The Maritime and Inland Waterways Director under the Ministry of Communication and Transport has called for the transformation of Sinazongwe Fisheries Training Centre into a Marine Training Institute.
A Maritime director calls for marine institute in Sinazongwe
Chief Chikanta hails Levy on NCC
A traditional ruler in Southern province
has commended President Levy Mwanawasa for successfully putting in
place a team that is going to debate and come up with the contents of
the constitution of the country.
Chief Chikanta of the Tonga people of Kalomo district has since urged
President Mwanawasa to work tirelessly and ensure that he leaves
behind a people driven constitution.
Chief Chikanta said this in an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone
today.
He said so far everything seemed to be going well as all those people
who would be sitting on the constitution were capable leaders who
would make meaningful contributions to the constitution making
process.
The traditional leader noted that those people who were opposed to
the NCC had their own agendas.
”To President Mwanawasa, I say you work hard on this constitution so
that you retire honourably. In Zambia no one will be perfect. That is
a tradition here because people are just used to be opposed. Those
who don’t want to join have their own agendas,” he said.
And commenting on the alleged hefty allowances being given to NCC
members which some people have complained of in some sections of the
media, Chief Chikanta said he was aware that president Mwanawasa was
strict with the economy of Zambia and could not spend colossal
amounts of money on immaterial things.
”President Mwanawasa is so strict with the economy of this country
and I don’t think he can be careless to give money for nothing,” he
said.
The NCC opened in Lusaka on Wednesday this week with President Levy
Mwanawasa urging the NCC members to exercise responsibility,
objectivity and patriotism in their deliberations to ensure that they
came up with a generally accepted document.
And in Mazabuka, Chief Hanjalika of Mazabuka says he has no doubt that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) will deliver a people driven constitution following the independence given to the delegates by government.
The Chief told ZANIS in Mazabuka that the official openning speech by President Mwanawasa was inspiring because he challenged the delegates to be impartial and avoid politicising the process.
Chief Hanjalika said the fact that, Dr Mwanawasa assured the nation that he will have no influence as the NCC act does not give him more powers to influence the outcome of the final document is encouraging and deserves support from all patrotic Zambians.
He also said the decision taken by the executive to give power to the delegates to elect their own Chairperson and the Vice clearly shows how transparent the process shall be.
Meanwhile, Chief Hanjalika has called on Zambians to give the NCC a chance and allow the delegates do a good job.
The traditional ruler said attacking the NCC and the allowances given to the delegates should not be an issue because Zambians are only interested in new constitution.
NCZ workers protest over non payment of salaries
Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia workers today staged a protest demanding that government should release money for the fertilizer the company produced this year under the Fertilizer Suport Programme.
The workers who refused to work are also demanding to be paid their three months salary arrears threatening to paralyzed operations at the plant if the funds are not released.
The angry workers told ZANIS in Kafue at the plant that it is difficult for them to understand why government is subjecting workers to such treatment when funds were available.
The workers who refused to be addressed by union officials demanded that management should tell them their fate and future of the company instead of wasting their time.
The workers have refused to accept any salary arrears of less than three months.
National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) President Seth Paradza told ZANIS that efforts to get in touch with company Chief Executive Officer Richard Soko failed as he was reported to be in a meeting with Agriculture Permanent Secretary Dr. Samuel Mundia in Lusaka.
Mr. Paradza explained that government had signed a letter for the partial release of the money to pay workers salaries but wondered why the money was not released.
He said workers have vowed not to report for work because there is no way they can be celebrating Christmas without being paid their money.
Mr. Paradza stated that it is not easy to produce 30,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer in six months and meet the deadline.
ZAMBIA SOLICITS ETHIOPIA’S VOTE FOR INONGE’S AU BID
Zambia has approached Ethiopia for support to its bid for the chair of the African Union (AU).
Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika is vying to be the the next chairperson of the Commission of the African Union.
A high-profile Zambian delegation led by First President , Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda submitted a letter to Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi here today.
Dr. Kaunda, who is serving as Special Envoy to the government of Zambia, submitted the letter cobeyed the letter from President Levy mwanawasa.
During talks with Meles, Dr Kaunda said Zambia fielding Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika whom he described as a suitable replacement for Alpha Omar Konare.
Konare’s term of office expired in July this year and voting is due to be held next month.
Six candidates from Zambia, Swaziland, Gabon, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and Burundi to replace Konare.
Dr Lewanika is also in the Zambian delegation and attended the meeting with the Ethiopian leader in Addis Ababa.
However, Gabon has also made a similar tender asking Ethiopia to support its nominee
State ready to partner with USA in fight against corruption
Government says it is ready to partner with the American government in the fight against corruption under the Millennium Challenge Account progarmme.
Attoney General, Mumba Malilia says the joint threshold project between the government of Zambia and the American government is to collaborate with the private sector and civil society through the threshold country plan to implement key reforms and build capacity for good governance.
Mr Malila said this during the official launch of the Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) Advocay and Legal Advice centre ALAC,in Lusaka last night.
He said ALAC is a new initiative which marks a giant step in the fight against corruption for Zambia and the entire continent.
The attorney general further noted that ALAC will provide a free charge avenue for members of the public to report corruption , seek advice and create confidence in those seeking solutions.
Mr Malila observed that his office remained open to constructive dialogue with stakeholders on how to entrench a comprehensive and robust fight against corrution by promoting good governance.
Speaking eariler, Anti-Corruption Commission ACC, Deputy Director General Ms Rosewin Wandi said the fight against corruption can not be effectively waged by the ACC alone but requires concerted efforts from all sectors in the country.
Ms Wandi noted that ALAC has the potential to contribute to the prevention and combating of corruption in Zambia.
She further noted that the advocacy centre can productively carry the message of corruption prevention to the entire population as staff can inform and educate the citizens about the negative effects of corruption.
And Transparency International Zambia,TIZ president Ruben Lifuka, said ALAC chapter is number 25 worldwide where citizens can seek advice, propose and report corruption cases to TIZ.
Mr Lifuka disclosed that ALAC has so far received 173 complaints from the public adding that 70% of the clients who make reports are victims while 23% are whistle blowers while 7% are witnesses.
Mr Lifuka said the objective of ALAC is to promote great transparency and contribute to the reduction of opportunities of administrative corruption by empowering citizens to take action against the vice.
A Wonderful Counselor
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 AMP).
What do you need today? Do you need guidance or counsel about a particular situation? One of the reasons Jesus was sent to this earth was to be your Wonderful Counselor. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Counselor comes to live inside of you by the Holy Spirit. Notice He’s not just any kind of counselor, He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is full of wonder and amazement. He’s extraordinary. He’s the very best counselor you could have—He knows all things! Do you need counsel today regarding your job? Do you need counsel regarding your relationships or an important decision? Do you need a counselor to act as your defender today? Call on the Wonderful Counselor. Open your heart and let Him show you His wisdom. Receive His counsel from the Word of God. Receive His counsel from the godly people in your life. As you seek the Wonderful Counselor with an open heart, He promises to lead and guide you. He promises to show you paths of life so that you can live in victory the way God intends!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Spirit that lives inside of me. Thank You for the Wonderful Counselor that guides and protects me. I choose Your guidance today. Speak to my heart so that I can honor You and follow Your leading today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
courtesy of Joel Osteen Ministries
NCC adjourns
The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) which began sitting on Wednesday this week, has adjourned until January after making headway on the proceedings of the conference.
And Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba has scooped the position of the Vice Chairperson along with Patriotic Front (PF) Matero Member of Parliament Faustina Sinyangwe and Katombola Member of Parliament Regima Musokotwane.
The conference which was officially opened by President Levy Mwanawasa has since appointed the chairperson, the three Vice chairpersons and the spokesperson.
The conference chaired by Lusaka Prominent Lawyer Chifumu Banda also appointed an interim committee that will constitute rules which will govern the proceedings of the conference.
The 15 member committee headed by Lusaka Lawyer Dr. Patrick Matibini is expected to formulate rules that are subject to approval by the conference when it reconvenes on January.
The committee that includes members from the Church and Civil Society is comprised of prominent persons that include Lawyer Nelly Miti, Stanely Muhango from Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), Bonnie Tembo from Anti- Voter Apathy (AVAP) and politician Dante Saunders.
Announcing the adjournment, NCC chairperson Mr. Banda said the conference would only convene for four days in January next year so as to allow MPs to attend the official opening of Parliament.
Mr. Banda further called on the MPs who would want to be part of the committee to be constituted to submit their CVs to the secretariat.
He said the conference did not want to put people in the committees who would be handicapped in their execution of duties.
The NCC, expected to sit for one year, would debate and adopt the Mung’omba Draft constitution which will be presented to parliament for enactment.
Some of the issues contained in the draft constitution that the NCC is to debate include the bill of rights and its enforcement, citizenship, economic and social rights, representation of people and public finance and budget.
Others issues are Political parties fund and registration, executive, legislative, judiciary, Chieftaincy and house of chiefs land and property and environment and natural resources.
Meanwhile, ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba has scooped the Vice Chairmanship of the NCC.
He emerged victor after beating the only other contestant, University of Zambia (UNZA) Students Union president Saje Samuwika.
Mr. Hikaumba polled 373 votes while his rival polled 50 votes, bring the total number of voters cast to 423 .
Mrs. Sinyangwe polled 347 , Mrs Musokotwane 322 and Ms. Miti 132.
The results were announced by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) returning officer Joselyne Mubita.
Speaking after the elections, Mr. Hikaumba said he was humbled by the outcome of the elections.
He said the NCC had the challenge of giving the Zambian people a document they have been looking forward to for a long time.
Mrs. Musokotwane pledged to work as a team in coming up with the constitution that will stand the test of time.
Mrs. Musokotwane, who disclosed that she was sure of scooping the position, said time has come for the country to come up with good constitution.
She said Zambia has been a shining example in many areas in the region hence should be an example of the good constitution.
Ms. Sinyangwe said she was humbled by the confidence people have show in her to contribute to the constitution making process.
She said the task given to her was a big challenge but stated that she would pray to God to give her the wisdom to deliver to the expectation of the Zambian people.
Suspended PF MP’s vow to remain loyal
The four Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament, who have been stripped of their positions in the party’s Central Committee, have pledged to remain loyal and serve the party in their capacities as ordinary MPs.
The four suspended MP’s yesterday said the party president Mr. Micheal Sata, being the appointing authority, had the power to appoint and revoke any appointment.
The suspended MP’s are Dr. Peter Machungwa , who is chairperson for Transport and Communications and his counterpart in charge of elections Ernest Mwansa.
Others are Elizabeth Mulobeka Chitiksa and Alfreda Mwamba who held the positions of chairperson for Women’s league and chairperson for Lands and Natural Resources respectively.
The four MPs are among the 27 PF Members of Parliament who are taking part in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), have since obtained an injunction restringing their party president and any PF agent from interfering with their rights as MPs.
In an interview with journalists, Dr. Machungwa, who had not received his suspension letter, thanked Mr. Sata for giving him an opportunity to serve as chair on the committee for Transport.
He however stated that problems arising in the party are as a result of appointments which, he said, the party should embark on having elective positions.
Dr. Machungwa, who is Luapula Member of Parliament, said any party as a democratic institution should elect leaders as opposed to appointments.
He said members in the party were looking forward to holding the general conference which was agreed upon during the Central Committee (CC) meeting that was held early this year.
He said it is during such a meeting to be convened when resource are available that a party constitution would be adopted.
Asked if the current impasse would not affect his relationship with Mr. Sata, Mr. Muchungwa said that in any party, there are disagreements which should be handled within the party.
He said party members who have taken a bold decision to participate in the NCC were ready to dialogue over the differences.
Dr. Machungwa however refused to comment on whether his group has taken the initiative to seek audience with other Central Commitee members saying the issue is an internal matter that would be resolved within the party.
And Mrs. Chitika-Mulombeka confirmed receiving two letters of suspension from the party president.
She said one suspension letter was from the Central Committee and the other one was that of Parliament Whip, which was copied to the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa.
Meanwhile, Police on the Copperbelt have arrested and charged Patriotic Front (PF) Chipili Member of Parliament Davis Mwila for proposing violence and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace.
Zambia Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso, who confirmed the arrest of Mr. Mwila to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said Mr. Mwila is in police custody and would appeal in court soon to answer charges leveled against him.
Mr. Mwila is quoted to have instructed cadres to beat PF MPs who have decided to take part in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
Friday Zambia national team update
Zambia head for their Spain training camp next week unsure of the availability of three players.
Joining Germany-based Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone who have been unreachable over the last week on the list of doubts is Konkola Blades striker Felix Nsunzu.
Coach Patrick Phiri confirmed today that he could not commit the Blades striker to Zambia’s two away friendly matches against Andalusia and Tunisia on December 27 and January 6 respectively.
Nsunzu, who is on the original list of provisional 28-man Zambia team, is half-way through a two-week trial spell at Egyptian club Al Arabi.
The striker has so far missed Zambia’s training camp in Lusaka over the last fortnight.
“We have to look at the balance of the team and whether we will need him with regards to the other players who play in the same playing position for the friendly matches,” Phiri said.
“When he (Nsunzu) left for Egypt he left as a local player but we have to find out what his status is now and what programme he is undergoing where he has gone for trials.”
The prolific Zambia Under-23 striker has previously won five senior Zambia caps earned at the 2006 Cecafa Cup that Phiri’s team won 11-10 on post-match penalties after a scoreless draw against Sudan in the final.
Nsunzu has scored 13 competitive goals in all competition this year.
Meanwhile, defender Elijah Tana of El Merriekh in Sudan is expected to join the team on Monday on the eve of Zambia’s departure for Spain.
And Phiri revealed that the players in camp are currently under going two days of mandatory pre-tournament medicals that are expected to end tomorrow.
Phiri could however not confirm if the players would be allowed a day off on Sunday to be with their families before heading to Europe on Christmas Day.
Team winding down home training camp minus Tana
Zambia national soccer team coach Patrick Phiri is still awaiting defender Elijah Tana to join camp.
“He (Tana) hasn’t arrived yet but we are expecting him,” Phiri said this morning.
Phiri however, could not say when the veteran Zambia captain and defender would join the team in Lusaka.
Tana reportedly arrived in the country on Monday from his base in Sudan where he plays for El Merriekh but has yet to report for training camp.
Tana is currently the only high profile player expected to join the team in Zambia before the team heads to Europe on December 25.
Striker Christopher Katongo of Brondby in Denmark and midfielder Isaac Chansa of Helsingborg in Sweden are some of the high profile European based players already in camp.
The rest of the other remaining foreign based call-ups for Zambia’s provisional squad for next months Africa cup finals are expected to join up with the en route to or in Spain next week.
Zambia is scheduled to play Andalusia’s regional national team on December 27 in Jerez.
All the South African based players including the recalled James Chamanga are due to join the team in Johannesburg.
European-based players Jacob Mulenga of French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg in France and Collins Mbesuma from Bursaspor in Turkey are expected to join the team in Spain.
It is not clear however whether German 2.Bundesliga duo of defender Moses Sichone from Kickers Offenbach and midfielder Andrew Sinkala of Paderborn will be available for the Spain outing.
Meanwhile the team this morning was filing in their entry formalities for Spain.
Phiri also revealed that the players would take a brief break over the weekend to be with their families before regrouping on Christmas Eve prior to departure for Spain.
He also said that no training game is planned in the coming days prior to departure for Europe.
HIV/AIDS threatens to wipe away Zambians says a Catholic Priest
By Tovin Ngombe
A Catholic Priest has urged parents to strive to fight the high levels of HIV/AIDS infection that is threatening to wipe away the human race in
Chifumu Banda is chairperson of the NCC
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) vice president Chifumu Banda has scooped the Chairmanship of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
Mr. Banda scooped the chairmanship after polling 320 votes against Lusaka lawyer, Patrick Matibini who attracted 106 votes.
The total number of votes cast was 427, only one vote was rejected.
After the voting process which kicked off at 14:30 hours and closed at 15:30 hours, returning officer Josephine Mubita, from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), declared Mr. Banda duly elected.
Mr. Banda has since declared that the NCC has huge challenge lying ahead to give Zambians a good constitution which will stand the test of time.
He said all members of the NCC should work towards coming up with a constitution which will satisfy the Zambian people.
And Mr. Matibini, who conceded defeat, said being a believer of democracy, he was not bitter about the results.
He said he would continue being party to the NCC as a representative of the Law Association of Zambia.
Lusaka lawyer Mwangala Zaloumis yesterday went through unopposed for the position of NCC spokesperson.
Meanwhile, returning officer Josephine Mubita has since said because the chairmanship of the NCC has been scooped by a man, two of the three positions for vice chairperson of the NCC should go to women.
Nominations for the vice chairpersons are underway.
Accountants prodded to ensure fiscal discipline in the public finance
Government has implored Accountants in the country to adhere to various initiatives and reforms aimed at enhancing fiscal discipline in the public finance.Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Tens Kapoma said as custodians of public finances, accountants have an important role to play by ensuring that they adhere to governments fiscal policies.
Ambassador Kapoma noted that management of public finances is critical to any given economy adding that if well executed, it can vastly contribute to sustainable national development.
He said this in Lusaka today when he closed a workshop for accountants in missions abroad at Protea Hotel.
Amb Kapoma observed that fiscal polices such as integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS), Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability (PEMFA) among others is critical to the accounting profession.
He noted that once fully implemented, the policies will enable the country attain the objectives of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) within the stipulated time frame.
Amb. Kapoma urged the participants to implement the initiatives which will not only promote their profession but will reduce the re-occurrence of audit queries.
Sata lets fall, the gauntlet
[ZNBC]
Girl seven defiled
By Tovin Ngombe
A seven year old girl has been defiled in Sinazongwe district.
The mother to the defiled girl Juliet Siamukuti told ZANIS in Sinazongwe that her daughter was defiled by a 16 year old boy who is her Cousin.
Sinazongwe police officers arrested the boy on 17 December and have since been released on police bond waiting to be referred to Choma for court hearing.
Ms. Siamukuti said they wanted to negotiate with the police so that they could settle the matter outside court since they were related with boy.
Police sources said they could not settle the matter outside the court because defilement cases have become rampant in the district.
Both the defiled girl and the accused were from
The alleged defiler is a grade five at Sinazongwe basic School.
Defilement cases were at an increase in Sinazongwe district as a month does not end without a case being reported.
Police sources said most people were reluctant to report such cases and only report them when they fail to settle the matter on their own.