The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has expressed concern at the increasing reports of counterfeit bank notes circulating in the country.

BoZ acting Manager for Currency at the Ndola regional office Kamuti Chama-Shichilenge said the Central Bank has continued to receive reports of fake Kwacha notes and other foreign currencies being circulated on the local market.

Mrs. Shichilenge said this when she led a team of officials’ from the BoZ regional office in paying a courtesy call on Kasama District Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Steven Chanda at his office yesterday.

She noted that the high value denominations of K20,000 and K50,000 where the most common counterfeit notes in circulation.

Mrs. Shichilenge noted that recently some farmers in the country complained of being cheated during the last crop marketing season after some bogus businessmen bought their produce using counterfeit Kwacha notes.

She has since urged members of the public to be vigilant when handling money especially during the coming festive season because most unscrupulous individuals usually take advantage of the period to circulate fake currencies in the country.

Mrs. Shichilenge also revealed that the Bank of Zambia has embarked on a sensitization programme in Northern Province to raise awareness among members of the public on the need for them to be alert and distinguish original bank notes from fake ones.

The BoZ Official further said the sensitization meetings would be held in Kasama, Mpika, Isoka, Chinsali and Nakonde Districts respectively.

And BoZ Regional Investigations Officer Charles Hamalala said people who were involved in circulating of counterfeit notes were sophisticated because they targeted unsuspecting members of public when releasing their fake currencies on the market.

Mr. Hamalala has since advised Zambians to always report to the police anybody found circulating counterfeit bank notes so that the law could take its course.

He however, warned people that the law was clear on anyone found in possession of fake banks notes adding that expressing ignorance in the court of the law was no defence because merely possession any fake currency was enough proof for one to be convicted.

Former Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation,(ZESCO) workers in Mongu in Western Province have appealed to President Levy Mwanawasa to intervene in the case in which they are owed about K400 million terminal benefits.

One of the retired employees Katwala Kakulekelo told ZANIS that an organisation called Local Separation Fund (LASAF) that is funded by ZESCO has not paid them their dues since 2005.

He claimed that LASAF receives about K20 billion every month from ZESCO to pay retired workers their termianl benefits saying LASAF has always been giving excuses that ZESCO did not funded them.

Mr. Kakulekelo named the other affected retirees as Peter Fumbelo, Benny Makula and Bargrey Mwanamwalye addig that the other two have not been paid since 2004.

He explained that the matter was reported to Energy Minister Kenneth Konga in August, 2007 who promised to look into the matter.

The retiree also said that Local Government Minister Silvia Masebo was also aware of the matter.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has returned home from Mozambique where he went to witness the official hand over of the Caborabassa hydro electric dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican government

The President who touched down at Lusaka International Airport at 18:00 hours in the evening was received by senior government officials, MMD party officials and service chiefs.

Dr. Mwanawasa, who however could not talk to the press, was accompanied by Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga, and Deputy Statehouse Minister Richard Taima.

President Mwanawasa joined six other SADC Heads of State to witness the occasion.

President Mwanawasa described the handover of the Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Power Dam from the Portuguese Government to the Mozambican Government as the major economic achievement not only for the people of Mozambique but the entire region.

Dr Mwanawasa said that Mozambique like many other African countries that gained political independence long time ago, it is only now that they are getting true economic emancipation.

This is contained in a statement issued tonight by State House Chief Analyst for Press and Public Relations David Kombe and made available to ZANIS.

The Handover Ceremony follows the payment of US$700 million by the Mozambican Government to the Portuguese Government for the acquisition of 85 precent shares.

The remaining 15 percent shares will remain with the Portuguese Government.

The Cahorabassa Hydro Electric Dam was constructed by the Portuguese Government in 1970 who until 26th November 2007 owned 82 percent of the shares while the Government of Mozambique owned only 18 percent.

A Law maker for Kafue constituency in Lusaka Province has dispelled reports that constituency and youth development funds in his area have already been disbursed.

Bradford Machila said this was not true because all the funds Government sent to the district are still intact in the local Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) account.

Mr. Machila who is also Lands Minister told ZANIS in an intervieew today that it was important communities who want to benefit from the funds understand the guidelines which must be followed for one to access the money.

The MP has also urged community and youth groups in the areea to take keen interest in establishing how they can benefit from Constituency and Youth Development funds.

Bradford Machila implored the groups to play an active role in accessing these loans.

Mr. Machila said a committee was already in place and is currently calling for applications so that youths and community groups start accessing the money.

He said it was wrong for certain sections of the community to start criticising the process of disbursing CDF money.

He disclosed that the district has a total of K260 million Constituency Development Funds and K50 million for the youths in its local account and the money has not been disbursed.

Mr. Machila said youth and constituency funds are public resources and that as area MP, he could not allow a process which is transparent and corrupt to disburse the funds.

The MP pledged to ensure that Government guidelines are followed to benefit all groups in Kafue.

He said people should not blame his office due to their failure to meet requirements under the set guidelines. He said these funds are meant for groups who need assistance and can bring about change in communities they live.

In another development, Mr. Machila has disclosed that Government has released close to K300 million for the construction of a rural health centre in Kabweza area of Mungu ward in Kafue district.

Mr. Machila said the funds have been sourced by Governmebnt through the ministry of health.

Construction of the health facility, he said was expected to start as soon as preliminary preparations are done.

He expressed gratitude at the development saying this would assist the local people who had no health facility.

Mr. Machila disclosed that residents walk for more than 20 kilometers to the nearest health centre in Kafue Estates and Chikupi for medical treatment.

He said once the clinic is constructed communities will no longer have to cover long distances when seeking medical attention

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.
.

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.