Government has developed a road map to facilitate accelerated domestication of the provisions of the convention on the elimination of discrimination against women into national law.

President Mwanawasa has since directed Justice Minister George Kunda to speed up the process of drafting the bill on gender-based violence to further strengthen the existing law.

Dr. Mwanawasa said this in Lusaka today in a speech read on his behalf by Defence Minister George Mpombo in commemorating 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based violence.
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Dr. Mwanawasa said government is wary of the negative effects of gender-based violence on women and girls in particular.

He noted that gender-based violence is a threat to national integrity and pride and called for unity in eradicating the scourge.

President Mwanawasa said government will continue to provide an enabling environment to cater for women’s interest who are mostly the victims of gender based violence.

Dr. Mwanawasa further announced that government will soon introduce a bill to parliament which will specifically deal with gender violence.

He added that government has since embarked on a countrywide stakeholder consultation with a view of bringing on board divergent views in the proposed bill.

Dr. Mwanawasa has also commended the media for its continued active role in exposing vices of gender based violence to the public.

And Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Mirriam Munyinda called on government to ensure that institutions mandated to enforce laws against gender-based violence operate efficiently.

Ms. Munyinda bemoaned the rampant gender based violence cases in the country which are sometimes not reported to law enforcement officers to ensure that culprits are brought to book.

She noted that cases of girls being defilement are so far the highest and called upon Zambians to ensure that the women and girls are protected from all forms of gender based violence.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa is tomorow expected to travel to Mozambique to witness the hand over ceremony of the Caborabassa Hydro electric dam in Songa district.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by State House Chief Analyst for press and public relations David Kombe.

Mr. Kombe said the president will arrive in Mozambique at 08:00 hours to witness the official hand over of the dam from the Portuguese government to the Mozambican gorvernment.

Dr. Mwanawasa will be received by energy and water development minister Kenneth Konga and state house deputy minister Richard Taima.

Mr. Kombe said the president will be accompanied by acting foreign affairs minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa.

Six other heads of state are also expected to grace the occasion.

President Mwanawasa is expected back in the country on the same day after the ceremony.

THE Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has ended in the Ugandan capital Kampala with a strong call for leaders who have not yet re-affirmed their commitment to combat systematic corruption at both national and international levels to do so.

The Commonwealth member states have also been urged to consider implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Commonwealth Expert Working Group on the Recovery and
Repatriatiation of Assets of Illicit Origin.

The Commonwealth leaders who say they are committed to
the combating of corruption and the tracing of assets
of illicit origin have urged member states who have
not already done so to consider becoming parties to
the United Nations Convention against Corruption
(UNCAC).

This is contained in a communique released at the end
of the two-day CHOGM meeting that was officially
opened by the reigning head of the Commonwealth Queen Elizabeth II on Friday.

”Recognising that extortion, bribery and corruption
undermine good governance, respect for human rights
and economic development, Heads of Government
reaffirmed their commitment to combat systematic
corruption at both national and international
levels,” reads the Communique in part.

The leaders acknowledged the ongoing activities of the
Commonwealth secretariat designed to build institutional capacity
and awareness in member states so as to assist them
with its implementation and enforcement.

And the Heads of Government also recognised the
fundamental contribution of international trade to
global prosperity, sustainable development and the
elimination of poverty.

They acknowledged the core role of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) and emphasised the need to give
priority to fuller participation of all Commonwealth
members in multilateral trade.

According to the Communique, Heads of Government noted
that a strongly development-oriented outcome would
involve elimination of export subsidies and a
substantial reduction in domestic support.

The Heads of Government have called on developed
countries to implement the 2005 WTO Hong Kong
Ministerial Commitment on providing predictable duty
free and quota free market access on a lasting basis
on products from Least Developed Countries (LCDs).

The Communique notes that Heads of Government
acknowledged the contribution that regional trading
arrangements could make to the gradual and beneficial
integration of developing countries into the
multilateral trading system.

The Heads of Government commended the Commonwealth
Business Council (CBC)’s work to increase trade and
investment in partnerships with governments and the
private sector over the past ten years.

They welcomed the contribution of the CBC to the
growth of Commonwealth trade and investment.

The CHOGM meeting that ran from November 23 to 25 was
officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II and was
attended by 48 countries Commonwealth countries out of
the 53.

Vice-President Rupiah Banda represented Zambia at the
meeting.

Other dignatories from Zambia included, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga
Pande, Commerce deputy minister Dora Siliya, Sports
minister Gabriel Namulambe, Finance Deputy
Minister Jonas Shakafuswa ,State House Press Aide John
Musukuma and other senior government officials

The Zambia Water and Sanitation Alliance, ZWASA, has urged government to speed up the re-introduction of the NGO Bill with a few amendments in the current sitting of parliament for subsequent enactment into law.

Executive Director Derick Mushitu says ZWASA has carefully studied the NGO Bill that was temporarily withdrawn from parliament in the last sitting to allow for further consultation.

He said the organisation has no problem with government having some regulatory function in the operations of NGOs as proposed in the Bill.

In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mushitu further said the law should regulate the NGOs as they cannot do so in a manner that would make them contribute positively to the living standards of the people.

Mushitu said NGOS are there to complement government efforts in service delivery to the people.

He observed with regret however at the moment only international NGOS were truly adding value
to the lives of the people of Zambia.

Mushitu also appealed to religious organisations registered in the country to work towards the improvement of living standards of the local communities in the areas where they operate.

He also disclosed that ZWASA will soon meet borehle drilling companies operating in Zambia to discuss how they can contribute to the alleviation of water problems especially in Lusaka.

Mushitu said this is one way the companies can plough back something for the benefit of local communities.

The organisation has also appealed to Mps and councillors to ensure that a large percentage of the Constituency Development is devoted to community projects aimed at improving water supply and sanitation in the communities.

he ship carrying 60,000 tonnes of crude feedstock docked this morning at the port of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania.

Energy acting permanent secretary O.S.Kalumian has confirmed.

In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Kalumiana said the ship started offloading at 13:00 hours this afternoon and INDENI in Ndola should therefore start refining in a few days time following the arrival of the feedstock.

He said the 60,000 tonnes of feedstock will last until the first week of January, 2008.

At that time, a shipment of 90,000 metric tonnes of crude feedstock expected in the country between 15 and 24th January would be available.

Mr Kalumiana further explained that in addition, suffiecient stocks were stockpiled at the Ndola Fuel Terminal (NFT) before the temporary closure of INDENI.

He said as at 24th November, 2007, the Ndola Fuel Terminal held 20,084 cubic metres of diesel to last 24 days, 8,116 cubic metres of petrol to last 26 days, 2,257 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to last 18.5 days and 3490 cubic metres of kerosene to last 86 days.

The NFT also had 950 cubic metres of jet fuel for 11.6 days, 321 cubic metres of LPG to last seven days and 18,700 cubic metres of Heavy Fuel Oil to last 77 days.

Mr Kalumiana added that Oil Marketing Companies, OMCs, also had in stock 24,050 cubic metres of diesel to last 29 days, 8,116 cubic metres of petrol to last 26 days, 4,514 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to last 27 days, 3,741 cubic metres of kerosene to last 92 days, 2,869 cubic metres of jet fuel to last 31 days, 321 cubic metres of LPG to last 7 days and 18,700 cubic metres of Heavy Fuel Oil to last 77 days.

The acting energy permanent secretary said given this situation, there is no need for the public to panic as the fuel supply situation is under control.

Government has cautioned students at higher learning institutions against riotous behaviour which causes unnecessary disruptions and delays in study programs.

Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Peter Daka was speaking at the second graduation ceremony at Ukwimi Trades Training institute in Petauke district today.

Mr. Daka who is also Msanzala Member of Parliament said the recent riotous behaviour erxhibited by some students in some learning institutions in the country robbed government of much needed human resources.

He added that such a habit applied only to the laws of the jungle.

Meanwhile, the Minister commended 24 students who graduated with craft certificates in various vocational courses for successfully completing the courses other than concentrating on pulling government efforts down.

He advised students to desiset from blindly following politicians who incite students to rise against government in institutioins of higher learning as both government and guardians are spending a lot of money in educating them.

The minister further said studeants who are busy playing fond boycotts and strikes instead aof studying will be expelled.

And speaking at the same functioin, Ukwimi Trades Training Institute Principal, Shadreck Mapiki said since the opening of the college in 1996 the number of students has increased hence the need to finish the new structures at the Petauke boma campus to accommodate more students.

Mr. Mapiki said cosntruction works at the new campus has taken too long because of limited resources pumped towards the same project.

He has since appealed to government to send more money to the contractors to have the buildings completed on time.