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Govt releases over K45bn for Great East Road Rehab

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Government has released over K45 billion for rehabilitation works on the Great East Road in Eastern Province.

And Government has warned Controlling Officers who award contracts to contractors that perform shoddy works that they risked being prosecuted.

Eastern Province Minister Charles Shawa disclosed to ZANIS in an interview in Chipata today, that K30.2 billion has been released for the Chipata-Mwami road while K15.5 billion will go towards the Nyimba-Sinda stretch on the Great East Road.

Mr. Shawa said major rehabilitation works on the two roads have since commenced and that the projects were expected to be completed by June this year.

He also disclosed that Government has awarded a contract to Sable Construction Company to carry out works on the two roads.

Mr. Shawa further revealed that works on the Chipata-Lundazi road would commence in September this year and would be completed next year.

He said Government was prompted to release the funds in order to ease the transportation of agricultural produce and other products to other parts of the country.

The Provincial Minister noted that there is need for permanent rehabilitation on major roads in the province to enhance development.

“We need to ensure that these roads have permanent surfaces so that we do not spend monies on rehabilitating them annually, mere patching has been costly,” he said.

Mr. Shawa added that rehabilitation works on the Chipata-Mfuwe road would begin in December this year and be completed next year.

And Mr. Shawa has warned Controlling Officers who award contracts to companies that perform shoddy works that they will face the consequences.

He described the trend as dishonest and a deterrent to the country’s development.

Mr. Shawa stated that Government will not take kindly to erring Controlling Officers frustrating its developmental efforts.

He further warned contractors abrogating their contractual obligations that they will have their operating licences revoked and be liable for prosecution.

Meanwhile, the provincial minister has expressed happiness at the rate at which the Chipata/Muchinji Railway line is progressing.

He expressed confidence that the project would be completed by April this year, according to schedule.

Mr. Shawa said the K10 billion that was released by Government recently would facilitate the quick completion of the project.

Zesco labeled ‘incompetent’ in Kalomo

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Residents of Bwacha compound in Kalomo have accused zesco in the area of being incompetent in their operations.

The residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization, told ZANIS in Kalomo yesterday that the power utility company has failed to electrify their compound despite assurances from the management.

The residents said it was unfortunate that zesco has failed to honour its promises after it advised the residents to apply for the service in September last year.

A check by ZANIS yesterday revealed that most houses in Bwacha had solar panels mounted on the roofs as the only means for power generation.

And Bwacha compound chairperson, Emmarson Munkombwe, said Zesco advised the residents to apply for power in September last year and over 200 people applied, but up to date nothing tangible has been done by the company despite the residents having paid for the service charges.

Mr. Munkombwe said Zesco’s reluctance in electrifying the compound was a sign that it is not ready to do the electrification exercise as earlier promised, and wondered why the process has taken long when the compound is near the zesco pylon system connection.

Efforts to get a comment from the local Zesco branch proved futile by press time.

Fifa inspector gives Independence stadium a go ahead

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A visiting FIFA inspector has given the go ahead to contructors at Lusaka’s independence stadium to lay the artificial turf.

Marcus Keller said he is happy with the work done on the 43 year old stadium.

Keller however advised that the turf should not be put when the surface is in wet condition.

He told ZNBC Sports after inspecting independence stadium that the date to start laying the turf will be known when he meets FAZ officials.

Edelgrass from Holland has been contracted to spread the artificial grass.

Keller is a Swiss born specialist based in Lyon, France and has helped many other African countries including Ghana to lay artificial turf.

He leaves for Swaziland for another inspection and is expected back in Zambia in a month.

FTJ has a Case to Answer, Trial Date Set

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Former Republican President, Frederick Chiluba has this afternoon been found with a case to answer. This is in a case in which he is accused of stealing public funds amounting to $488,000.He faces a minimum of five years in jail if found guilty.

The Lusaka Magistrate Court has consequently asked Dr. Chiluba and his co accused, to defend themselves. Magistrate Jones Chinyama set the trial date for May 5. Chiluba denies any wrongdoing.

The former president is accused along with former Access Financial Services Chief Executive Officer, Faustine Kabwe and Managing Director, Aaron Chungu.

They all face 12 counts of theft.

Dr. Chiluba and his co-accused are expected to start their defence at the next court hearing scheduled for May.

Principle Resident Magistrate, Jones Chinyama was satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case against Dr. Chiluba and his co accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr. Chinyama further said ledgers and other accounting documents admitted as evidence by the prosecution are conclusive and can not be easily dismissed.

The entire case revolves around funds paid to Dr. Chiluba’s children, which were trasmitted from the Zambia Security Intelligence Service account at the ZANACO Bank London branch called the Zambia Transregional Operations Account (ZAMTROP).

According to evidence produced by the prosecution team, funds were diverted from the $9.6 million meant to pay two United States firms Wilban Incorporated and Systems Innovations for upgrading security installations at several strategic government departments.

Mr. Chinyama said in his ruling delivered that Part of the funds were also used to buy houses in Lusaka’s Roma and Kabulonga residential areas for two Lusaka Lawyers, Eric Silwamba and Vincent as renumeration for defending Dr. Chiluba in the 1996 presidential petition.

Mr. Chinyama said his findings are not withstanding Dr. Chiluba’s assertions that funds paid to his children from the ZAMTROOP account were from private sources and had co mingled with the government funds in the ZAMTROP account.

But Chiluba has said some of the funds were his own money, given to him by his friends, while the rest was for national duties taken by the intelligence agency.

He is also fighting in court to block authorities from recovering $58 million that last year a London high court ruled he had to repay, with interest, for allegedly stealing while in office.

Zambia lodged the civil case in British courts in the hope of recovering properties allegedly purchased with stolen funds and owned by Chiluba and 19 other defendants in Britain and other European countries.

Chiluba has not been convicted on criminal charges of stealing the funds and he does not recognise the authority of the London court

Zesco, Buffaloes kickoff African campaigns

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Zesco United and Green Buffaloes tomorrow kickoff their African club cup campaigns with away ties in the Caf Africa Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively.

Zesco, who are making their Champions League debut, are away to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in Kampala.

Buffaloes are in Zanzibar where they take on hosts Chipukizi in Pemba.

This will be Zesco’s second outing in continental club cup competition after participating in the 2006 CAF Confederations Cup second round after they were eliminated out by Township Rollers of Botswana.

One person who will be looking forward to making his mark in this years tournament for Zesco will be midfielder Rainford Kalaba.

Kalaba has just had a forgettable Africa Cup campaign and will be looking forward to replicate his impressive club campaign from last season to Africa.

Kalaba and striker Enoch Sakala were Zesco’s joint top-scorers on 13 goals last season are both expected to lead the Ndola team’s in attack.

Zesco are also boosted by off-season arrivals -with three of the four signings attackers.

They are Signs Chibambo from Nakambala Leopards, Lottie Phiri of Young Arrows including Elson Mkandawire.

Mkandawire is the subject of a controversial move from Power Dynamos to Zesco although the former have temporally cleared the striker to play for the former.

Zesco must be wary of the two-time Ugandan league champions who are unbeaten in all their last three home games in Caf competitions since making their debut in 2006.

URA have two wins and one draw from last years CAF Africa Champions League home games but have yet to make it beyond the second round of the tournament.

And in their 2007 CAF Africa Champions League outing, URA failed to make it past the first stage after drawing 0-0 at home in the return leg against Cotonsport of Cameroon.

URA were eliminated 3-0 on aggregate by Cotonsport after losing to the latter in the first leg.

The Zesco-URA return leg match is scheduled to be played in a fortnight’s time either at the Trade Fair in Ndola should the venue pass CAF inspection.

Zesco has revealed Nchanga Stadium in Chingola is the alternative venue should the Trade Fair not pass its final inspection.

And in the Confederations Cup, Buffaloes will be hoping for a better performance in this years tournament after their first round eject in 2007.

George Lwandamina has made three off-season signings with the pick of the trio being the talented Lusaka Dynamos teenage midfielder William Njobvu who expected to make his debut and hopefully inspire Buffaloes to an important away win.

Levy’s Views on African Union Govt

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President Mwanawasa has said time for the African Union government or the
United States of Africa being advocated by some African leaders has not come.

Dr . Mwanawasa, who is also Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, noted that countries in the region are not against the idea of the Union government
but that the time has not come for such a government on the African continent.

Dr. Mwanawasa said there is need to strenghthen regional community organisations like SADC before thinking of the United States of Africa concept, which is a version of the possible future unification of Africa as a national and sovereign federal of states similar to that of the United States of America.

“When these organisations have been strengthened and our people sensitised and willingly accept the concept and only when we feel we are ready can we have that idea, but for now we are afraid we are not going to accept it.” he emphasised.

Dr. Mwanawasa said this in Antananarivo when he held a joint press briefing with his Madagascar counter part President Marc Ravalomanana today.

The idea of the United States Africa concept was recently advanced by Libyan President Muammar al-Qaddafi at a 2000 AU summit in Lome, Togo and in June 2007. It was further advanced by outgoing Africa Union Commisson chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare on the occassion of the commemoration of the Africa Day in May 2006.

President Mwanawasa pointed out that some of the countries like Zambia would require the amendment of the constitution as the issue of Africa Union Government is not enshrined in the country’s constitution saying if one was going to introduce such an item with such
an idea they will need to seek views from the people in Zambia or Madagascar.

” Let us not be rational, there is no need to confuse the people on something that needs serious consideration and consultation. We are doing everything possible to protect the interests of Africa and our individual countries,” said President Mwanawasa.

He explained that Zambia has nine provinces and that in most cases the country is unable to agree on which province to produce a President and wondered which nation out of the 53
countries in Africa would produce a President for the United States of Africa concept.
“I also wonder from which countries out of the 53 nations on the continent will produce the
15 ministers outlined in the concept,” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa noted that the issue of United States of Africa has received a lot of public debate, positive and negative.

AVAP hails K20bn allocation to Kasama airport rehab

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The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) in Northern Province has commended Government for allocating K20 billion in this year’s National Budget towards the rehabilitation of Kasama Airport.

AVAP Provincial Coordinator Kelly Kashiwa said the funds would go a long way in uplifting the status of the Airport to international standards.

Mr. Kashiwa, who toured the on-going construction works at Kasama Airport, described the quality of works being done by PAMACO Construction Company as impressive.

He told ZANIS that the rehabilitation of Kasama Airport would greatly assist in boosting economic activities in Northern Province.

Mr. Kashiwa noted that the tourism sector will benefit immensely from the project because tourists arrivals to the Province would shoot up.

The AVAP Coordinator pointed out that the Province has great tourism potential because of its abundant natural resources.

Last year, Government commenced the rehabilitation the Kasama Airport in order for it to meet internationally acceptable standards and that once completed, it would be able to accommodate larger aircrafts thereby increase economic activities taking place in the northern region.

And Mr. Kashiwa has appealed to the Ministry of Works and Supply to consider increasing funding to road construction projects in Northern Province as most road networks in the area were in a deplorable state.

He observed that infrastructure development was vital if Zambia is to achieve sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kashiwa has praised the good leadership qualities of the acting Provincial Permanent Secretary Gabriel Kaunda in as far as the management of government affairs in the Province was concerned.

He said through the Office of the PS, most Government departments were now receiving their monthly funding in good time and as a result implementation of developmental programmes has become efficient and effective.

Mr. Kashiwa further said there was an improvement in the way government affairs were being executed in the Province as civil servants were now adopting a positive working culture.

First Lady calls for continued HIV/AIDS research

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First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has said research on HIV
and AIDS should continue so that ways of reducing
infections can be found.

Mrs. Mwanawasa, who is also Organization of African
First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS-OAFLA President, said
science has indicated that circumcision is one way of
preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS but that
research to further reduce infections must continue.

She pointed out that African leaders and their
governments and everyone else have a responsibility to
reduce the number of orphans on the continent.

The First Lady said this in Antananarivo yesterday
when she met members of the Madagascar
Network of HIV and AIDS.

She praised the Heads of States on the African
continent for their undying efforts to fight the
scourge alongside the First Ladies.

She also expressed happiness that OAFLA has organised
a total of 50 first ladies to work hard in partnering
with governments in the fight against the scourge.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said OAFLA is working on a number of
projects, among them the ‘Save the Unborn Child’ which
she said was already bearing fruits.

She said it is possible for a positive woman to give
birth to a negative baby, saying mothers should be
sensitised on the same so that the world can be free
from HIV and AIDS.

She called on the denizens of the African continent to
work hard and reduce stigma.

Madagascar Network of HIV and AIDS was founded in
September 2007 and is the network of associations of
support to People Living With HIV and AIDS.

Its mission is to represent structures of support to
People Living with HIV and AIDS at national and
international levels.

Its objectives are, among others, to coordinate
activities of associations for support to People
Living with HIV and AIDS.

Mrs. Mwanawasa was in Madagascar to accompany the
President on his three day state visit.

Western ULP secretary resigns, joins UPND

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Western Province United Liberal Party (ULP) Secretary, Nambula Tebuho, has resigned and joined the United Party for National Development (UPND).

According to a press release made available to ZANIS in Mongu today and signed by ULP Provincial Publicity and Information Secretary, Saxson Kashumba, Mr. Tebuho cited irregularities in the ULP administration as the reason for his resignation.

Mr. Tebuho said the removal of Mr Sikwindi Situla and Mr Edwin Simusamba from the National Constitution Conference by Party President, Sakwiba Sikota without blessings from the National Executive Committee (NEC), was a clear exhibition that ULP was not a listening party.

He further accused Mr. Sikota of having appointed Crispin Shumina as both Party Secretary General and a commissioner on the NCC, removing Mr Sikwindi Situla and Mr Edwin Simusamba without consulting the NEC.

Mr. Tebuho said he has decided to join UPND because the party had credible and receptive leaders likely to form the next government.

Mulungushi University to be centre of excellence – Prof Chinene

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MULUNGUSHI University is off to a good start and its vision is to be a centre of academic excellence and a leading institution of higher learning in Africa, Professor Vernon Chinene has said.

Prof. Chinene who is the Vice Chancellor of the institution said this in Kabwe today when he addressed students of the newly opened university.

“The mission of Mulungushi University is to provide high quality education and generate knowledge and technological innovations relevant to national and regional development goals,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor said that Mulungushi University would make every effort to provide quality education which would empower students to be competitive in any given field of specialisation.

He urged the students to rise up to the challenge and get as much out of their lectures as possible and exhibit high performance standards in their academic endeavours.

“In April 2008, we expect to admit the first students to undertake diploma programmes of the university. This will be followed in September by the admission of first undergraduate students of the university” Prof Chinene said.

He added that the advertisement of undergraduate programmes was expected to be launched in June, 2008 or earlier, depending on the preparatory arrangements which were currently going on.

The Vice Chancellor said other planned academic programmes would be developed during the course of the development of the university and that the certificate courses would be beefed up in their syllabus and courses extended from six months to one year.

“With regard to the future of certificate courses, let me take the opportunity to reaffirm that Mulungushi University plans to continue offering them by virtue of it being a multi-level curriculum university,” he said.

Prof Chinene told the students that 30 per cent of the places in the academic programmes would be reserved for women while the remaining 70 per cent would be competed for equally between male and female applicants.

He said Mulungushi University had been established on the understanding that it would be a 100 per cent fee paying university which would be expected to be self sustaining financially.

And in a vote of thanks, IMIS Diploma student, Sylvester Hakalaki said that it was a honour to have a third university which would offer higher education as the other two were not sufficient to cater for the whole population.

Hakalaki quoted Psalms 127 which stresses that unless God builds, the builder builds in vain.

Police officer commits suicide after being arrested by ACC

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A Police Officer in Livingstone has committed suicide following his arrest by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) for corrupt practices by a public officer involving K100,000.

ACC Public relations manager, Timothy Moono confirmed the development to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Moono said Detective Sergent Nawa Ngela of Linda Police Station was on February 8, 2008 arrested and charged for one count of corrupt practices by public officer contrary to section 29 (1) and 41 of the ACC act no.42 of 1996.

Mr. Moono said Sergent Ngela was arrested following a surveillance operation that was conducted after the commission received information that he was soliciting for K100,000 from a named person.

He added that Ngela received the said money as an inducement or reward for him to drop a case of theft by agent, which he was investigating.

He said Ngela was later detained in Police custody at Livingstone Central police to facilitate for further investigations.

Mr. Moono added that the following day, on Saturday, February 9, the commission was informed that Ngela had taken poison and was rushed to Livingstone Central Hospital where he died the following day.

He added that the ACC Director General Nixion Banda has expressed sadness at Ngela’s death.

Mr. Banda has since appealed to citizens to live with integrity to avoid such painful encounters in life.

Blood sucking flies cause havok in Kazungula

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Blood sucking flies have infested in
Kazungula District, attacking and killing donkeys, cattle, and pigs.

The flies that are believed to have originated from Botswana are
attacking animals in Sikaunzwe and part of Makunka areas in Kazungula
District.

According to Kazungula Central Veterinary Assistant, Athens
Hamankolo, the deadly flies were first reported in 2006 and claimed 15
herds of cattle, mostly dairy animals.

Mr. Hamankolo told ZANIS that thousands of flies are found on each
animal which he said is making animals to fail to graze or move.

He said all animals in the area are affected and dying from lose of
blood and hunger.

Mr. Hamankolo observed that the flies are actively biting animals
from the early hours and late hours of the day.

He further said that the deadly flies are thriving in wet conditions
especially in flooded areas.

“The flies are mostly found in flooded areas and increase in number
during the rainy season. In dry conditions they disappear,” he said.

Meanwhile, Winfred Machaya, a veterinary assistant in Makunka has
advised farmers to buy cylence dip, which, he said, keeps flies away
from the animals.

He further urged farmers who are affected by floods and need to move
to higher and drier ground to avoid moving their animals during the
day.

Mr. Machaya said moving animals during the day will result in the
spread of flies to others areas adding that the flies are attacking
animals during day time.

He said so far samples have been sent to Lusaka so as to
determine the disease that the flies could pass on to livestock and to
help determine the type of drug to be used.

The blood sucking flies have so far claimed five donkeys since they
infested the area in January this year.

Levy warns against misuse of public resources

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President Levy Mwanawasa has said Zambians who do not look after public resources properly did not deserve to be entrusted with carrying out public jobs.

Speaking to journalists at the Lusaka International Airport today shortly on arrival from Madagascar, President Mwanawasa said it was sad that people that were suppose to take care of Zambia’s public resources and use them diligently were engaging into corrupt and crooked activities.

He said the report, which was submitted to him by the Auditor General on Tomorrow Investments was very bad, adding that he has since instructed his Legal Assistant Darlington Mwape to deal with the case carefully.

“If that is how some of our nationals are going to look after our national resources, then they do not deserve to be given public jobs,” he said.

He was answering a question from journalists on his comments about the Auditor General’s report on Tomorrow Investments that was submitted to him recently.

“But I have asked my Assistant for Legal affairs to separate the case and identify the counts. It is not only Tomorrow Investments but various other contractors. These will be handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC),” he said.

Dr. Mwanawasa hoped that the case would commence soon in court.

He said it was sad that lack of integrity could be exhibited by officers who should help government to look after national resources prudently.

And Dr. Mwanawasa has asked mining companies criticizing government for increasing the tax regimes on mines to dialogue with government instead of complaining publicly.

He said it was only fair that government should raise tax on mines so that Zambians could benefit from their resources.

The President noted that despite the increase in the mine tax regime, Zambia still had the lowest in the world.

President Mwanawasa also cautioned Zambians against being used by investors to oppose the new tax regime on mines.

Happy Valentines Day

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My wife dresses to kill. She also cooks the same way.
-Henny Youngman

———————————————————————

My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we
met.
-Rodney Dangerfield

———————————————————————

A good wife always forgives her husband when she’s
wrong.
-Milton Berle

———————————————————————

I bought my wife a new car. She called and said,
“There was water in the carburetor.”
I asked her, “Where’s the car?”
She replied, In the lake.”
-Henny Youngman

———————————————————————

The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
-Henny Youngman

———————————————————————

After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, “You
know, I was a fool when I married you.”
The husband replied, “Yes, dear, but I was in love and
didn’t notice.”

———————————————————————

When a man steals your wife, there is no better
revenge than to let him keep her.

———————————————————————

I haven’t spoken to my wife in 18 months – I don’t
like to interrupt her.

———————————————————————
My girlfriend told me I should be more affectionate.
So I got myself two girlfriends.
———————————————————————

A man said his credit card was stolen but he decided
not to report it since the thief was spending much less than
his wife did.

———————————————————————

Man is incomplete until he is married. Then he is
finished.

———————————————————————

A little boy asked his father, “Daddy, how much does
it cost to get married?”
The father replied, “I don’t know son, I’m still
paying.”

———————————————————————

Young Son: Is it true, Dad, that in some parts of
Africa, a Man doesn’t know his wife until he marries her?
Dad: That happens in every country, son.

———————————————————————

Then there was a man who said, “I never knew what real
happiness was until I got married; then it was too
late.

———————————————————————

A man placed an ad in the classifieds: “Wife wanted.”
The next day he received a hundred letters.
They all said the same: “You can have mine.”

———————————————————————

A woman was telling her friend, “I made my husband a
millionaire.”
“And what was he before you married him?” asked the
friend.
“A billionaire.” she replied

———————————————————————

Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.

———————————————————————

It’s not true that married men live longer than single
men. It only seems longer.

———————————————————————

Losing a wife can be very hard. In my case, it was
almost impossible.

———————————————————————

Just think, if it weren’t for marriage, men would go
through life Thinking they had no faults at all.

———————————————————————

A successful man is one who makes more money than his
wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such
a man.

———————————————————————

A man meets a genie. The genie tells him he can ask
for whatever he wants, but his mother-in-law gets double
of what he gets. The man thinks for a moment and says,
Okay, give me a million dollars and beat me till I’m half
dead.”

———————————————————————

Men who have pierced ears are better prepared for
marriage.
They’ve experienced pain and bought jewelry.

———————————————————————

The most effective way to remember your wife’s
birthday is to forget it once.

Cement price hiked by traders

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The price of cement in some parts of Lusaka has been hiked by K15, 000 resulting in the commodity fetching K70,000 from K55,000.

A snap survey conducted by ZANIS in Chawama, Kalingalinga and Mtendere compounds in Lusaka today revealed that the price of cement has been adjusted.

One cement dealer talked to by ZANIS, John Lungu, said the hiking of the commodity is due to transportation costs.

Mr Lungu said he also decided to increase the commodity so he can realise a minimal profit.

Another dealer, Chamanyanzi Zyambo said due to increased transportation costs, he had no option but to increase the price of cement.

However, sources at Lafarge PLC Limited, formerly Chilanga Cement PLC, denied increasing the commodity and accused cement dealers of increasing price illegally.

The sources maintained that the price of cement is K45,000 per 50kg bag.

The source said the company will appeal to the Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) to conduct a thorough investigation on the increase of the price for cement by traders.

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