Government says there is need to hear the views of church organizations from within the National Constitution Conference (NCC) and not from outside.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, said church organizations should not express anger but learn to reconcile when they differ over issues.

Mr. Pande, who is also Kasempa area Member of Parliament, said when the church organizations take a stance of not taking part in the NCC, they are expressing anger which is not supposed to be done by people of God.

He said the country needed to hear the views of those who boycotted the NCC, particularly the church organizations, from within and not outside the NCC.

He pointed out that the most significant occurrence that the country experienced in 2006 was the establishment of the NCC.

Mr. Pande proudly noted that the current constitution making process has been the most consultative in the history of the country.

Mr. Pande said this last evening in Kasempa Constituency end of year party in Kasempa district.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pande said Zambians should reflect on how much they have contributed towards the growth of the economy in 2007.

He advised Zambians not to leave the efforts to better the economy of the country to government alone.

He said government is determined to ensure that the economy growth rate moves from a single digit to a double digit, saying only then will the people on the grassroot feel the impact.

Mr.Pande advised Zambians not to give up but to work hard in 2008 to ensure Zambia’s economy further improves.

And in his vote of thanks, a Kasempa resident, Peter Moyo said people of Kasempa Constituency feel humbled and happy to end 2007 on a good note with their area member of parliament.

Mr. Moyo said the come-together end-of-year party organized by Mr. Pande gives the people of Kasempa an opportunity to make their challenges a stepping stone into 2008 and the successes in 2007 as a building stone.

President Mwanawasa has said government will continue implementing prudent macro-economic policies aimed at sustaining economic gains while ensuring that the gains benefit the people.

And President Mwanawasa has reiterated governments resolve to ensuring the successful enactment of a people driven constitution.

The President said this today during his annual address to the nation on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Television on New Years Eve.

Dr Mwanawasa stressed that the focus for 2008 is to achieve a higher economic growth rate of at least seven percent.

He noted that the country’s economic growth rate in the last three years has averaged 5.6 percent, while the inflation rate has been declining, reaching 8.9 percent in 2007.

This performance, he said, has translated into stable prices of goods and services for the people.

“Fair minded and objective people will agree that so far, our economic, political and social programmes are on the right track. This is evidenced by the positive economic developments,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa also noted that the exchange rate of the Kwacha against major currencies remained stable and that the lower interest rates offered by banks, have given an opportunity to the people to borrow money and to invest in productive ventures.

The President, however, said the energy sector, which is the engine that drives the economy, has continued to face a number of challenges.

He said government has worked hard to overcome most of the challenges.

In 2007, the nation experienced intermittent disruptions in the supply of petroleum products.

He said, therefore, government has now opted to introduce long term supply measures, unlike in the past when crude oil was procured in intermittent consignments.

He said the long term measure will help insulate the country from the unpredictable international prices which have now hit an all time high of US$100 per barrel.

On petroleum exploration, the President said he was pleased to note that in the past year, government engaged stakeholders in order to finalise proposed amendments to the petroleum exploration Act of 1985.

“As soon as the amendments to the Act are effected, we should be able to see exploration activities in Nort-Western province and in other provinces with potential oil and gas reserves. The selected blocks in North-western province have already been demarcated in readiness for exploration,” he said.

In this regard, Dr. Mwanawasa urged all Zambian private sector to actively participate in the procurement and exploration for petroleum.

He also said in order for Zambians to participate in the global economy, government will increase their access to private sector investment through the programmes of Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission.

He pointed out that this is one way of ensuring that all Zambians including women and youth are given an opportunity to exploit their entrepreneurial capabilities to the fullest.

On mining, the President said the mining sector continues to make tremendous strides and attract huge investments, resulting in increased mineral production.

“It now remains for us to ensure that we derive commensurate benefits from these developments,” he said.

He said government has, therefore, engaged the mining companies in the re-negotiations of the mining development agreements, which should be concluded soon.

Dr. Mwanawasa also stressed that the country has continued to ensure sustainable food security.

He said this is a sign that farmers have responded to the progressive government policies and to the call for hard work.

President Mwanawasa however, said the issue of climate change and the environment is a matter of great concern to the nation.

He said most developing countries including Zambia, are already experiencing effects of climate change such as floods and drought with severe consequences on agriculture, a climate sensitive sector.

The President also said Education and Health are equally important for the social economic development of the country and will continue to receive the priority attention of the government.

Dr. Mwanawasa also bemoaned the high levels of HIV/AIDS and the increased incidences of child abuse and defilement cases in the country.

He said government will in 2008 step up efforts aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS infections, expnading Ant-retroviral treatment and mitigating mother to child transmission.

The President said he was however happy to note that the judiciary has continued to impose stiff and appropriate punishment on offenders as a deterrent measure to the high incidences of child abuse and defilements.

As regard corruption, President Mwanawasa said government in the past year, through the task force on corruption, followed up a number of cases of plunder and recovered several properties and monies.

He said the proceeds from the sales of these properties will be used for the various programmes in needy social sectors.

He also commended the media for the role it is playing in exposing such vices and in helping to consolidate the country’s democracy.

Dr. Mwanawasa said in this vein, Zambia’s governance record has earned the country recognition by the international community as a favourable investment destination.

Turning to the constitution making process, the President said the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has been constituted to drive the process.

He urged all stakeholders to show unity of purpose and commitment to the whole process.

Dr. Mwanawasa said Zambians should exhibit the maturity and magnanimity that the citizenry have always demonstrated and prove that they can be unity in diversity.

“Let us bury our differences, deliberate issues objectively, and bequeath ourselves a constitution which posterity shall cherish. Zambians let us unite to enact a new constitution in peace and tranquility,” he said.

President Mwanawasa urged Zambians to preserve the peace that the country has enjoyed for many years.

Government has put in place measures that will next year speed up the utilisation of public funds by government ministries , departments , and spending agencies.

Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti stated that government has allowed Controlling Officers to commence the tendering process for various project earmarked for next year.

Mr. Chibiliti however said the contracts would only be signed after the budget has been approved in parliament.

He said Controlling Officers have an idea of how much they expect to receive in next year‘s budget following conclusion of discussions with the ministry of finance.

Mr. Chibiliti told journalist in an interview that this process would help in speeding up the implementation cycle which he said is short.

As of this month, about K900 billion meant for various developmental programmes was still laying idle in the Central bank and Commercial Banks.

About K700 billion is held with the central bank while the remaining is in various commercial banks with accounts of Government ministries, departments and spending agencies

He said that the period for implementation which is supposed to be 12 is reduced to about three months because the budget has to be debated and approved and that the tender process also takes about three months.

The Secretary to the Treasury also attributed further delay to tender regulation that requires Controlling Officers to commence the tendering process when the money in available in the accounts.

He however stated that government expected the utilisation of the funds to improve next year following the measure it has pout in place.

Mr Chibiliti stated that government has been concerned this year about the slow pace in the utilisation of the approved funds.

He said the laying idle of funds in the central Bank and Commercial Bank was an indication that programmes have not been undertaken as planned in the budget.

And Mr. Chibiliti says progress has been made on the renegotiating of development agreement in the mining sector.

Mr. Chibiliti, who is chairing the Mining Negotiating Team, said the renegotiating mine agreements is meant to ensure equality in the share of mineral wealth of the country.

He said equality in the sector would enable Zambians to benefit from the mineral wealth of the country.

In another development, the empowerment fund aimed at empowering targeted citizens in selected sectors would be operational next year the Citizen Economic Empowerment (CEE) Chairman Jacob Sikazwe has disclosed.

Government had this year provided about K70 billion as seed money for the fund which shall also provide funding to other empowerment programmes that were being undertaken in various government ministries.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing, Mr.Sikazwe said the fund, which is a revolving fund and not meant for handouts, is a very important pillar of economic empowerment.

He said the commission would work with financial institutions so as to ensure that the resources reach a broad section of the community.

Mr. Sikwazwe however sated that the commission has made submission to the ministry of commerce, trade and industry for a budget allocation for next year which will be within the context of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

He said the commission would next year commence the implementation of the various programmes targeted at empowering Zambians in sectors that include Mining, Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, Financial services and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Other activities the commission would embark on include the effecting preferential procurement for Zambians s harmonisation of the Acts and the completion of the sector codes for the six sectors.

Mr. Sikazwe said various acts that include Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB) need to be quickly be harmonised to align them with CEE Act.

‘Work has started on the harmonisation of the various acts and we are expecting the final report from the consultant in January 2008,’ he said.

He further said the commissions drafted the guidelines for the development of sector codes which will be sent to sector next month.

And Mr. Sikazwe says steps are being undertaken to amend legislation on procurement to ensure that preferential procurement is directed at citizens empowered companies.

In the next five years, the commission he said expected 50 percent of all government and private sector procurement to go to empowered companies and that 30 percent of these supplier companies be controlled by women youths and people living with disabilities.

Speaking at the same function Secretary to the treasury Evans Chibiliti said the commission would not give financial support on the mining sector but would put legislation that would ensure Zambians are given preference.

Mr. Chibiliti stated that the sector plays a key role in the development of the country.

And Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Davison Chilipamushi said the commission would need about $500 million to meet the demand of Zambians in need of funds.

Mr. Chilipamushi however stated that the fund is in the next three to four years expected to increase.

Meanwhile the commission‘s secretariat is to be operational new next following the appointment of the majority of the officers.

The CEE chairman disclosed that all remaining appointments that include the Director General would be concluded by mid next month.

Government has established the commission so as to empower targeted Zambians who have been disadvantaged.

The commission has since undertaken various sensitisation programmes in all the nine provinces to education Zambians about the empowerment programmes.

Former Mufulira Mayor Leonard Chisangano has commended the two local parliamentarians in the District who have opted to sit on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

And Mr. Chisangano has also appealed to Patriotic Front (PF) Kantanshi Member of Parliament (MP) Yamfwa Mukanga who has opted to shun the NCC to reconsider his decision and participate in the deliberations.

The former Mufulira Mayor said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Mufulira yesterday.

Mr. Chisangano said the NCC should not be seen as an MMD forum alone, but a gathering that was committed to finding a lasting solution to the country’s constitutional malaise.

He has since advised MPs and some sections of civil society that have shunned the NCC to reconsider their decisions.

Mr. Chisangano said they were so many citizens who were willing to sit on the NCC adding that the NCC secretariat should consider approaching well deserving citizens like himself who were more than ready to sit at the forum before deliberations were advanced.

Local Government and Housing minister, Sylvia Masebo has described operations in her ministry as successful during the year 2007 despite facing a lot of challenges.

Mrs. Masebo said as at today, all the 72 councils in the country have satisfactorily done their beats.

She has since paid tribute to government for having released the K162 billion which was allocated to the councils around the country this year.

Mrs. Masebo said because of the release of these funds, only four out of 72 councils in the country have not yet finished paying off their retrenched workers.

She explained that 54 district councils have already paid off their retired personnel while the 14 municipal council and four city councils were yet to pay retirees.

The minister said in additional to the allocated funds, districts council were given K200 million, municipal councils got K300 million while city council got K400 million as general grants.

The ministry also given K1 billion to each province for improved service delivery in water supply and sanitation by water utility companies in the country.

Mrs. Masebo said her ministry would next year focus mainly on improving service delivery to the public.