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Chinese Collum Coal Miners end strike

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Miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCM) have ended their five days strike in which they were demanding for improved conditions of service.

Nkandabwe ward councilor Patson Mangunje said the miners resumed work following their Union leaders’ failure to come to address them on the proposed increment that management had failed to effect.

Mr. Mangunje said three of the arrested workers at Sinazongwe Police Station were released yesterday.
He named the two of them as Lacky Chingobe and Watule Siatwiinda who police arrested for inciting others to stop work.
He disclosed that management has told the three miners who were arrested to stop working until the Ministry of labour handles their case.

A Check at the Mine found the situation has turned back to normal and trucks were loading coal.

On Tuesday Gemstone and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (GAWUZ) President Sifuniso Nyumbu said the Ministry of labour was handling the matter in which CCM has refused to increase the salaries for workers.

Mr. Nyumbu reaffirmed that the workers were supposed to be given an increment of K600, 000 across board with effect from September 2007 but Management has failed to honour the promise despite signing an agreement.

The highest salary that miners get at the CCM was between K500, 000 and K450, 000 per month.
[ZANIS ]

42 nabbed over human trafficking

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FORTY-TWO Congolese nationals on a human trafficking mission to South Africa have been intercepted and detained by the Immigration Department in Lusaka.
Immigration Department public relations officer, Mulako Mbangweta, said in Lusaka yesterday that 26 of those arrested in Lusaka last week were yesterday repatriated to the Democratic Republic of Congo while 16 were still in detention in Kabwe.
“We could not detain the Congolese nationals who were arrested in Lusaka because most of them are women with children as young as six months old,” Ms Mbangweta said.
She said the ones in Kabwe would remain in detention until the department completed its investigations. Those repatriated were arrested in Lusaka’s Kanyama Township some five days ago.
“From the interviews we have conducted so far, they look like they were being trafficked to South Africa. When people are being trafficked, they do not know where they are going and where they are,” she said.
Immigration officers arrested 16 Congolose nationals in Kabwe last week and picked up leads from them that another larger group had proceeded to Lusaka.
An unknown group of human traffickers is behind the scheme to move the Congolese nationals to South Africa.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha, has warned immigration officers against engaging in corrupt practices because it frustrated Government’s efforts at improving the country’s economy.
Speaking at a senior officers’ workshop at King Fisher Lodge in Lusaka yesterday, Lt.Gen. Shikapwasha said the Immigration Department was among the Government wings that were involved in the embezzlement of public funds last year.
“I would like to warn you that I will not take kindly to those embezzling Government funds. I am urging officers to examine themselves in terms of corruption in the rank and file of the department by ensuring accountability,” he said.
He was happy that the Immigration Department had raised significant revenue within a short period following the abolition of visa waivers in January this year.
He urged regional commanders to ensure accountability for revenue collections by controlling banking procedures and observing banking regulations among subordinate officers in order to stamp out corruption.
He urged the department to ensure that revenue collections did not dwindle.
He called on the officers to be disciplined because their department was a security wing of Government.
The minister directed the Chief Immigration Officer, Ndioyi Mutiti and regional commanders to strategise and help the country to be on time with the milestone economic achievements it was recording.
Gen. Shikapwasha said the country had embarked on economic revival ventures such as the multi facility economic zones that were attracting investment.
The minister commended the officers for performing well last year and for their intensified operations that sustained security of the country.
“The worst thing is to have foreigners harassing local people. You should continue with the operations but with a human heart. Zambia is a Christian Nation,” he said.
And Ms Mutiti said her department had continued to perform well despite transport and other logistical obstacles.
Immigration officers have flushed out undesirable immigrants. They detained 2,843 prohibited immigrants and deported 2,759 while 494 were prosecuted in the courts of law.
Ms Mutiti said the prevailing conducive environment had continued to attract investors into the country.
This has resulted in the department issuing 234 self-employment permits to investors, especially in the manufacturing industry. The department also issued 3,471 work permits last year.
She said the department collected over K57 billion against the targeted K24 billion last year.
Ms Mutiti said the tourist inflow has continued to rise and the department collected about K8 billion from five border controls in Livingstone.
“I wish to report that the same border controls have collected K1.7 billion within a five week period this year,” Ms Mutiti said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]

Zambia, China to sign a Tax Free Zone Deal

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Fifty Chinese companies plan to invest over $800 million in a tax free zone in Zambia within the next five years under an agreement to be signed shortly, trade and commerce minister said on Tuesday.

Felix Mutati said Zambia and China would sign an investment deal to allow foreign companies, mainly from China, to start construction at the Multifacility Economic Zone (MFEZ) in the Chambishi town on the copperbelt.

Negotiations between Zambia and Chinese authorities were currently under way and an agreement was expected to be reached soon for the companies to start setting up in May, Mutati told Reuters in an interview.

Zambia had planned to allow only Chinese companies to invest in the zone. But Mutati said there was a change in policy.

“Initially we had agreed that this should only be a Chinese zone, but they (Chinese) want other foreign firms to come and invest in the multi-facility economic zone,” said Mutati.

“We are looking for a cocktail of companies that will add value to our raw materials to use the Chambishi zone. China is helping to attract other foreign companies on our behalf.”

Preliminary data provided by China indicated that the Chambishi zone would generate in excess of $900 million per year in turnover by firms that would invest in the processing of copper into finished products.

Zambian officials have not given details on which Chinese companies would invest in the zone but China Non-Ferrous Metals (Group) Co Ltd. is one of them.

China has drawn fire from Western nations and aid groups, who accuse Beijing of turning a blind eye to misrule, corruption and human rights abuses.

China argues it is spreading prosperity in the world’s poorest continent where the West has failed.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has vowed to fight political opponents who try to limit or frustrate Chinese investments in the country.

The growing presence of Chinese firms in Zambia has prompted an anti-Chinese backlash in some parts of the country, with the main opposition party accusing Mwanawasa of allowing the Asian newcomers to exploit workers.

Workers at Zambia’s Chinese-owned Chambishi Smelter rioted over pay on Tuesday, injuring a Chinese manager and damaging property as a wage dispute entered a second day, a union official said.

Mutati said the Chambishi zone, which should be fully functional within five years, would initially create 6,000 jobs and offer incentives such as tax relief and easing customs duties on imported equipment and machinery.

Zambia’s government would build roads and set up telecommunications, and water facilities in the zone, said Mutati.

Payback or No Grant, Namulambe Tells FAZ

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Government says they will only resume their administrative grant to Faz after the association repays what it spent outside their approved budget for Zambia’s 2008 Africa Cup of Nations outing.

Sports minister Gabriel Namulambe said this in Parliament today when he presented the eagerly awaited for 2008 Africa Cup Report to the House.

Namulambe said Faz should pay the overshot incurred from the player allowance dispute that threatened to disrupt Zambia’s Group C match against Cameroon in Kumasi on January 26.

He said the players were only due US$2000.00 but were misled by unnamed Faz official who alleged that they owed an extra US$500.00.

“This resulted in confusion when the players were paid US$2000.00 as winning bonuses after the game against Sudan (That Zambia won 3-0),” Namulambe said.

“As a result Government had to pay an additional US$500.00 to each player and official as not to dampen morale for the team.

“I regard such expenditure as wasteful and motivated by a few individuals in Faz for their own selfish ends. I feel this must be curbed.

“Mr. Speaker, it is against this background that I have stated that the administrative grant to Faz be suspended until we recover the money that they deliberately spent outside the approved budget.”

Namulambe however said that the administrative grant ban would not affect any funding to go directly to the Zambia national team’s international engagements for this year.

He also revealed that Government approved K5.8 billion budget for Zambia’s Africa Cup final campaign in Ghana out of which K2.4 billion was initially released for tickets and allowances.

That initial sum released included logistics for Zambia’s training camp in Spain.

“Thus, there was no shortage of money in the Zambian camp,” Namulambe said “.Had the team progressed; the whole budget would have been released.

“Faz had the approved budget before the team left for Spain for preparatory matches.”

And Namulambe said should money spent outside the approved budget not be refunded, the incoming Faz executive after the associations March 29 executive committee elections would have to justify their need for resumption of the administrative grant from Government.

Chiluba’s medical review on

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Second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba has been given the go-ahead to travel to South Africa for his scheduled medical review.

Dr. Chiluba's Administrative Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba has confirmed the development in a statement to ZNBC news.

The former head of state has been going to South Africa for medical check-ups for his heart condition since 2006.

Mr. Mwamba said arrangements for the trip are underway and these include the application for the release of Dr. Chiluba's and his wife's passport from the court.

He said Dr. Chiluba is expected to leave for South Africa as soon as all arrangements are completed.

Dr. Chiluba is scheduled to under go a medical review for two weeks begining March 7.

{ZNBC]

Chinese-Zambians in ‘fists of fury’

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Zambian and Chinese workers at the Chambishi Copper Smelter fought running battles at the construction site of the new smelter.

Two Zambian workers and one Chinese worker were injured in the fight that began around 07:30hours - Tuesday morning.

A ZNBC news found angry Zambian workers outside the plant armed with stones and chanting anti Chinese slogans.

The Zambian workers at the company are demanding improved conditions of service.

Company Secretary, Sun Chuanqi explained that the Zambian workers reported for work but decided to stay outside the plant where they started making noise.

Mr. Sun said the workers later started throwing stones causing extensive damage to windows in the kitchen and sleeping quarters and also destroyed the Multi choice dish.

He said it was at this point that the Chinese workers moved in to try and stop the Zambians from causing further damage.

Riot police were called in to quell the situation.

National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) Branch Secretary, Steven Kabwe described the situation at the plant as serious.

Mr. Kabwe said the Chinese workers were armed with stones, sticks and knives.

[ZNBC]

Strike continues at Chinese Collum Coal Mine

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Miners at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCM) have continued with their strike action while Management together with the Sinazeze police has picked three workers for allegedly inciting others to stop working in Southern Province.

A check at the Mine by ZANIS in Sinazongwe district found a few miners have started work while the majority has vowed to continue the strike and wait for their Gemstone and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (GAWUZ) President Sifuniso Nyumbu to address them.

The strike has entered day five since Friday last week when workers refused to go under ungrounded until the Chinese management effect the new salary increment that was signed in September 2007.

GAWUZ President Mr. Nyumbu said in a telephone interview from Lusaka that the Ministry of labour was handling the matter in which CCM has refused to increase the salaries for workers.

Mr. Nyumbu reaffirmed that the workers were supposed to be given an increment of K600, 000 across board with effect from September 2007 but Management has failed to honour the promise despite signing an agreement.

He revealed that in their desperation to have the workers get back to work, the Chinese connived with the Sinazeze police to arrested three workers who they alleged to have incited others to go on strike.

The GAWUZ president said it was unfortunate that even after talking to the Sinazeze Officer in-charge to release the workers they have continued to be detained over an industrial matter.

He said he has written to the Inspector General of police to intervene in the matter and have the workers be released because they were not violent as the issue was being handled by the Ministry of labour
.
Mr. Nyumbu said after the workers strike the Chinese Management decided to increase their salaries by K1000 which was far below the agreed amount and the workers have rejected it.

He said the K1000 increment meant that those who were getting K10, 040 per day would then be getting K11, 040 per day.

“The situation is purely a violation of industrial matter the police should not get involved if the workers are peaceful,” he said.

Mr. Nyumbu noted that Management was also imposing on the workers to belong to a union that they wanted but they have rejected.

On Friday the miners said they do not want to belong to the Mine Union of Zambia (MUZ) because they failed to improve their conditions of service with management.

Mr. Nyumbu said belonging to Union was the workers right not for management to impose on them.

[ZANIS]

Pastor and Teacher drown

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A Pastor and a teacher drowned in the Zambezi River when the canoe they were in capsized as they travelled from Senanga to Shangombo in Western Province.

A third person who was paddling the canoe managed to swim to safety.

Western Province Police Chief, Vael Muzwenga confirmed the incident.

He identified the victims as Kaoma Lilanda, a teacher at Kalongola basic school and Pastor Isitekete of Sitoti SDA church.

They were traveling in a dug-out canoe.

Mr. Muzwenga said the teacher could have been carrying money meant for salaries because he was found with more than K5 million on him, when his body was retrieved.

[ZNBC]

Make defilement non-bailable offence, urges Women’s Lobby

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THE Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group (ZNWLG), men’s wing has called on the Government to stiffen the law against defilement and make the offence non-bailable.

ZNWLG men network coordinator, Isaiah Munali, said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday after a briefing over awareness campaign ahead of the women’s International day, which falls on Saturday.

“It is unfair to defile a little girl and then go with a light sentence. We want the Government to make this offence non-bailable like is the case with theft of a motor vehicle which is,” he said.

Reverend Munali who is Reformed Church of Zambia national youth coordinator said defiling minors was a much more serious offence than that of a motor vehicle theft, a vehicle which was replaceable.
Once a child was defiled, it was hard to restore her or his emotional status.

Rev Munali said perpetrators of such vices should not be entertained by law and asked fellow men to desist from such practices, which were inhuman.

Earlier, he urged men in the men’s network, which was part of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) to be proactive in championing the plight of children and women.

Rev Munali said the men’s networks should sensitise drivers and their callboys to commit themselves to fight gender based violence because there had been overwhelming evidence pointing at them as perpetrators of the vice.

He also called on leaders from all walks of life to denounce violence at all costs and encourage co-existence between men and women.

He said it was important for those men who were concerned about the suffering of women and girls to speak strongly against violence.

“Violence is a key obstacle to the achievements of women’s personal aspirations and goals of equality and development,” he said.

Rev Munali called on the Government, private sector end the donor community to invest in projects and programmes designed at promoting a violent free society.

And YWCA acting programme coordinator, Mubita Simonda said a violent free society was possible.

[Times of Zambia]

Mounting of defilement cases is a source of worry

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The National Initiative Citizens Awareness (NICA)
has bemoaned the mounting defilement cases in the country.

NICA President Kelvin Sampa says the vice must be frowned upon by all citizens and that the law should be firmly applied on perpetrators in a bid to put a stop to the scourge.

He was speaking when the National Initiative Citizens Awareness (NICA) donated US$1000 to Saint Michaels Community School of Lusaka West.

Mr. Sampa said sexual abuse impacted negatively on the children as it traumatized the rest of their adult life.

He said children need to learn and grow in an environment that is full of love and joy so that they may reach their full potential.

And receiving the cheque, School Headmaster Humphrey Musonda said the money would be used to purchase desks and other learning aids in order to enhance the quality of education at the school.

Mr. Musonda appealed to other organizations and members of the general public to come to the aid of the school so that more children can have access to education.

He said the school lacks accommodation for teachers and adequate food for the pupils.

The school was founded in 1997 with 15 pupils at the time but now accommodates 753 pupils and has five teachers.

Disability Movement salutes Dr. Mwanawasa over Kapita

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The Disability Movement has upheld President Mwanawasa’s retention of Ben Kapita as Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives.

Disability Activists Elijah Ngwale who is blind, Lango Sinkamba and Felix Mutale who are physically disabled, say, President Mwanawasa’s retention of Ben Kapita as Minister, is a fulfillment of United Nations Conversions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Recently, Mr. Kapita was diagnosed with cancer of the spine and became disabled, thereby using a wheelchair for his mobility.

Subsequently, President Mwanawasa retained Kapita as Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives and appointed Ms. Saifwanda as Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives to work hand in hand with Ben Kapita.

The trio observed that what is required is to reorient and adapt Ben Kapita in order for him to be as effective as he was before he became disabled.

The trio has condemned politicians and the general public who are calling for the resignation of Kapita on grounds of his disability, describing such persons as practicing discrimination against persons with disabilities.

The trio has called upon disabled people’s organizations to give President Mwanawasa support as he formulates and implements programmes and policies of persons with disabilities in Zambia and the SADC region.

They said as President Mwanawasa is Chairman of SADC, he is also responsible for programmes and policies of persons with disabilities in the region.

ZACA happy with revocation of new motor vehicle fees

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The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has commended government for revoking the exorbitant fees imposed by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) on consumers.

ZACA Executive Secretary, Muyunda Illilonga disclosed in a press statement to ZANIS today that the move shows that government was responsive to concerns of the people.

He said the association called upon the Minister of Communication and Transport to consider formulating a new policy that would make provision of metropolitan transport a responsibility of government.

He said the policy should be either through a state company or through a municipal service.

Mr Illilonga said the association views the provision of transport as a basic service too sensitive to be surrendered to private operators only.

He added that there must be state participation as as the case is in developed countries.

Mr Illilonga also noted that ZACA was not happy that the state has continued to allow small buses to operate on the roads.

The association has described these buses as death traps and that they lacked comfort and safety.

Mr Illilonga called on RSTA to phase out small buses so that bigger and comfortable buses could be introduced on our roads.

ZAMTEL’s Lusaka Fibre Network ready in two weeks time.

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Zamtel Managing Director Simon Tembo has announced that the installation of the Lusaka Metropolitan Optic Fibre Cable would be completed in two weeks time.

He said the Lusaka Metropolitan Optic Fibre will provide corporate companies, business houses, the University of Zambia, the University Teaching Hospital, Government Ministries, embassies and many other institutions with the much needed broadband connectivity for broadband services.

The company has bought a total of 14 trucks for operational purposes for all their provincial centres in the country.

Central banks in SADC urged to develop ICT industry

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THE Bank of Zambia (BOZ) has urged central banks within the SADC region to critically review the level of investment and dependence on Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) which is critical to the implementation of good corporate governance.

BOZ Deputy Governor for Administration Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula said good corporate governance was important in economic management adding that the role
the ICT governance played could not be overemphasized.

Ms Kankasa-Mabula was speaking in Livingstone today when she officially opened a SADC central bank IT forum 2008 Annual Conference at Zambezi Sun Hotel.

She said Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and the management for ICT resources was critical to the operations of the Central Banks.

Ms Kankasa-Mabula regretted that most of the rural areas were mostly unbanked due to infrastructural obstacles and called for the financial inclusion for
all and access of finance for all including rural areas.

She further urged participants at the forum to address the crucial role that the SADC IT Forum played in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP), which was a 15 year long term strategy.

Ms Kankasa-Mabula said it was envisaged that the Committee of Central Bank Governors (CCBG) in the SADC region would continue to work on the process of
monetary and financial integration in the region.

She however noted that in order to harmonise central banking practises and procedures across the SADC region, there was need to prepare a RISDP action plan which would steer ICTs within the SADC region to higher levels.

“Equally important I also expect that this initiative will assist Central Banks to harmonise ICT functions and come up with shared regional communication
infrastructure that promote economic development,” she said.

The four-day annual conference which opened this morning is being attende by all Central Banks within the SADC region.

Mazabuka mother abandones children

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A Mazabuka mother has abandoned her two children aged five and eleven years old and her whereabouts are not known since December last year.

A Good Samaritan, Christopher Nkalamo, who is keeping the children told ZANIS that the woman identified as Petronela Kayayi, disappeared last December after telling the children that she was going to Pemba to order some mushrooms but has not returned since.

Mr Nkalamo explained that he rescued the children when the landlord evicted them from the house and got hold of the household items as surety for the unpaid rentals.

He said he then got the children with the hope that the mother will return quickly but up to date, she has not returned from her business trip.

Mr Nkalamo is appealing to the father to the children, Siame Kachingwe, who is suspected to be in Mbala and working as a police officer to come and collect his children as he could not continue keeping them.

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