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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

102

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

1

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

16

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

154

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.

1000 Sinazongwe flood victims need relief food

0


Sinazongwe District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni has said the number of people in need of relief food has swelled to about more than 1000.

Mr. Apuleni has urged people to prepare themselves for a worse scenario than anticipated as the flood continues to cause havoc in the district.

He said the district management team has managed to assess the SIX areas while the rest of the other places were still inaccessible owing to impassable roads.

The DC noted that the places visited included Nkandabbwe, Malima, Sinazongwe, Mweezhya, Sinazongwe, and Maamba.

Mr. Apuleni revealed that 1091 people would be in need of relief food because their fields were washed away and their houses have collapsed while 85 percent of people were living in makeshift structures.

He said the District disaster management team was still trying to find ways reaching inaccessible places either through water and when the rains reduces.

The places that still inaccessible include, kafwambila, Siapondo, Muuka, Dengeza, Siameja, Sulwegonde, Sinankumbi, Chimini, Lubwelubwe, and Chiyabi.

The district has continued to receive heavy rains and most people’s maize fields have turned yellow, submerged in water, washed away, and has stopped growing owing to nutrients that have been washed away.

The District Commissioner said the district has received sympathy from many organisations apart from the rapid assessments that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the office of the vice president had done.

He said ZAMBEEF has pledged to donate 200 bags of Maize and the Anglican Church has pledged 320 bags of maize and undisclosed number of blankets to give to people whose houses collapsed.

Chief Sinazongwe’s representative Louis Manje said the rains in the district has caused more to the people as even cotton was failing to grow well.

[ZANIS]

Floods cut off Sinazongwe district

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By Tovin Ngombe

Sinazongwe District has been cut off from the rest of the country in Southern Province for the third time following the floods that have washed away the exposed culvert.

The culvert exposed along the Maamba/Batooka road at Sinazeze has collapsed owing to the excessive rainfall that the district has continued to receive.

Sinenge Ward Councilor Joe Siabula said several motorists from Choma and Lusaka are stranded.
In December and January this year three culverts collapsed and paralysed the transport system in the district a situation that lead to the hiking of prices on all essential basic food stuffs.

Today the highest price of a roller meal bag is fetching at K60, 000 and K50, 000 in Kafwambila where the area is still inaccessible.

The Sinazeze culvert is the fourth culvert to be cut off while several culverts are in the process of being washed away.

Sinazongwe District Commissioner warned people to prepare for a worse situation than anticipated in the district.

In January Road Development Agency (RDA) Head of Public Relations Officer Royce Saili said 11 eleven dangerous spots have been identified and they would be worked on for a month.
[ZANIS]

Witchcraft plagued school reopens

39

Mweemba primary school which was prematurely closed in the third term last year in Sinazongwe district following rampant witchcraft that led to all the teachers fleeing the school, has been reopened.

Mweemba Ward councillor Aaron Mweemba told ZANIS that the district education office has sent six new teachers to the school.

Mr Mweemba said the community was happy with the development.

The civic leader has since urged them to desist from using witchcraft on innocent teachers.

He said the school reopened last week and a grade eight class has been introduced for the first time.

Last year female teachers at the school had bizzare experiences such as nightmares of having sex with unknown people.

Their male counterparts would also wake up in morning feeling tired and backache a situation which resulted in most teachers getting sick.

Government uncovers Visa fees scam

28

Government has uncovered a scam in which some Tourism operators are allegedly misinforming foreign tourists that the Zambian government has increased Visa fees from US$ 40 to US$ 150.

Addressing the Press in Lusaka today, Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Kaingu said his ministry has received disturbing reports of some tour operators that are misinforming foreign tourists that the Zambian government has exorbitantly hiked tourism visa fees.

Mr. Kaingu said his ministry will not take kindly the tour operators that are distorting information with regard to the increment of the tourism visa fees as they are frustrating government efforts towards of taking the Zambian tourism sector to greater heights.

He clarified that government has only increased tourism visa fees from US$ 25 per single entry to US$ 50 adding that for multiple entry the tourism visa fees has been slightly increased from US$ 40 to US$ 80.

Mr. Kaingu said that government is concerned with the false information that some tour operators were spreading to some foreign tourists saying false information on the Visa fees could adversely affect tourist inflows.

And government has instituted a Committee on Tourism aimed at spearheading the tourism marketing strategies in readiness for the coming 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament slated for South Africa and for the 2011 All African Games to be held in Zambia.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Michael Kaingu said the Committee on Tourism which comes into effect on February 1, 2008 and chaired by Deputy Minister of Tourism will to take advantage of the forthcoming 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup and the 2011 All African Games to be held in Zambia and seriously market Zambia’s tourism potential to the rest of the world.

Mr. Kaingu further disclosed that his ministry is working out modalities aimed at increasing tourism levy fees with a view to spearheading tourism development.

He said his ministry has since started making consultations with the tour operators and other stakeholders.

Exploration and Production Act under scrutiny

0

Government is in the process of repealing and replacing the Exploration and Production Act of 1985.

Mines and Mineral Development Minister Kalombo Mwansa has announced that the Bill to repeal and replace the current Act will be tabled in parliament in the first quarter of 2008.

Dr. Mwansa said the Bill will provide two separate licenses for prospecting and production of oil and gas as well as make it stronger in the areas of legal provisions on environmental protection.

He was speaking in Lusaka today when he opened a three-day seminar on National Petroleum Development.

Dr. Mwansa said repealing of the Act involves strengthening institutional framework for regulating the oil and gas industry before inviting tenders from the private petroleum exploration companies.

He said government is now promoting capacity building in geological survey department while rehabilitating and equipping the laboratories in the Ministry of Mines to enable it carry out analysis of the petroleum explorations because government is determined to ensure that the country benefits fully from the petroleum and gas industry.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mwansa has announced that government has made significant progress on exploration of oil and gas in Eastern, North-Western and Western Provinces as evidenced by results of microbial analysis of samples collected in these provinces.

The Minister said samples showed positive signs for both oil and gas adding that government will in this year’s exploration programme extend the microbial survey to the Kafue Basin in Southern Province and Bangweulu in Luapula Province.

And speaking earlier, Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Tore Gjos said Zambia stands to gain tremendously from her petroleum and gas industry

Mr. Tore said Zambia should however approach the industry with a measure of prudence.

The three-day seminar seeks to look at the petroleum policy and relevant legislation involved in exploring oil and gas.

Possible postponement of the Kanyama parley polls welcomed

15

The Centre for Elections and Governance (CEG) Zambia has welcomed the pronouncement by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) that it might postpone the February 21 by-election in Kanyama constituency if floods worsened.

CEG Zambia Trustee Gershom Musonda told ZANIS in an interview that continued monitoring of the floods situation in Kanyama constituency by the ECZ is good for all stakeholders.

Mr. Musonda observed that the floods in the area would have discouraged voters from turning up to cast their votes.

He further observed that organizations such as the ECZ, election monitoring groups, political parties and other stakeholders would be hindered in their work if floods worsened in the constituency.

Mr. Musonda said political parties should be particularly cheered by the possible postponement of the polls in Kanyama as this would afford them time to prepare adequately.

He observed that some candidates chosen by some political parties are not resident in Kanyama and therefore need time to criss-cross the constituency in a bid to sell themselves to the electorate in the area.

Mr. Musonda further said the draining of flood water in Kanyama ahead of the February 21 by-election should not be politicized because the exercise is in good faith as residents in the area have been worst hit by floods.

He said the forthcoming by-election should not hamper efforts aimed easing the plight of the residents.

And Mr. Musonda said the adoption of its party president, Kenny Ngondo, by the All People’s Congress party is a welcome development because it would make the Kanyama parliamentary by-election competitive.

Mr. Musonda said Mr. Ngondo is a combative competitor and his entry into the Kanyama parliamentary race is a plus to Zambia’s growing democracy.

The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND), United National Independence Party (UNIP), United Liberal Party (ULP), and All People’s Congress Party (APC) have so far confirmed their participation in the Kanyama parliamentary by-election set for February 21.

The candidates are tomorrow expected to file their nomination papers for the seat left vacant last December after the death of Mr. Henry Mtonga.