Over 3,000 Workers at Zambia’s leading Coffee producing company, Mubuyu farms in Mazabuka have called on President Mwanawasa to intervene before the process of liquidating the farm is completed. The loan has grown from US $ 5, 000 in 1999 to US $17 million today. Human Resource Manager, Paul Chabala told ZANIS in Mazabuka that the company has not failed to liquidate the debt of $ 17 million it obtained from Barclays bank in 1999.

Mr Chabala said the problems have been caused by the drought that impacted negatively on Coffee production from 2001 upto 2005.

Mr Chabala explained that workers are now looking up to President Mwanawasa to rescue the farm as all the avenues to reason with the bank management on the need to reschedule the loan have been exhausted.

He said the company allegedly failed to service the loan which stood at $ 5,000 in 1999 and has accrued to $ 17 Million over the years.

Mr Chabala said the drought that affected Mazabuka in 2001 upto 2005 is not something to hide because all the people who use the Mazabuka -Kafue highway saw its effects on Coffee.

He said Banks should exercise leniency on customers other than imposing prohibitive conditions that result in liquidating big companies.

Mr Chabala complained that putting of the farm on receivership has serious economic consequences on Mazabuka and the nation as a whole.

Meanwhile, Mr Chabala has called on the Immigration department to investigate why two foreign nations sent to work at Mubuyu farms do not have proper documents allowing them to do so.

Meanwhile, President Levy Mwanawasa is tomorrow expected in Antananarivo, Madagascar for a three day state visit.

Dr. Mwanawasa who will be accompanied by First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa and Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande is expected to arrive at D’ Ivato International airport in Antananarivo at 15: 30 local time

Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services David Phiri has challenged journalists to be accurate when reporting.

Mr Phiri urged reporters to work hard and ensure that they report responsibly by making sure that information in their stories is factual.

The minister further urged journalists to ensure that information collected is verified before writing stories to avoid misleading the nation

Mr.Phiri was speaking in Monze today when he toured Sky F.M radio station.

He called on all community and commercial radio stations in the country to inform people on various developmental issues taking place within their areas of operation.

Mr.Phiri said there was need for people to know about any developments taking place and opportunities that government had been creating for them.

He said that it was a mandate to monitor and regulate community and commercial radio stations that were directly under the ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.

The minister added that government would ensure that the freedom of information bill goes back to parliament.

He said that government was prepared to take the bill back to parliament as consultations had been carried out widely.

Mr.Phiri said that the bill was dragging because of consultations that were going on at both national and international levels.

He said that the freedom of information bill was not about journalists but citizens and accessing information.

He added that information should never be used at the detriment of developmental programs and important issues of national interest.

The minister was accompanied by Monze District Commissioner and some heads of government departments during the tour of Sky F.M radio station in monze.

President Levy Mwanawasa has arrived back from London where he went for a routine medical check up after attending the just ended African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

The Plane carrying President Mwanasawsa who was accompanied by his wife Maureen touched down at the Lusaka International Airport at about 6.50 hours this morning.

The President was received by Vice President Rupiah Banda, MMD Party National Secretary Dr. Katele Kalumba, Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani and Service Chiefs.

Others who were at hand to receive the President include cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, senior government officials and party cadres.

Before his departure for London, President Mwanawasa was among the heads of states that attended the 10th Session of the African Union (AU) Heads of States and Government Assembly in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

This years’ AU Summit, focused on among other issues the Kenya crisis which has resulted in the loss of a thousand lives and the need to unite the continent.

While attending the summit, the President had talks with the Indian delegation to whom he appealed for humanitarian assistance towards the mitigation of flood effects.

He also met World Bank president Robert Zoellick, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General Jacques Diouf and his South Africa and Zimbabwe Counterparts President Thabo Mbeki and Robert Mugabe Respectively.

Former Republican President Fredrick Chiluba’s son Castro has announced his entry into the political arena.

Castro Chiluba is now deputy national secretary of the New Revolution Party (NRP) led by Dr. Cosmo Mumba.

Castro was introduced as deputy national secretary of the NRP during a press briefing by the NRP in Lusaka today.

Castro, who accepted his new appointment, pledged to serve the nation and address the many issues affecting youths in the country.

Castro has since apologized to Zambians for the wrong things he did while his father was in power.

He said he is a changed man and power would not corrupt him adding that people do change and should be forgiven and given chance to contribute to national development.

And NRP party president Dr. Cosmo Mumba said Castro has repented and is a Born Again Christian.

Dr. Mumba said Zambians should forgive and forget the misdeeds of Castro and give him chance to contribute positively to Zambia’s growing democracy.

He said the past image of Castro should be done away with as Castro has truly changed for the better.

Castro had previously used the status of his father, Dr. Chiluba, to misbehave and mistreat people.

The state has entered a nolle prosequi in a case in which a farm manager ,Mark Anthony Ralph Winwood, of Kampemba in Mpongwe district is alleged to have defamed the president .

State prosecutor, Mutakela Mulongwe, told Luanshya resident magistrate, John Mbuzi, that the state had decided to enter a nolle prosequi after studying the matter.

Winwood , 50, of Mpongwe was alleged to have defamed the president, contrary to Section 69 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The particulars of the offence are that on 2nd December 2007 in Mpongwe district, with intent to bring the Republican President of Zambia into hatred, redicule and contempt of word of mouth, Winwood did say defamatory words “ Zambia is a cheap government, you stay as long as you have got money, corrupt president.” .

The accused was being represented by Matibini and company , while the Copperbelt Divisional prosecutions officer ,Mukateka Mulongwe, was representing the state.

Magistrate Mbuzi discharged Winwood following the state’s submission.

Government says it will remain committed to the ideals of the African Union and fully subscribe to the idea of pan Africanism and the ultimate establishment of the African Union government.

Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande, however, said the points of contention in the whole debate over the union government are the nature of the union government and the time frame for its establishment.

The Ministers remarks follow recent media publications following the firing of Zambia’s Ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala by President Mwanawasa after he published a controversial article on the formation of a Union Government.

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Pande explained that like most member states of the African Union, Zambia subscribes to the gradual and incremental approach as opposed to the immediate establishment of the AU as advocated by some members.

He added that currently there are no established structures or mechanism for the establishment of the Union Government, which have to be worked out and agreed upon by all member states.

Mr. Pande said government is of the view to first attain political and economic regional integration adding that it is also critical to strengthen the regional economic communities as building blocks of the future union government.

He noted that since the union government is people driven, African governments need to consult its people and popularize the concept of the union government in order to carry them along the enterprise.

Mr. Pande also explained that governments stand point does not in any away run counter to the concept of pan Africanism, which, he described as the bed rock of the African Union.

He also pointed out that Ambassador Chitala’s utterances were not only his personal opinion but were also contrary to the terms and conditions of service for public service officers.

Mr. Pande added that the utterances were a breach of foreign service regulations and conditions of service, which regulate the conduct of officers in the Zambian Foreign Service.

He observed that Mr. Chitala’s attack on African states that advocate a gradual approach had obviously caused a dent to the relations of the countries singled out, which Zambia will have to repair.

Mr. Pande added that officials cannot therefore continue to serve in a government position while holding opposing views to those of the government they serve.

The latest Auditor General’s report has revealed that about K28 billion was misapplied on unrelated activities such as fuel, stationery, workshops and seminars, and payment of housing allowances.

The report further reveals that another K5.4 billion meant for repatriation of health workers was unaccounted for in that, although the amount was reflected in financial statement, there were no expenditure records provided for audit scrutiny.

According to the Auditor General’s report for the Financial year ended December 31, 2006 which is due to be presented to Parliament and obtained by ZANIS in Lusaka today, imprest totalling K4, 411, 793, 224 involving 150 transactions issued to 82 officers during the period March to December, 2006 had not been retired as of October, 2007, contrary to Financial Regulation No. 96(1).

The report further reveals that K1, 838,731,252 meant for drugs was unaccounted for from March to December, 2006 as there were no receipts and disposal details in respect of drugs purchased.

Over-payment amounting to K142, 968,000 was made in an unexplained circumstances

The Zambia Land Alliance (ZLA) says land alienation should be transparent, accountable and timely and decentralized to the district level.

ZLA Executive Director, Henry Machina, in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, further said the size on landholding, a crackdown on discrimination in land administration, and lease term limits of 50 years for Zambians should be enacted.

Mr. Machina also pointed out that vulnerable groups, such as those with disabilities, women and youths, need extra attention in land administration.

He said appropriate registration should be put in place to ensure the 30 percent provision of all land allocations in state land goes to women.

Mr. Machina also said there is need for continued sensitization and awareness raising campaigns as well as encouragement of joint registration of land rights for married couples.

He said ZLA agrees with government’s proposal to lower the contractual age at which an individual qualifies to hold to 18years.

He added that government should also create and enforce a strict inheritance system to ensure the administrator of the estate does not deprive the children or surviving spouse of their inheritance land.

Mr. Machina said non- Zambians requiring land for investment purposes should access land through a partnership with a Zambian and on acceptance of a business plan, including an impact assessment.

He said the lease period should not exceed 30years adding that it would be renewable depending on land utilization over the lease period.

He further said non-Zambian investment should be structured so that Zambians participate in wealth creation and development of the country.

Mr. Machina further said the need for conflict resolution in land is paramount to tenure security adding that viable alternative disputes resolution mechanism beside the courts of law need to be promoted.

He said the lands tribunal needs to revise its operations to allow it to decide state land cases not just involving a person in authority.

He has since called on government to recognize and strengthen local dispute mechanisms that are easily accessible to the majority Zambians.