for the construction of houses nationwide.

She said the first phase in the exercise will cover Solwezi, Livingstone, Kitwe, Chipata and Lusaka.

She the exercise will be rolled out to other districts after the pilot project in the first five towns in completed.

And speaking earlier, NHBT Board Chairman Abel Mkandawire said the board constituted under the Ministry of Local Government is mandated to serve all Zambians with housing and has members from both the private and public sectors.

Mr. Mkandawire said the board is not wholly government but a partnership among various stakeholders in providing decent housing to citizens.

Notable among the stakeholders present at the meeting were Ministers of Education Geoffrey Lungwagwa, Finance and National Planning Ng’andu Magande, Lands Bradford Machila and United Liberal Party President Sakwiba Sikota.

Weak housing struactures worsening the effects of floods – Hakayobe

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Southern Province Permanent Secretary,
Darius Hakayobe has said weak house structures are contributing
to the increasing number of collapsing houses.

Mr. Hakayobe said this when he toured the flooded areas in Livingstone district.

He said most houses could not withstand the water due to their poor
structural standards.

He called on councillors to work with Rural Development Committees and
engineers to ensure that people construct strong structures to
avoid disasters.

And Mr. Hakayobe has said very little attention was paid to the
meteorological department’s weather predictions.

“We did not heed the meteorological department. Some of these
situations could have been avoided,” he said.

Mr. Hakayobe however has assured all affected families of tents,
drugs, treated bed nets and food stuffs to help mitigate their
sufferings.

And Mr Hakayobe has ordered the Livingstone City Council
to ensure a speedy re-design and improvement of the drainage system
that he said are causing flooding in most parts of the city.

Mr. Hakayobe said all drainages should be re-dug to minimize flooding
that is caused by blocked drainages.

He also said the council should repair culverts and bridges that
are posing danger to the community.

Mr. Hakayobe who feared for the lives of people especially grade one
pupils who have to cross flooded streams when going to school, said
efforts to manage natural calamities should continue.

“More rains are expected in the coming months therefore we should get
down to work and improve the road network in affected areas,” he said.

The PS was speaking yesterday during a tour of the flood affected
areas in Dambwa Site and Service and other affected wards.

Mr. Hakayobe called for a strengthened Disaster Management and
Mitigation Unit and the cooperation of the private sector in order to
contain the situation.

He further called for the sensitization of the community in order to
ensure no more lives are lost.

And Livingstone councillors have commended government for responding to
disaster situations speedily.

Simonga ward councillor Joram Mwiinda who is also Livingstone City
Deputy Mayor said the exhibited government’s quick response to
natural calamities should be commended.

Mr. Mwiinda said there is need to conduct thorough works after the
rains and to plan ahead in order to avoid flooding in future.

He said more resources need to be mobilized and called on the
business community to plough back into the community in order to
assist flood victims.

And Zambezi ward councilor, Philemon Musonda said government’s quick
response is a sign that it has the interest of the people at heart.

He commended Sun International Hotel for coming on board to assist
the disaster victims.

And Mr. Musonda has appealed to the parents to ensure the safety of
young ones who risk being swept by run off water and being attacked
by crocodiles.

Crocodiles believed to been swimming up stream from the Zambezi River
have been sighted in flooded dwellings on the Dambwa river bed.

The councilors were speaking during the tour of affected areas and
families.
……………..
And a disabled person whose house has been surrounded by flood waters
for over two months has called for the council to pump out water from
his premise and urged the council to improve the drainage system in
townships.

Leonard Kashimba of Zambezi Sawmills who has stacked bags of sand at
his door step to prevent water from entering his house said poor
drainage system is contributing to the flood situation in his area.

And Brandina Kambwa whose house has been completely surrounded by
water since November said the situation is a health hazard.

Ms Brandina said the flood waters are a breeding ground for
mosquitoes.

More than 400 houses have been affected and bridges washed away
following heavy and continuous rains that Livingstone has been
receiving.

Bids for Fourth Modile Operator Open

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The Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) has issued invitations for eligible persons, to bid for the fourth National Mobile Cellular Licence.

To this effect, adverts have started running in both the electronic and print media.

CAZ International and Public Relations Officer Ngabo Nankonde, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said interested persons and firms can submit written applications and a non-refundable payment of K300 million at Bank of Zambia.

Ms. Nankonde said the closing date for bidders is 14:00 hours on February 27, 2008.

He advised members of the general public to look out for adverts in both electronic and print media.

Wednesday Zambian Football Round-up

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City of Lusaka have signed a major sponsorship deal with National Milling Corporation (NMC).

The deal is initially for one year and for undisclosed sum.

NMC managing director Peter Cottan said today that the sponsorship deal was financial and would include branding the team jerseys and balls with his company’s imagines.

His company would also undertake rehabilitation works at City’s iconic homeground of Woodlands stadium.

This will be NMC’s second major in-road into sports in Zambia after their association with intercontinental women’s super bantamweight boxing champion Esther Phiri.

This is the second major corporate partnership City have undertaking over the last 10 years.

In 1999, City partnered with Cavmont Bank for four years.

City finished 12th in the Premier Division last season in their first year back in the top-flight since 2003.

In other news, Nkana are set to prize Emmanuel Siwale from division one north club Kitwe United to the promoted 11-time top-flight champions over the next 24 hours.

Siwale is set to be offered a long-term deal to leave Garden Park and move across Kitwe after meeting with Nkana club officials shortly.

The former Chambishi FC and Lusaka Celtic coach is set to take over from Beston Chambeshi who quit Nkana suddenly two weeks ago to take up a coaching job in Botswana.

Siwale leaves United after a season in charge at Garden Park starting last May after taking over from Francis Mutembo.

United last season finished in sixth place on the table in division one north.

Incidentally, Siwale will take over at Nkana who were promoted back to the Premier Division at the end of last year together his former club Chambishi.

Meanwhile, demoted National Assembly have appointed Dean Mwiinde as head coach.

Mwiinde, who is also Zambia Under-23 assistant coach, takes over from Chris Chibuye who was fired last October.

Assembly has been under the temporal care of ex-Power Dynamos and Zambia midfielder Alex Namazaba since the latter part of the 2007 season.

Assembly were demoted last season after four years in the top-flight.

Mwiinde is hoping his magic will work this coming season for Assembly in division one south after guiding Konkola Blades to promotion at the end of the 2005 campaign.

He led Konkola Blades back to promotion in 2005 when he replaced Fodson Kabole that same year after they were demoted from the Premier Division in 2004.

And in international football, Zambia Under-17 women’s team opponents Ghana Under-17 arrive tomorrow.

The two teams will be in action at Woodlands Stadium this Saturday in a preliminary round FIFA 2008 World Under-17 Women’s Cup first leg qualifier.

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