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Chamanga gets Zambia National team recall

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Striker James Chamanga has been added to the Zambia national team provisional squad for next years Africa Cup.

His inclusion comes after the Moroka Swallows striker sudden scoring streak that has seen him scored 8 goals for his South Africa club in three successive competitive matches.

Zambia team manger Solly Pandor confirmed today that Chamanga would be part of Patrick Phiri’s provisional squad.

Chamanga is expected to join Zambia after the South African league takes its winter brake starting on December 23.

Meanwhile, Zambia leaves for Spain on December 25 where it will play the Andalusia regional national team on December 27 in Jerez.

Today the team trained from Nkoloma Stadium without defender Elijah Tana of El Merriekh in Sudan who by press time was still being expected to join camp.

Midfielder Isaac Chansa of Helsingborg in Sweden had his first full day at training today after joining the team on Tuesday.

“I would rather die for doing the right thing “- Sinyangwe

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Opposition Patriotic Front Member of Parliament (MP) for Matero Constituency in Lusaka, Faustina Sinyangwe says she was ready to be expelled by her party leadership for following parliament rules and regulation.Commenting on her decision to participate in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) despite threats from her party president, Mrs. Sinyangwe said her decision was aimed at serving the Zambian people.

“I would rather die for doing the right thing for the people of Matero,” she said.

Last week, PF president, Michael Sata threatened to expel his 27 MPs for deciding to participate in the NCC because they were going against the party’s stance.

She said her decision to participate in the NCC did not mean she was hating anybody or defecting to another political party but to contribute in producing a constitution that would stand the test of time in Zambia.

She observed that boycotting the NCC would not be beneficial to the country hence the need for her and other PF MPs to participate in the conference.

Mrs. Sinyangwe added that boycotting has never worked positively in Zambia and therefore, it would be pointless to stay away from the NCC.

“We came here to legislate and not for money,” she said noting that the fact the she participated in parliament when the NCC bill was introduced entailed that she should continue with the process until the end.

Out of the 41 PF Members of Parliament in the national Assembly, 27 have decided to participate in the NCC.

Last Friday, two PF MPs withdrew their registration to participate in the NCC after Mr. Sata advised them to resign or face disciplinary action from the party for choosing to sit on the NCC.

The NCC members are scheduled to begin their sittings at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka tomorrow.

And earlier in the day, Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala implored members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to embrace the spirit of peace and harmony during the sittings and deliberation of the conference.

Mr. Justice Sakala said peace, harmony and compromise amidst diversity would be important in coming up with a durable constitution that would be accepted by all.

He said NCC members, despite misgivings from certain quarters of society, perform their tasks with impartiality for the sake of the nation.

He was speaking at Mulungushi International Conference Centre today when he swore in over 120 members of the NCC, which is an additional number to the 338 members that took oath last week.

“In your deliberations, serious differences are bound to occur. This will be inevitable. Thus what democracy entails. But you must all cultivate a spirit of give and take. We do not expect 100 per cent consensus, but that there will be consensus. Compromise should guide the proceedings,” he said.

Mr. Justice Sakala further said the NCC members should set an example to the nation that they were united in diversity and that they could produce a document that would be accepted even by those that doubted the process from the beginning.

“I want to say that we have only one country, Zambia. You have been privileged to be given the obligation and opportunity to shape its destiny for now and for the future,” he told members.

He advised the NCC members against breaching the oath they have taken because the oath represented the demands of the nation.

The members swore to faithfully, impartially and fully perform their duties to the best of their ability.

The NCC starts its sitting at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre tomorrow.

And in Livingstone, United National Independence Party UNIP Vice chairperson for Livingstone District LUTHER PEYTON has expressed disappointment at some politicians from Choma and Kalomo for supporting some Patriotic Front Members of Parliament to sit on National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Mr. Peyton told ZANIS in an interview today that he listened with shock to Sky Forum, phone in program on Sky FM Radio this morning to note that there are still some politicians in the country who do not understand what it is to become a political party member.

He said it is not something difficult to become a political party member because there are rules that guide one as a member of a party, saying once a member fails to comply with those rules, one is automatically fired by that party.

Mr. Peyton said as a member of UNIP, he does not support Mr Michael Sata’s party, but supports his decision of expelling his members of parliament for not adhering to the party’s policies.

He said the PF MPs should not sit on the NCC tomorrow but should wait for the high court’s decision since the matter is already in court.

Mr. Peyton said the expelled PF members have no representation at the NCC hence they should not enjoy not even a single penny hanging at the NCC because they have disobeyed the party rules.

He added that Sata’s move is in the right direction and that people should not blame him but the disobedient MPs who did not want to comply with the party’s regulations.

Mr. Peyton urged the PF leader to remain firm and stick to his principals, adding that people will later learn who is right.

Chinese CNM interested in more mining investment in Zambia

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A Chinese largest Non Ferrous mining group has expressed interest in investing more in Zambia’s mining and other sectors of the economy.

China Non Ferrous Metal Mining (group) (CNMC) Company Limited, which has so far invested in Chambeshi’s Non Ferrous Metal Company (NFC), said its interest was to contribute to Zambia’s economic growth and the improvement of the living standards of the people of Zambia.

CNMC International Trade Limited President ,Lou Tao, who arrived in the country today, assured President Levy Mwanawasa that his company would work hard to ensure that Zambia – China Economic Cooperation Zone becomes operational on schedule.

He said so far a lot of work has been done, adding that the company has held discussions with the minister of commerce on promotion agreements.

Mr. Tao, who spoke through an interpellator, added that the group has further completed the construction of roads and has finished the selection of the site for the construction of residential houses for Zambia workers in Kitwe.

Speaking when he lead his eight-man delegation in paying a courtesy call on president Levy Mwanawasa at State House today, Mr. Tao however said his group would adhere to labour laws.

He disclosed that in the past 15 months, the NFC has not recorded any incidents of mine accidents.

He added that the group was implementing eight of the issues that were agreed upon during the commencement of the project while the remaining two would be attended to before the end of the year.

Mr. Tao disclosed that Chambeshi’s NFC is in the process of drafting a plan to undertake more social responsibility.

He said CNMC was happy with the co-operation that the investor has received from government.

He said President Hu Jintao was keen to see that the project is successful for the benefit of the two countries.

Zambia and China in February this year unveiled , China-Zambia economic cooperation zone to be situated in Kitwe, another one in Lusaka, within which a copper smelter will be constructed by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group.

The project that will see investment of about $800 million will create job opportunities for about 60 000 local people.

Speaking at the same meeting President Levy Mwanawasa said he was happy about positive developments that have taken place at NFC and economic co-operation zones.

He said government was looking forward to the completion of the zones so that more jobs are created to give relief to suffering people.

‘ As government I want to assure you that we will support you on anything that promotes any the living standards of the people. We want to be associated with everything the company is doing,’ the president added.

President Mwanawasa, who commended NFC for complying with labour laws, said government would want other Chinese companies to follow.

He said government, which supports Chinese, however gets concerned when it hears of reports about Zambians being disadvantaged.

The President said such reports make it difficult for government to defend such records.

Dr. Mwanawasa however expressed sadness that that there are people who are maliciously magnifying accidents in Chinese companies which he said can occur in any company.

He said Zambia’s co-operation with China has no strings attached and has since urged the international community worried about countries enhancing co-operation with China to leave the matter to Zambia.

He said Zambia knows what is best for its people, adding that the country views China as one country which is ready and willing to assist with development efforts.

Mwape wants China to form manufacturing firm in Zambia

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Zambia’s Ambassador to China, Lupando Mwape has asked Chinese investors to establish manufacturing firms in Zambia and help alleviate unemployment.

Mr. Mwape said Chinese business people can do well to form manufacturing plants in order to add value to business transaction between the two countries.

Mr. Mwape was speaking at a luncheon hosted for him and his delegation by Shanghai Web Off-Set Printing Company, which deals in making newspaper printing machines.

This was after the Zambian delegation, which included Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Nyirenda, was taken on a conducted tour of the assembly line.

Mr. Mwape said Zambia was endowed with abundant raw material for use in manufacturing various products.

“It is for this reason that I call upon Chinese business houses to establish manufacturing plants in Zambia which is strategically located and conducive for exports to neighbouring countries,” he said.

The Zambian team also included Zambia News and Information Services Acting Director, Augustine Phiri, Times of Zambia Managing Editor, Mr Arnold Kapelembi and counterpart at the Zambia Daily Mail, Mr Leonard Kantumoya.

The team is in China to look at the various machines for newspaper printing and attended an exhibition of printing machines in Shanghai, China’s second largest city with a population of about 18 million people.

The Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily mail currently use old machines acquired before independence in 1964, which not only break down constantly, but also inhibits printing of newspapers in multi colours.

KK off to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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First Republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda is this week on Thursday, expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a two-day special visit.

Dr Kaunda will be visiting Ethiopia as a special envoy and is expected to deliver a special message from the Republican President, Dr Mwanawasa to the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi on Thursday afternoon.

Zambia Ambassador to Ethiopia, Patrick Sinyinza disclosed this in a statement made available to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.

Dr Kaunda will be accompanied by Zambia’s African Union Chairperson candidate, Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika and five other senior government officials.

He will leave Ethiopia on Saturday December 22, and proceed to Egypt, Libya and Algeria on the same mission.

Gemstone mining in Mumbwa booms

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The Kabwe Gemstones Association (KGA) has expressed interest in the Gemstone mining activities in Mumbwa District.

KGA Vice Secretary Eddie Chirwa says the reported mineral wealth of Mumbwa District has attracted a lot of attention from many small-scale miners in other parts of Central Province.

Mr. Chirwa noted that most small scale miners were eager to explore the Gemstone potential of the District.

He, however, said they were apprehensive on whether local chiefs would be as receptive towards indigenous miners as they are towards foreigners.

Mr. Chirwa said that indigenous small-scale miners were capable of reducing poverty in their respective households, as well as ensuring that the profits realized from the mining activities were kept in circulation within the local communities.

When contacted for a comment on the concerns raised by Mr. Chirwa, Chief Kaindu of Mumbwa’s Kaonde ethnic group clarified that serious miners of any scale and nationality were welcome in his chiefdom.

Chief Kaindu said that the only prerequisite required was for miners to have valid licenses from the Ministry of Mines, adding that he did not condone illegal mining.

He emphasized that his prime interest was to see that the wealth obtained from mining activities filters through into the entire Chiefdom to raise the living standards of the local people and reduce poverty in the area.

DRC has not banned the shipment of copper to Zambia – Pande

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Pande
Lusaka, December 18, ZANIS – Government has refuted media reports alleging that the government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has banned the shipment of copper to Zambia.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande says the assertions are false and has since assured the nation that transportation of copper from DRC to Zambia has continued uninterrupted.

Mr. Pande, in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said Mr. Moses Katumbi, the DRC Katanga Province Governor, met management of First Quantum Limited (FQL) and resolved that First Quantum Limited instead construct a Dry Port as its Lonshi and Frontier mines by June 30 next year.

He said this is for monitoring and accountability purposes in terms of revenue due to the government of the DRC.

Mr. Pande further stressed that issues affecting First Quantum Limited and the DRC should be treated as such and not linked to the relations between the two countries as insinuated in the press.

He said Zambia and the DRC will continue to enjoy warm and cordial relations that have continued to exist between the two countries and peoples contrary to insinuations in the press.

Proposed Angola-Zambia friendly falls through

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Zambia’s proposed friendly match against Angola have fallen through.

This follows the failure by the two nations associations to agree on logistical planning for the match.

The match was tentatively set to be played in Portugal at the start of the New Year where Angola will face Egypt on January 13 after Zambia play Andalusia on December 27 in Jerez.

With that development, it means Zambia go back to their scheduled three friendly matches with the other two coming on January 6 and 12 away to Tunisia and Morocco respectively.

Zambia depart for Spain on December 25 and will be camped on the Iberian peninsula until January 3 when they leave for Tunisia.

Meanwhile,Zambia national soccer team midfielder Isaac Chansa has joined the squads at its Lusaka training camp.

Chansa, of Swedish top club and Uefa Cup representatives Helsinborg, joined the team this morning.

The player was by press time due to take part in his first training session with the rest of the Zambia team at BOZ Sports Complex.

Chansa’s arrival brings to 18 players in camp with defender Elijah Tana of El Merriekh in Sudan expected to join the team tomorrow.

The midfielder is the sixth foreign-based player to join the team so far since camping began last week.

Players in camp:

Goalkeepers: Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Charles Chileshe (Forest Rangers).

Defenders: Clive Hachilensa (IFK Mariehamn, Finland), William Chinyama, Rogers Kamwandi (Both Zesco United), Kennedy Nketani (Zanaco), Elijah Tana (El Merreikh, Sudan), Hichani Himoonde (Lusaka Dynamos).

Midfielders: Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Francis Kasonde, Kennedy Mudenda (Both Power Dynamos), William Njobvu (Lusaka Dynamos), Felix Katongo (Petro Athletico, Angola), Ian Bakala (Desportivo Premeira Agosto, Angola).

Strikers: Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Dube Phiri (Desportivo Premeira Agosto, Angola), Emmanuel Mayuka (Kabwe Warriors), Ignatius Lwipa (Zanaco)

Players barred from Cosafa Under-17 Tournament for being “too young”

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Two Zambia Under-17 national team players have come under the spotlight over their ages after being barred from playing at the just ended Cosafa Junior Championships in Namibia.

The duo’s official documents state that they are 11 and 14 years old forcing Faz not to feature them in the Cosafa Junior Championships held in Namibia from December 8-15.

Zesco United striker John Chingangu and Winford Academy midfielder Saulani Phiri are the two players in question.

Faz has disclosed that the players were not “dropped” due to anomalies in the ages but were left out due to a typographical error in their birth dates as stated in their passports.

Chingangu and Phiri featured prominently in the Zambia Under-17 teams two friendly matches against Malawi Under-17 last month.

The Zesco striker was on also on target with the equalizer in the Zambia Under-17’s second and final friendly match against their Malawian counterparts that ended 1-1 on November 25.

Bottom road to bring economic growth to Sinazongwe

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The Chairperson for Road Development Agency (RDA) Walusiku Lisulo has said the construction of the K16.1 billion Bottom road in Sinazongwe district would boost economic activities in the area. Mr. Lisulo said when a team of RDA officers from Lusaka and Livingstone toured the construction of the road that the valley people would improve their agriculture production of cotton, cattle raring, goats, and pigs. “The farmers will be able to get inputs on time, this road will be improve people’s life style, the contractor is already on site, and need support of everyone,” Mr Lisulo said. The Chairperson urged the Road Construction Company (RCC) the contractor working on the road to higher proper equipment to avoid the failure to finish the work on time. Mr. Lisulo said he would not want the contractor to make similar mistakes he noticed on Mulobezi road in Southern province where the same company’s hired equipment was constantly on breakdown.Sinazongwe District Commissioner Laiven Apuleni said the Valley people’s persistent appeals to have the road be improved would be addressed. Mr. Apuleni noted that the completion of the road would improve tourism activities in the area.RDA Acting and Chief Executive Officer Erasmus Chilundika urged the contractor to widen the road and improve on the drainage system. Mr. Chilundika said his entourage came at the right time when the road was at its worst to ensure that the best work was done.He explained that the construction of the Bottom road which is from Chaboboma in Gwembe district to Sinazeze in Sinazongwe district would be completed in June 2008. RCC Site Agent Edmond Chigwedere said 37 kilometres have already been graded and 10 percent of the 244 culverts have been done. Mr. Chigwedere said the company has difficulties in getting the pipes for culverts because the supplier was failing to meet the demand.He said in January 2008 the company would start gravelling the road.The entourage had difficulties to reach at the site where the contractor was doing the work because of the continuous heavy rains that has made the road to be slippery and one car got stuck in the mud.  It was only pulled out when the contractor’s truck came to pull it with the help of the villagers from Malima area. 

Sinazongwe Villagers are drinking untreated mud water

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Villagers living along the Maamba Coal Mine water pipe are drinking the untreated mud water being emitted from the taps that the mine had put for them. A check by ZANIS found out that the water that the villagers drink was direct from Lake Kariba and it does not pass through any treatment plant. A Resident at Rural Council Tilimbane Makalani told ZANIS that they drink the water without boiling it.Ms. Makalani said the villagers have taken it as a normal trend to drink the mud water because they have no option since the mine polluted the rivers where they were getting clean drinking water. “The villagers were initially told to be boiling their drinking water or add chlorine but the villagers here lack education and they do not follow these safety measures,” Ms. Makalani said. Costern Nyirenda said the water pumping station for Maamba Coal mine is situated at the site where sewerage effluent, and from mine is discharged.Mr. Nyirenda said the same water was pumped back into people’s homes to drink it without treating it. Frank Mumpande the owner of Comfort Inn Guest House in Maamba said the calibre of villager headmen who have never been to School was making it difficult for them to know the dangers of drinking contaminated water that the mine was supplying to them. Mr. Mumpande said every investment should benefit the local people unlike the Maamba situation where villagers were being “feed with contaminated water” even after polluting their streams.However, Maamba Maamba Township residents have also continued to drink mud water which is visibly brown.Last week the residents expressed distress at their subjection to drinking mud water coming from the taps. Maamba Hospital Environmental Health Technologist Most Chilomo said the water was unfit for human consumption because it contains a lot of visible impurities. He said in its current state even chlorinating or boiling it would not purify the mud and other impurities that are making it to be coloured. Mr. Chilomo noted that the current filtration process at the Maamba Township treatment plant was outdated because it was designed to treat water that was already clean at the source.He said Sinazongwe health would have advised the Maamba mine to stop discharging water to households but they have failed because most people use flushing toilets.

NCC commences business on December 19

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The National Constitution Conference (NCC) will commence business this Wednesday, December 19, 2007.

NCC secretariat requests all members to be seated by 13:45hours as the actual sitting starts at 14:00 hours at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

This is contained in a press statement released to ZANIS by NCC secretary, Russell Mulele, in Lusaka today.

Mr Mulele noted that all members that have been successfully sworn in will begin the sittings while all those that were not sworn in last week will be sworn in at a ceremony which will take place on tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th of December 2007 at Mulungushi International Conference Centre at 11:00 hours .

Mr mulele further noted that the ceremony will be presided over by his Lordship the Chief Justice, Enerst sakala and all members are therefore requested to be seated by 10:30 hours in readiness for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Opposition PF Mufulira Central Member of Parliament (MP) Majory Masiye has vowed not to withdraw her condidature from the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

And Ms. Masiye has meanwhile asserted that her stay at the NCC was purely in national interest and meant to protect and safeguard the rights and aspirations of PF leader, Michael Sata.

The member of parliament told ZANIS in an interview in Mufulira today that the current Mung’omba draft constitution allegedly had a number of lacunars which would disadvantage Mr. Sata’s bid for the 2011 Presidential race.

Ms. Masiye cited a clause in the the Mung’omba draft constitution which stipulated that no persons above the age of 65 years should stand as Republican President.

This, she stated, would automatically mean that Mr. Sata would be technically excluded from the 2011 Presidential race.

She added that it was paramount that all PF MPs stood firm and openly discussed contentious issues in the draft constitution at the NCC before time was lost.

Ms. Masiye said at the NCC PF members would be in a better position to lobby other delegates to resent any draconian pieces of law that will be brought up.

She added that expelling MPs that will sit on the NCC was not the solution to the current constitutional crisist that the country was faced with.

The MP observed that the quest for a better constitution would only come through the NCC.

Ms. Masiye added that her sitting at the NCC should not be misconstrued to mean that she had stopped supporting the cause and vision of Zambia’s biggest opposition grouping.

She has since appealed to her constituents to remain resolved and support her efforts which were only bent at making Zambia a better place, adding that time for witch hunting was long gone.

ACC arrests Solwezi police officer for corruption

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he Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in Solwezi has arrested a police Assistant Superintendent for engaging in alleged corrupt practices.

Both Northwestern Province Police Commanding Officer, Fabian Katiba and highly placed anti corruption commission source confirmed the arrest of the named police officer to ZANIS in Solwezi.

The ACC sources said the police officer was arrested on Friday at Lady M’s Bar for soliciting and receiving K1.7 million from a Congolese national so that he could release the 400×25 Kg of copper concentrates which were in the hands of the state awaiting court appeal by the prosecution.

The ACC sources said the police officer had earlier demanded K5 million for the release of the copper concentrates from the same Congolese and the K1.7 million was part payment.

The copper concentrate in question were part of the evidence in which the Congolese and another person from Zimbabwe were arrested by Solwezi police for unlawfully being in possession or stealing it from Congo, but a Solwezi Magistrate’s court acquitted them due to insufficient evidence last week on Thursday.

The Prosecution had maintained that they would appeal against the acquittal and that the copper concentrates should remain in the hands of the state within the period of 14 days of appeal.

The police officer will appear in court on January 31, 2008.

Katumbi hands over recovered vehicle to Zambian government

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Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Katanga Province Governor, Moses Katumbi, has handed over a vehicle which was stolen in Chingola last month to the Zambian government after it was recovered in that coutnry.

The vehicle was received at Kasumbalesa Border Post by Chililaboambwe District Commissioner, Timothy Musonda, together with a clearance letter signed by Mr. Katumbi and delivered by First Secretary at the Consulate of Zambia in the DRC, Evason Phiri.

The white Mitsubishi L200 double cab, registration number ABJ 6448, belonging to Southern Cross Motors, was stolen at Marunouchi flats in Chingola on November 15,2007 around 01.00 hours.

Speaking during the handover, Mr. Musonda thanked the DRC government for playing a key role in the recovery of the vehicle, saying the gesture was an indication of the cordial relations between the two countries.

Mr. Musonda said the gesture was also a reflection of the resolutions the two country’s arrived at during the joint permanent commission recently held in Lubumbashi.

He reiterated government’s commitment to cementing existing bilateral ties and urged the DRC government to continue assisting in the recovery of stolen vehicles that cross the borders, saying the Zambian government would equally assist in similar matters.

”I would like to express our gratitude to the government of Congo for assisting in the recovery of the vehicle. I urge them to continue with the spirit of sisterhood which they have exhibited,” he said.

And Mr. Phiri said the Zambian Consulate was receiving maximum support from that country’s government in the recovery of stolen vehicles.

Mr. Phiri appealed to Zambians to report cases of stolen vehicles suspected to have crossed into the DRC, to his office in advance to ensure recovery measures are put in place to ensure the vehicles are impounded before they reach far-flung areas of that vast country.

Meanwhile, a representative from Southern Cross Motors, Maureen Mubanga, also thanked the two governments for their efforts in ensuring that the vehicle is recovered.

Mufulira police refuse to sanction PF demo over NCC

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Police in the border town of Mufulira district have refused to sanction tomorrow’s planned demonstration by the opposition Patriotic Front PF which had earlier intended to hold a solidarity march over the National Constitutional Conference NCC.

PF chairman for mines, Yamfwa Mukanga, confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Mufulira today.

Mr. Mukanga was however quick to note that the party was satisfied with the reasons advanced to its district party leadership by the local police command on why the party had not been given a leeway to hold a peaceful demonstration.

Mr. Mukanga, who is also PF Kantanshi MP, said the party would hold the planned solidarity as soon as police were well equipped with the desired manpower for the demonstration to go ahead.

The PF in Mufulira had initially planned to hold a solidarity protest in support of its leader Michael Sata who has opted to stay away fromt he NCC.

Meanwhile, Mufulira Town Clerk Charles Mwandila has challenged the City Mayor Stanley Kaluba to be decided over his candidature at the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).

Mr. Mwandila said the NCC was a serious national sitting which the municipality ought to fully attend, addiang that if the mayor was skeptical about his sitting on the NCC, he should inform the secretary to the cabinet over his stance in writing.

The town clerk was reacting to revelations from the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) in Mufulira which had earlier today revealed that mayor Kaluba had withdrawn his nomination to the constitutional conference.

Mr. Mayor told ZANIS in Mufulira today that he had nothing to comment over the matter, claiming that he was still a delegate to the NCC.

He also confirmed that he was tomorrow scheduled to travel to Lusaka in readiness for the NCC sitting on Wednesday.

But the Mufulira TC said that the PF should as a matter of urgency come out clearly on the stance it had taken over the NCC, adding that internal party issues should not affect the representation of the council at a crucial gathering.

Earlier, PF District Secretasry, Davies Chishimba, had disclosed to ZANIS in an interview that the Mufulira mayor had withdrawn from the NCC.

The PF in Mufulira had initially arranged for a meeting with the press where mayor Kaluba was officially supposed to have announced his pull out from the NCC.

Mr. Chishimba alleged that the Mufulira mayor had surrendered himself this morning at the party offices where he had pleaded with party officials not to be expelled from the party.

By Press time, Mufulira district PF chairman John Katati told ZANIS that he was still waiting for mayor Kaluba so that he could clearly give his side of the story instead of being undecided.

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