Government is still awaiting for response from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) so as to give a go ahead for Prospective Uranium Mining in the country.

Mines Deputy Minister Maxwell Mwale said IAEA is still scrutinizing the guidelines that the Zambian government had sent on the mining of uranium in the country.

He stressed the commencement of uranium production by prospective uranium miners would only start after government receives a response from the Agency.

Mr. Mwale told ZANIS in an interview that it was illegal for prospective uranium miners to commence production as government was still working on a mechanism to regulate the mining of the mineral.

The Deputy Minister pointed out that the move taken by the Zambian government to send the guidelines to the Agency was aimed at protecting the Zambian communities from the effects of uranium.

Following the recent discovery of Uranium, there has been concerns that Zambia lacked capacity to control uranium mining in terms of storage, safety, security and transportation on the mineral.

ALBIDON Mining-Zambia Limited has confirmed the presence of high-grade uranium mineralisation at its Njame east project near Chirundu.

When giving an update on the pre-feasibility studies early this year, Albidon Zambia stated that uranium resources at the Chirundu joint venture with African Energy Resources had increased by 25 percent to about 4,120 metric tonnes.

Albidon indicated that the first uranium production was expected by the end of 2009.

However, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa had also in a related development warned that it was illegal to commence production in Zambia by prospective uranium miners as government was still developing guidelines in the mining of the mineral.

Dr Mwansa said the government had devised guidelines to regulate the mining of uranium in the country , which had been sent to the Agency.

Albidon Mining has become the third company to discover uranium deposits after Equinox Minerals discovered uranium deposits at its Lumwana copper project in North Western Province and has since embarked on a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), whose outcome would decide the way forward.

The other company is Omega Corp Limited, whose uranium exploration operations in the Siavonga area have reached advanced stages, with company managing director Mathew Yates stating that metallurgical discoveries had resulted in new areas of uranium mineralisation at its Kariba Uranium Project (KUP).

And Senior Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people in Southern Province had in a separate interview urged government to devise an effective and efficient mechanism that will help the country regulate international guildlines in the mining of uranium in an effort to protect the people of Zambia.

Chief Chipepo advised government to take extra remedial measures that would guide prospecting Uranium Miners to be prospecting and mining the mineral with caution so as to protect the local people from the effects of the uranium mineral.

He pointed out that there is need for the Zambian government to develop an effective and efficient framework before the commencement of uranium in the country.

The traditional ruler’s concern comes in the wake of the confirmed presence of the high-grade Uranium mineral contents in the Southern Province of Zambia.

GOVERNMENT says it will look into the controversy surrounding the proposed
construction of Legacy Hotels in Livingstone.

Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe said government will not allow competing interests to sabotage other developers.

He said this when he paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Mukuni of the Toka-Leya in Kazungula today.

Mr Munkombwe said it was worrying to note that earlier developers in the tourist capital are making it difficult for others to invest.

”Government will not allow competing interests to sabotage others that will come up. It is a source of worry to us that those who came early into the tourism fraternity are trying to frustrate new ones,” he said.

Mr Munkombwe said it was only fair that the National Heritage and Conservation Commission (NHCC) and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) realise that the more hotels are built, the better for the economy of Livingstone and the country as a whole.

He said he would liaise with the relevant ministries on the need for expansion and to create more hotel bed capacity before the 2010 world cup to be hosted by South Africa.

Speaking earlier, Chief Mukuni said Livingstone required more hotels to be built before the 2010 world cup.

Senior Chief Mukuni said the construction of Legacy Hotels in Livingstone would help boost the country’s economy.

The traditional leader said it is important for government to intervene in the matter because the hotel was still awaiting policy direction from the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).

Chief Mukuni wondered why David Livingstone hotel has been allowed to be constructed a hotel in the same locality while Legacy has been stopped.

MMD Youths in Chililabombwe has joined other party members that are calling for the expulsion of suspended Nationl Executive Committee Member Ms. Christine Moonga .

Chililabombwe MMD Youths today petitioned the party NEC to expel Ms. Moonga for alleged misconduct and lack of remorse during her suspension.

Chililabombwe Youth Chairperson Enock Kapalu said Ms Moonga had not shown remorse in her response to her suspension and had continued to show indiscipline and lack of respect for the party and Republican President, Levy Mwanawasa.

Ms Moonga, who was a party nominated NEC member, was last week suspended from the party after she issued a press statement accusing President Mwanawasa of practicing tribalism.

In a statement made available to ZANIS in Chililabombwe , Mr Kapalu said Ms Moonga should have channeled her concerns through the relevant party organs unlike issuing press statements as the act may influence people to rise against the President.

He pointed out that calling President Mwanawasa a tribalist might lead other people to rise against him and the rurling party.

The Youth leader alleged that Ms. Moonga is being used by people who want to put the name of the President into public ridicule .

“ In her response to the suspension, Ms Moonga did not show remorse hence our call for her to be expelled,’ he said.

Mr Kapalu urged all MMD members to respect the President and refrain from forcing him to discipline Finance Deputy Minister Jonas Shakafuswa as his case was being handled through proper channels.

He stressed Mr. Shakafuswa’s case is currently being handled by a committee under the Speaker of the National Assembly hence the resolve by the President not to intervene till the process was completed.

Gold and Copper deposits have been discovered in Kaputa District in the Northern Province.

The district also has rich deposits of uranium and other precious stones.

Kaputa Constituency Member of Parliament Mutale Nalumango confirmed the discovery to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mrs. Nalumango said the minerals were discovered following exploration expeditions by Geologists in the area.

She said she was cheered by the discovery and called upon investors to explore the mineral deposits in the area.

The lawmaker has called for the tarring of the Mununga/Kaputa road and the Mporokoso/Kaputa roads to enhance and accelerate development in the area.

She said this is because a good road network is vital to transportation of goods and services.

She also called on government to speed up connecting Kaputa district to the national electricity grid.

And Mrs. Nalumango says agricultural activities are booming in Kaputa district.

She cited banana plantations, rice fields and maize production being cultivated extensively in the area.

She said Kaputa has the potential to turn Northern Province into the ‘grain basket’ of the entire Northern Province because farmers there have taken agriculture very seriously.

Meanwhile, Senior Chief Chipepo of the Tonga people in Southern Province has urged government to devise an effective and efficient mechanism that will help the country adhere to international guidelines in the mining of uranium in an effort to protect the people of Zambia.

Chief Chipepo says government should take extra remedial measures that would guild prospecting Uranium Miners to be prospecting and mining Uranium with extra care in a bid to protect the local people from the effects of the uranium mineral.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Siavonga yesterday that there is need for the Zambian government to develop an effective and efficient framework before the commencement of the mining uranium in the country.

The traditional ruler’s concern comes in the wake of the confirmed presence of the high-grade Uranium mineral contents in some parts the Southern Province of Zambia.

Following the recent discovery of Uranium, there has been concerns that Zambia lacked capacity to control uranium mining in terms of storage, safety, security and transportation.

ALBIDON Mining-Zambia Limited has confirmed the presence of high-grade uranium mineralisation at its Njame east project near Chirundu.

When giving an update on the pre-feasibility studies early this year, Albidon Zambia stated that uranium resources at the Chirundu joint venture with African Energy Resources had increased by 25 percent to about 4,120 metric tonnes.

Albidon indicated that the first uranium production was expected by the end of 2009.

However, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa had in a related development warned that it was illegal to commence production in Zambia by prospective uranium miners as government was still developing guidelines in the mining of the mineral.

Dr Mwansa said the government had devised guidelines to regulate the mining of uranium in the country and the guidelines had been sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for scrutiny and guidance.

Albidon Mining has become the third company to discover uranium deposits after Equinox Minerals discovered uranium deposits at its Lumwana copper project in North Western Province and has since embarked on a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), whose outcome would decide the way forward.

The other company is Omega Corp Limited, whose uranium exploration operations in the Siavonga area have reached advanced stages, with company managing director Mathew Yates stating that metallurgical discoveries had resulted in new areas of uranium mineralisation at its Kariba Uranium Project (KUP).

THE MMD leadership in Southern Province has joined other party members in condemning suspended party National Committee Executive member Christine Moonga for accusing President Mwanawasa of practicing tribalism.

Southern Province MMD chairman Solomon Muzyamba says MMD in the province strongly condemns the utterances of Ms Moonga.

Mr Muzyamba has since cautioned MMD members in Southern Province against indiscipline.

He was speaking in Livingstone today at the official residence of Southern Province minister Danniel Munkombwe.

Mr Muzyamba said it was unfortunate that Ms Moonga stood out personally to scandalise the President and called him a tribalist when President Mwanawasa was a hardworking, lovable and competent leader.

He noted that Ms Moonga had been a nominated member of MMD for only four weeks and wondered why she should embark on scandalising the President.

On Tuesday, Ms Moonga was suspended as NEC member and given 10 days in which to exculpate herself for accusing President Mwanawasa of practicing tribalism.

Government have came to the rescue of a 65 year old woman who had been abandoned at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) by her relatives for four years.

Ms. Matron Nonde who had both legs amputated in November last year has been taken to Cheshire Divine Providence Home in Chawama Compound.

Community development and Social Services Minister , Catherine Namugala said she was compelled to assist Nonde after learning that she has been abandoned by relatives

The Minister appealed to Zambians to show love and care towards their loved ones when misfortunes such as Nonde’s befall them.

Ms. Namungala said it is inhuman and not African to abandon a relative when they are injured.

She said everybody is vulnerable to disability and stressed that people should not neglect there relatives at such a time.

The Minister thanked hospital authorities for looking after Matron for so many years and urged them to continue in their quest to provide quality health care.

And UTH Public Relations Manager, Pauline Mbangweta said Matron can only lie in bed as sitting for a long time proves to be a challenge for her.

She explained that the nature of her injuries make it difficult for other authorities to look after her hence her prolonged stay in UTH.

Ms. Mbangweta said that two years ago Matron’s relatives were identified but they only visited her once after which they never went back to the hospital.

And Matron thanked government for taking her to the home and she expressed gratitude to UTH for looking after her all these years…

About K200 million 2007 Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Chavuma district in Northwestern province is still lying idle in the bank.

Chavuma District Commissioner, Frobisher Fulayi, and Council Secretary Bryson Kanchingu confirmed the development to North western Province minister Kenneth Chipungu when he visited the district recently.

Mr. Fulayi said CDF for Chavuma has not yet been utilised because the ministry of Local Government and Housing has not yet approved the committee to administer the funds.

He said applications for projects from various groups have received and approved but authorities could not release the CDF because of the delay in approving of committee members.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fulayi disclosed that 21 schools and several teachers’ houses that were made out of mud and pole structures in Chavuma district collapsed during heavy rains this season.

And Mr. Chipungu said it was unfortunate that the CDF for last year for Chavuma has remained unutilised when there were many projects that required funding in the area.

Mr. Chipungu said there was no need to politicise the CDF because it was meant for development and uplifting living standard of people in a particular constituency.