Government has said it has put in place specific measures that will ensure that over enrolment in government schools is reduced.

Education Minster Geoffrey Lungwagwa said this yesterday when he carried out an inspection tour of the Ndola Girls Technical High School in Ndola yesterday.

Professor Lungwangwa explained that government had plans of building similar Technical Girls high schools in all the provincial towns in the country.

He explained that the gesture was aimed at decongesting government schools as well as empowering the girl child to enable her to contribute to the development of the country.

“It is one of the steps that government has put in place to reduce congestion and also to meet part of the gender balancing requirements for the country,” he said.

He further said that it was the wish of the government to ensure that it had a knowledge driven economy to which the female folk would play a major role.

And Copperbelt Provincial Education Officer (PEO) Muyambo Kamutumwa said most works at the Ndola Girls Technical High School were completed and that only finishing touches were remaining.

Mr Kamutumwa said teachers for earmarked subjects at the school had already been identified but that the head teacher had not yet been identified as the Provincial Permanent Secretary Mrs Jennifer Musonda had advised that a Catholic nun be identified because most nuns made very good administrators.

The PEO however said the school had not yet been electrified despite paying ZESCO in September last year.

The School, the first of its kind in the country, is set to open later this year and will house about 650 boarders.

Science Technology and Vocational Training Permanent Secretary, Buleti Nsemukila has denied the report in today’s Post Newspaper alleging that he harassed a male nurse at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) over admission fees.

Dr Nsemukila said he is shocked at the nurse (Yandikani Miti) malicious report to the management of UTH which he leaked to the post newspaper in order to distort his image.

He noted that although he expressed anger at the conduct of the male nurse who refused to treat his daughter, Wezi until payment was made, he denies verbally or physically harassing the nurse.

In a statement made available to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today, Dr Nsemukila noted that as a medical demographer, he has spent half of his career working with nurses and other medical staff adding that he could not have exhibited himself in the manner he was described by the nurse.

“I have written books together with medical personnel on various medical conditions affecting Zambians and I can not believe that a clinical personnel could describe my character the way he did” Dr Nsemukila said.

Dr Nsemukila explained that on the day of the incident, he personally requested to speak to Mr. Miti in his office accompanied by his fellow nurses in order to avoid the misrepresentation that Mr. Miti has given his management adding that his fellow nurses can testify to the fact that he was never harassed.

He observed that Mr. Miti fabricated the story in his defence after he learnt that UTH management was investigating him for the misconduct.

Dr Nsemukila further denies reports that he used abusive language towards the UTH Managing Director, Peter Mwaba.

He said Dr Mwaba is an old friend of his and has been their family doctor for a long time adding that he would never use abusive language against him.

“Just last evening (13th January, 2008), I was the guest of honor to a wedding of Dr Mwaba’s nephew, Fred Nghandwe, so how could I have done that,” Dr Nsemulika said.

A story in today’s post newspapers states that Dr Nsemukila last Tuesday verbally and physically harassed a UTH male nurse over a dispute on admission fees.

The incident occurred at the UTH’s paramedic section when Dr Nsemukila’s wife took their daughter, Wezi, to the hospital for treatment on January 8th. 2008.

President Levy Mwanawasa has called for the disciplining of police officers who are allegedly inciting the public to rebel against public order so as to disadvantage his administration and instead, advance the cause of some opposition political parties.

And Dr. Mwanawasa has implored the Zambia Police Service to work towards ensuring that there was peace and security in the country all the time if the country was to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

Dr. Mwanawasa said he was aware that some police officers were campaigning for some political parties when they were supposed to be loyal to the government of the day.

He said some people, including some police officers, have been tempted to think that they would be better off under a different administration other than the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

The President was speaking last night at the delayed 2007 Zambia Police Superior Officers’ Annual Ball held at Lilayi Superior Officers’ Mess. The theme of the annual ball was “Policing toward the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in Zambia”.

“I have heard and seen officers who deliberately incite the people to rebel against public order so as to disadvantage this administration. I do hope, Mr. Inspector General, that a few of our officers who are turning the name of the police service in this way will either reform for better or be kicked out of the service,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa further said his government’s efforts and achievements in improving Zambia’s economy have not been appreciated by some people because the problems were numerous at the time his administration took over power in 2002.

“In fact, I can say that when we came into power more than six years ago, the country was at its knees and poverty was choking the majority of our people. What we have done is merely to scratch the problem, and there is great temptation for our people in whatever status they occupy, to think that their lives will be better under a different administration,” he said.

He added, “…and so some of our unfortunate compatriots easily get swayed in fighting the government of the day in the hope that they will be receiving manna from heaven when this administration is removed from power”.

Dr. Mwanawasa pointed out that it was unfortunate that the police service was not spared from “this fantasy”.

He said government deploys police officers during elections to ensure smooth, free and fair elections but some officers have taken advantage of such an opportunity to decampaign the government in power.

“Unfortunately, the few bad eggs use this occasion as an ideal opportunity for them to campaign for one opposition party or another,” he said.

He said his administration was working hard to improve the living standards of people despite several challenges.

“The truth is that campaigning against the ruling administration in this fashion can throw the police service from a room of white ants to one of red ants,” he said.

And Dr. Mwanawasa has said his government’s efforts towards achieving the MDGs by 2015 would prove futile if the country was not enjoying peace and security.

He said being a government wing that should guarantee security, the police service should step up their role of keeping law and order in the country for it to have a conducive developmental environment.

“Therefore, the police service has a unique but vital role to ensure that the nation continues to be in a state of peace and security. For it is only in such an environment that a truly healthy and prosperous nation could emerge,” he said.

The superior police officers are those from the rank of Assistant Superintendent through to the Inspector General of Police.

Dr. Mwanawasa said for Zambia to attain the MDGs by 2015, it was important to revisit the MDGs in order to examine the role of the police service in assisting government to reach the goals for the betterment of the country.

The President has since directed the police service to establish a unit within the police service which would deal with vices of child defilement and rape in the country.

He said he was deeply concerned about the safety of children in the country, especially that there were a lot of rapists in communities these days.

He observed that the vice was rampant because there was no department or unit that dealt with matters of crimes against children.

“I therefore direct that a special unit within the police service be created to undertake such duties. The unit should be user-friendly to the child by providing an environment where the child will feel safe and protected,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa hoped the unit would be operational before the end of this year.

He said defilers and rapists were derailing government’s fight against HIV/AIDS.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa said he would like to see all police officers accommodated before he leaves office in 2011.

He said it was for this reason that government would this year, construct 1,500 housing units for the police service.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo said the police service would this year employ 1,500 police officers, 300 of whom would have trade and professional certificates.

Mr. Mateyo said the police is targeting to employ, among other professions, brick layers, nurses, and medical doctors.

He said the brick layers would help construct hundreds of housing units for police officers in the country while nurses and doctors would work in the police hospital which would be opened soon in Sikanze camp.

And Mr. Mateyo said police was an important wing in driving the country towards achieving MDGs by 2015.

He said the police would put in place effective and efficient policing methods that would create an enabling environment for economic development.

“Otherwise, the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals will be a pipe dream. In a nutshell, economic growth and effective community policing are interrelated for it is impossible to record success in a crime-prone country or region,” he said.

He thanked government for the support the service received last year, saying without such support, the police would not have achieved the goals it had set for itself.

The Auditor General, Anna Chifungula, has released her interim report on Tomorrow Investment to President Levy Mwanawasa according to the presidential directive.

Public Relations Officer in the office of the Auditor Genral, Ellen Chikale, told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the report was submitted last Friday to the President for his scrutiniy and further action. Copies of the report were also released to other investigative wings of government for their perusal.

As a result of findings on Tomorrow Investment, the Auditor General has also extended investigations to other firms that have been awarded government contracts in the country.

A sample of other contracts awarded to other firms by government also revealed poor performance and other anomalies.

“In my view, I feel the investigations have to be on all firms that have been receiving government contracts. For instance, one wonders why in one place a contract is terminated due to poor performance in one province, and in another, a contract is awarded to the same firm to carry out works in a different province.

“These involve billionsof Kwacha that are being awarded to firms despite them being cited as having performed poorly,” the Auditor Genral observed.

In her report, Ms Chifungula adds, “These and many more issues are what we feel we should dwell into and exhaust all investigations of other firms being awarded contracts by government in the country.”

The office of the Auditor General will keep the public informed of its findings once the reports are tabled in parliament.

Last week, President Levy Mwanawasa directed the office of the Auditor General to institute investigations on Tomorrow Investment, a local construction firm, for allegedly performing poor work in several parts of the country while continuouly being awarded government contracts.

Meanwhile,

Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo has said the Police Service last year arrested a total of 202 suspected copper thieves and recovered stolen copper valued at K1.5 billion.

Mr. Mateyo said this was as a result of the creation of a special police wing aimed at curbing rampant copper thefts on the Copperbelt Province.

He said the wing was created to prevent, investigate and institute arrests of suspected copper thieves following rampant copper thefts in the province.

He said out of the 202 arrests of suspected copper thefts, 71 people were convicted, 51 were still pending, and 10 were acquitted while three cases were withdrawn from court.

Mr. Mateyo was speaking at Lilayi Superior Officers’ Mess during the 2007 delayed Superior Officers’ Annual Ball, which was graced by President Levy Mwanawasa.

Mr. Mateyo also disclosed that during 2007, the police service scored several achievements, one of which was the retraining of 300 middle management police officer.

He said these officers in turn transmitted the knowledge they acquired to their subordinate officers.

“This programme will continue and will be extended to sergeants, sub-inspectors and eventually to top management” he said.

He said some officers were performing poorly in their duties because of lack of in-service training in the police service, hence the introduction of the retraining programme.

He added that 19 police officers from the Southern African Community Development (SADC) member countries were also trained in November last year.

Mr. Mateyo also said police officers serving in peace keeping missions abroad were performing well.

He said the service would continue providing officers for such missions once called upon.

The Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament participating in the National Constitution Conference (NCC) have distanced themselves from allegations that they are plotting to oust party president, Michael Sata and replace him with Second Republican President, Dr Frederick Chiluba.

And the PF MPs participating in the NCC have accused Patriotic Front Spokesperson Given Lubinda of creating a wedge between the PF members of Parliaments for participating in the NCC, their Constituents and PF supporters.

Addressing Journalists in Lusaka today, group spokesperson Dr Peter Machungwa who refuted claims made by the PF top leadership that the PF members participating in the NCC want to form a splinter group, said the party is desperately trying to create a pretext or grounds to level new charges on them.

Dr Machungwa described Mr Lubinda’s allegations as very serious and libelous, adding that Mr Lubinda’s allegations are meant to be sued as a basis for the expulsion of the PF members participating in the NCC.

He said their participation in the NCC is aimed at making an input in the constitution process and ensure that the NCC comes up with the provisions that will answer and safeguard the interests of the Zambian people.

Dr Machungwa said it is unfortunate for the PF top leadership to allege that the NCC participants will put into the Constitution a provision that would bar PF President Michael Sata from contesting the Presidential race because of his age.

He further noted that their participation into the NCC was aimed at ensuring that discriminatory clauses that do not benefit the people of Zambia are not part of the Constitution.

And Dr Machungwa has cautioned MMD spokesperson Benny Tetamashimba not to gain political mileage and cause confusion out of the current difference in the PF over participation in the NCC.

Dr Machungwa further cautioned Mr Tetamashimba not to be a political propagandist predicting doom for all opposition political parties, especially the PF.

He dispelled allegations made by Mr Tetamashimba that PF members attending the NCC are about to form a new political party together with some MMD members.

Dr Machungwa explained that if there is a group in the PF planning to form a political party with MMD or any other group, then it is not from the PF members participating in the NCC as PF members participating in the NCC were still party members.

He said it was sad and extremely unfortunate that the Second Republican President has been drawn into the party’s internal differences.

Dr Machungwa further said the fact that the former President Chiluba has stated that participating in the on-going constitutional making process is important and desirable should not suddenly turn him into an enemy of the PF leadership.

And Chifunabuli PF member of parliament, Ernest Mwansa, said there was nothing wrong for PF members to participate in the NCC as the party had started participating in the NCC since its inception.

The Patriotic Front (PF) has accused some of its Members of Parliament of plotting to oust Party President, Michael Sata and replace him with Second Republican President Dr Frederick Chiluba who they would float for the State Presidency in the 2011 elections.

Serenje district council yesterday took to task a branch MMD official who has allegedly been giving plots illegally to people at a fee at TAZARA compound.

And Council Chairman, Cletus Malupanga, has blamed council management for failure to carry out council decisions such as demolishing illegal structures at TAZARA compound.

Mr. Tunnel Mambwe admitted having given out 22 plots illegally at between K200,000 and K250,000 to people who have built grass thatched houses.

A team of council officials comprising of Mr. Malupanga, council secretary, Yaphet Simpamba and director of works Vincent Phiri, yesterday meet Mr. Mambwe over the matter.

The officials intended to have Mr. Mambwe arrested for illegal distribution of plots without the knowledge of the council but said they were still contemplating the way forward.

Mr. Simpamba explained that Mr. Mambwe had earlier told the team that he was given authority by agricultural officials to demarcate the land that was near the farmers training centre.

When District Agricultural Coordinator (DACO) Kennedy Mulenga was called in to explain, he denied the matter.

Council chairman, Mr. Malupanga said it was sad that the council failed to arrest the situation because the management failed to implement the decision made in the last full council meting where it was resolved that illegal structures be demolished.

Mr. Malupanga who said this had been going on since 2002, pointed out that although the decision to demolish the structures was not carried out accordingly, his council would sit to ensure that the decision was implemented.

‘’These are the results of failing to implement what you decide to do. Because of the delay to implement the decision, Mr. Mambwe took it that he was doing the right thing and went on unchecked,’’ he said.

Mr. Mambwe pleaded with the council officials not to have him locked up saying he had orphans to look after who would suffer if he was locked up.

When asked where he took the money he raised from the sale of the plots, Mr. Mambwe said some of it went towards the repair of the bridge that links Zambia compound to TAZARA compound while some of it was squandered.

And District Commissioner, Musonda Chunga, said it was unfortunate that some people took the law into their own hands even when they knew that the council was the custodian of the land in the township.

He said it was important that there was sanity in land distribution through the council.

Meanwhile, Serenje Central Constituency acting MMD chairman, Kennedy Kango said the party did not support in any way Mr. Mambwe in his illegal deeds.

Pomp and splendour characterized the official opening of the second session of the Tenth National Assembly by President Levy Mwanawasa.

The President who was clad in an immaculate blue suit accompanied by his wife, Maureen, arrived at Parliament Building at 10:30 hrs and was met on arrival by Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa and Service Chiefs.

Dr. Mwanawasa was accorded the 21 gun salute fired by the salute Troop of the Zambia Army Artillery and a fly past by the Zambia Air Force jets.

However, Dr. Mwanawasa could not inspect the guard of honour mounted by the Second Battalion of the Zambia Regiment due to rains that started a few minutes after his arrival.

The Parade, Photojournalists and hundreds of people braved the rains to witness the arrival of the President.

Immediately after the National Anthem was played, Dr. Mwanawasa, the First Lady and the Speaker, despite the rains, ceremoniously proceeded into the chamber where he addressed Members of Parliament.

After officially opening parliament, the President left the chambers and was accorded the third presidential salute before departure at about 13:50 hours.

On Quality of MP Debates

President Levy Mwanawasa showered Members of Parliament with glowing tribute, saying their style and manner of debate was a sign of a fledging democracy in Zambia.

Dr. Mwanawasa congratulated the members for debating matters of great importance to the nation with maturity and transparency in the previous session of the National Assembly.

During the first session of the tenth National Assembly, 1,120 questions for oral answers were considered while six private members’ motions and 34 ministerial statements were dealt with in parliament.

“My administration is grateful to this house for the outstanding manner in which Honourable members debated and passed the bills which came before them in 2007. This demonstrated the constructive manner in which this house scrutinized government intensions and proposals,” he said.

In the same session, 21 motions to adopt reports of sessional committees and six motions to adopt reports of select committees to ratify presidential appointments to constitutional offices were also considered.

The house also considered 105 papers laid on the table by government ministries.

“This is a demonstration of our efforts to foster good governance and our desire to remain transparent and accountable at all times,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa has since called on the Members of Parliament to work with his administration in order to accelerate socio-economic development, which, he said, people of Zambia were yearning for.

He however noted that some opposition members of parliament have been opposing government programmes merely for the sake of opposing.

“This is a disservice to the electorate and we must avoid it,” he said.

The President was also happy that efforts to improve parliamentary reforms have also paid off.

He cited the live broadcasting of parliamentary debates to areas along the line of rail, implementation and the establishment of parliamentary offices in all the constituencies around the country as some of the evident developments in parliamentary reforms.

He reiterated his call on members of parliament to discharge their duties with diligence, commitment and selflessness because of their serious tasks of dealing with legislative maters, approving the budget and giving Zambians a constitution that would stand the test of time.

“The daunting challenge of youth unemployment, HIV and AIDS and the high poverty levels are still with us, but we must not give up in tackling these head on,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa said in his 84-paged speech, that each Member of Parliament had a responsibility to work tirelessly towards fulfilling their social contract that they had with Zambian people.

“..to serve them in an atmosphere that transcends partisan and individual interests. In this way, we will not betray the trust and confidence the Zambian people have placed on us,” he emphasized.

The public gallery of the parliament chamber was full of invited guests who included diplomats accredited to Zambia, donor community representatives, Supreme and High Court judges, mayors, permanent secretaries and several other people.

On the Media

President Levy Mwanawasa announced that Government will this year reintroduce the Freedom of Information Bill in the House.

President Mwanawasa told the gathering that Government has consulted widely and has taken time to learn from other democracies that have enacted similar laws.

In re-tabling the Bill, he said, Government will provide safeguards to ensure that increased access to information does not compromise Zambia’s National Security nor violate people’s rights to privacy.

President Mwanawasa said the implementation of this legislation will necessitate more work on the part of Government as there will be need to restructure, overhaul and streamline public institutions.

He acknowledged that the fight against poverty and corruption can not be won, if the media is not fully involved as it was a powerful, educative and information tool for development.

The President said under the Fifth National Development Plan, Government has endeavoured to take the Media close to the people by installing television transmitters in rural districts and the next stage would be to take newspapers to the people.

He disclosed that the Printing Presses under the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) will be decentralised starting with Chipata, a move, Dr Mwanawasa said was aimed at having local language newspapers printed close to the intended audiences to enable them follow national events as they happen.

In addition, the President announced that Government has made progress in repealing the Theatres and Cinematography Act adding that it is in the process of introducing legislation that will help in classification of materials for public viewing and check on the proliferation of illegal video houses.

Dr Mwanawasa also disclosed that the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Board of Directors will be appointed this year.

“The Independent Broadcasting Authority will also be made operational after the Board Members have been ratified by the House”, announced President Mwanawasa.

On Legal Front and Accountability

President Mwanawasa announced that the decentralisation of the Legal Aid Board and Director of Public Prosecution Chambers is underway.

He said there was need to enhance access to Justice for the Zambian people hence Government’s endeavour to decentralise the two institutions.

President Mwanawasa said his administration shall continue to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the Public Service is transparent and accountable to the Zambian people.

Dr Mwanawasa noted that accountability and prudent use of public funds shall continue to be top priority in the governance of the nation adding that Government will continue to strengthen the institutions that promote Good Governance in the country.

On corruption, the President said Government had now moved a step further towards institutionalising the prevention of corruption in ministries, departments and public bodies through the Integrity Committee Initiative.

To this end, he disclosed that eight pilot Integrity Committees were set up last year and thirty two members sworn in with a mandate to address the vice and other malpractices.

Dr Mwanawasa also informed the gathering that the construction of office buildings in five provincial centres was nearing completion adding that the developments are aimed at decentralising Audit Services countrywide.

On Government Management of Finances

President Levy Mwanawasa made a declaration that his government would this year implement the computerized and integrated financial management information system (IFMIS) in ministries, provinces and spending agencies.

Dr. Mwanawasa said that the system would improve further the operations of the public expenditure management and financial accountability in government.

He said the implementation of the computerized and integrated financial management information system was a key milestone in public expenditure and financial management area of government.

He told Members of Parliament that government would also continue to review tax policies and administration to ensure that tax was aligned to development in the economy.

“These reforms are important to ensure that each Kwacha of public financial resources spent brings about tangible socio-economic benefits to the country,” he said.

President Mwanawasa restated that the country has continued to foster a conducive investment climate which would stimulate and attract local and foreign direct investors through various reforms.

He cited the private sector development reform programme, the citizens’ economic empowerment programme and the creation of the Zambia Development Agency.

“In spite of all these macro-economic gains, we still have the challenges of equitably translating them into improved living standards for the people,” he observed.

Dr. Mwanawasa said to this end, government was implementing the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) whose objective is to create jobs through the participation of citizens.

And the President said government would this year operationalise the empowerment fund under the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission, whose desire is to encourage citizens to be economically active on their own.

He said government would also encourage Zambians to participate in the economy and encourage foreign companies to be actively involved in other facets of empowerment.

Dr. Mwanawasa said through the effective participation of the private sector and cooperation, government would reduce the cost of doing business in the country.

On Oil and Gas deposits

President Mwanawasa said he is optimistic that Zambia has high chances of having oil and gas deposits in dotted areas of Western, north-western and eastern province.

President Mwanawasa said most of the samples collected in selected areas have tested positive to the presence of oil and gas.

Dr. Mwanawasa said soil samples that were sent to Germany for analysis using the technique of Microbial Prospecting for Oil and Gas (MPOG) indicate that the Zambian ground held oil and gas deposits.

He said out of 11 samples that were collected in August 2005 and analysed using the MPOG technique, nine tested positive for oil while the remaining two tested positive for gas.

In July 2006, 31 samples were collected from North-western province, 12 of them tested positive for oil while six tested positive for gas.

“These results were strong indicators of the presence of oil and gas in the districts of Kabompo, Chavuma and Zambezi. Further, investigations were extended to Eastern province in 2007 where 153 soil samples were collected in north Luangwa valley and whose laboratory results are equally encouraging,” he said.

He said 277 soil samples were collected from Western province. The results were that Lukulu and Kalabo have the highest chance of finding oil while Mongu district has high chances of gas deposits.

Dr. Mwanawasa has since appointed members of a petroleum committee as provided for under the petroleum exploration and production Act. The committee is already spearheading formulation of policies and guidelines relating to petroleum and its development in Zambia.

He said it was now necessary to amend the petroleum exploration and production Act of 1985 and also to have a strong legal provision on environmental protection.

Government has since suspended all processes of invitation to tender until the Act is repealed and replaced through a bill that would be dealt with in parliament in the first quarter of this year.

And Dr. Mwanawasa has disclosed that government has established a stabilization fund aimed at cushioning high import prices of refined petroleum products when Indeni Oil Refinery is shut.

He said government has therefore put in place a mechanism for long term supply of 1.44 million metric tones of crude feed stock over a period of two years, which is 2008 and 2009.

“The feed stock will be supplied by the Independent Petroleum Groups (IPG) who have been awarded a contract after a competitive tender bidding process managed by the Zambia National Tender Board,” he said.

The President said government and Total, which are the two shareholders in Indeni, have agreed to invite a third shareholder to take up 30 per cent of the shares.

He said the restructuring of shareholding of Indeni would contribute further to the recapitalization and investment in the company.

On Climate Change

Dr. Mwanawasa said government has formulated a national adaptation programme of action which aims at mapping out adaptation strategies to address the adverse impact of climate change.

He said although Zambia was not a major contributor to greenhouse gases, the country was still vulnerable to the consequences of climate variabilities such as droughts and floods.

“These particularly affect the small-scale farmers and the poor, threatening their food security,” he said.

On forestry, Dr. Mwanawasa said government would focus on creating large industrial plantations for re-foresting degraded land around the country.

The President told parliament that government was already persuading investors for this sector, adding that traditional authorities were also being approached to release part of their pieces of land for the same.

He envisages a creation of thousands of jobs once such industries were created.

He also said Zambians have been able to use the Forestry Development Credit Facility for the development of forestry and other related industries in the country.

On International relations

President Levy Mwanawasa says the Asian continent as a strategic region is expected to remain an important source of technology, Trade and Investment for Zambia.

President Mwanawasa added that Government is mindful of the long historical ties between Zambia and the Asian continent.

Dr Mwanawasa who described the Asian continent as the fastest economic region of the 21st century said it was gratifying to note that strategic countries in that region are showing keen interest in bringing significant investments to Zambia.

In recognition of Zambia’s contribution to peace and security in the SADC region, the President disclosed that the country was requested to host the centre for the promotion of Democracy, Good Governance, Human Rights and Civic Education within the Great Lakes Region Framework.

In addition, President Mwanawasa said as part of Zambia’s commitment to the cause of African Unity, Government has presented the candidature of a distinguished professional for the position of AU Chairperson, Ambassador to the US Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika.

The President further acknowledged that the European Union is Zambia’s largest donor and pledged to continue engaging this bloc in various development matters affecting Zambia and the region.

He said Zambia anticipated increased European participation in its national development programmes particularly after the EU/AU Summit held in December last year which afforded both sides a rare opportunity to discuss critical issues of mutual concern.

The President also pledged commitment towards relations between Zambia and the USA adding that Government recognises America’s unique position of world influence and responsibility.

On Taxing Foreign Mining Investors

President Mwanawasa said government has decided to introduce a new fiscal and regulatory regime in order to bring about an equitable distribution of mineral wealth between the government and mining companies.

Dr. Mwanawasa said the new regime introduces a windfall tax and variable profit tax that has been designed to work in periods of both high and low prices and for high and low cost mining projects to ensure that the tax system remains stable.

The president assured mining companies that the new regime will still be immensely profitable to them and the mining industry in Zambia will continue to be attractive to investors.