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Lusaka clergyman says NCC is catalyst of unity

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A clergyman in Lusaka says the National Constitution Conference (NCC) is a catalyst to unity in the nation as opposed to dividing it.

Zambia Hope International president, Adamson Musonda, says bickering on the mode of enacting the new constitution will not help Zambia.

Pastor Musonda notes that the NCC is the cheapest way to the constitution making
process.

Pastor Musonda was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He further called upon some civil society organisations, political parties and
pressure groups wishing to ‘shun’ the NCC to consider participating because the NCC
has provision to accommodate all concerned issues to the constitution making
process.

And Pastor Musonda has called on government to dialogue with the key stakeholders in
addressing the constitution making process, adding that  dialogue is the remedy to
addressing the aspirations of the Zambian people.

The NCC has been received with mixed feelings and some key stakeholders are pulling
out of the constitutional making process, saying this would dilute the legitimacy of
adopting the new constitution that will stand a test of time.

The Oasis Forum, which comprises a number of civil society and church organisations,
and the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) have since pulled out of the NCC, alleging
that some of the important issues in the constitution making process have not been
addressed.

Chikankata MP calls for arrest of cheating villager

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A parliamentarian in Mazabuka has called for the immediate arrest of a villager who has allegedly misappropriated project funds at Nanduba Basic School but is now threatening witchcraft against teachers to stop them from reporting the matter to police.

Chikankata member of parliament, Munji Habeenzu, who made the call in a statement to
ZANIS in Mazabuka today, said police should move in quickly because teachers are
scared of reporting the matter to security offices for fear of being bewitched.

He said the suspect allegedly misappropriated K 700,000 for a chicken project funded
by United States Aid for International Development (USAID) which has since closed
down due to the alleged mismanagement of project funds by some community leaders.

Mr Habeenzu said it is unfair for villagers to use witchcraft as a weapon to silence
defenceless teachers who are there to provide a service to their children.

He complained that all the 11 teachers, including the headteacher, have threatened
to flee the school, adding that 500 pupils risked being affected by the move.

Mr Habeenzu said he will not allow villagers stealing public funds to use witchcraft
to avoid prosecution.

The MP observed that Nanduba Basic School has had serious problems of staff
shortage, adding that if the teachers left, government would not send more staff.

He has since urged the community to rise up and defend the rights of their children
by condemning the threats of witchcraft against teachers.

End political difference – Mpombo advises Mazabuka councillors

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Defence minister, George Mpombo has called for an end to political differences among politicians in Mazabuka in Southern Province to foster development.

The minister said political differences have  frustrated development because
politicians spent their energies on attacking each other instead of initiating
programmes meant to uplift the living standrds of the poor people.

Mr Mpombo said councillors, Members of Parliament, Town Clerk and District
commissioner  should  work as a team to open up development.

He observed that Mazabuka district has great potential for an economic boom but
regretted that its potential has not been exploited.

The minister was speaking in Mazabuka during the installation ceremony of Mayor
Edmund Cheelo and his deputy, Alfred Kawale.

He said the electorates are not interested in squabbles but development.

Mr Mpombo also advised the councillors to offer constructive criticism and avoid
undermining the mayor if he has to perform his civic duties well.

He said destructive criticism will only retard development.

And speaking earlier, Mayor Cheelo assured the minister that his council will
continue providing required services to the residents.

Mr Cheelo also informed the minister that his council has a vision to attain city
status by 2015.

Investrust Bank to open two branches

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 The Investrust Bank is to open two new branches in Solwezi in the North-Western province and Chililabombwe on the Copperbelt before the end of this year.

This brings the total number of branches across the country to 10.

Investrust Bank Public Relations and Marketing Manager Andre Makulu announced this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Makulu said the expansion programme is part of its corporate agenda to serve the
nation by bringing financial services closer to the people.

Mr. Makulu named the old branches as Chipata, Luangwa, Kitwe and Mwami Boader as
well as four other branches in Lusaka.

He revealed that his institution has made considerable financial strides such as the
listing on the Lusaka Stock Ecxhange besides the two new branches earmarked for
commissioning in December this year.

He said the opening of the two new branches has been necesstated by the economic
activities in the two provinces.

Investrust Bank committed to supporting sport – Makulu

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The Investrust Bank says it is committed to deveploing sport in the country.

And Investrust Bank says it welcomes partnering with other stakeholders in an effort
to uplift the ailing sporting discplines such as boxing.

Investrust Bank Public Relations and Marketing Manager Andre Makulu says supporting  sport in the nation helps to rise the country’s profile internationally.

Asked if his institution has pledged to support Francis ‘Galagata’ Zulu on the
October 28 encounter against a named Tazanian boxer, Makulu said his institution has
not yet been approached by Galagata’s promoters.

Makulu said if Galagata wins, that would be a great achievement to Zambia and at the
same time rise Zambia’s flag higher.

He called for support for the Zambian boxer if he is to carry the day.

“As a financial institution, we’re looking for opportunities to get involved. In
this case we have not been approached by Galagata’s promoters to assist,” Makulu
said.

Recently, Investrust Bank participated by contributing to Zambia’s first female
boxer icon Ester Phiri.

Ester was supported by National Milling Corporation and she was crowned World Boxing  Champion (WBC) after beating a Bulgarian.

Chibombamilimo congratulates Levy for doctorate degree.

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Northern Province Minister Lameck Chibombamilimo has congratulated President Mwanawasa on his bestowment of an honourary Doctorate Degree in recognition of his contribution to the legal fraternity.
Mr. Chibombamilimo said in Kasama today that the people of Northern Province
congratulated Dr. Mwanawasa for his achievement.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Kasama, the Minister said Dr. Mwanawasa’s
recognition by the United States of America (USA) demonstrated the global impact on
his statesmanship.
He said the people of Northern Province fully support those who magnanimously
recognize this fact and wish him well in his leadership.
“On behalf of the people of Northern Province, it is with great sense of jubilation
and appreciation that we congratulate you Dr. Mwanawasa and wish you well in your
governing our country”, he said.
 

Teachers were behind riots at Kawambwa, Mwense schools – Luapula PEO

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Some teachers have been identified to have incited pupils at Kawambwa and Mwense Boys’ secondary schools to riot against their administrations last week.

Luapula Province Education Officer (PEO) Florence Kanchebele disclosed this in Mansa
yesterday.

Ms. Kanchebele said it is embarrassing to note that teachers spearheaded the riots
and stimulated pupils to demonstrate against administration instead of them
(teachers) instilling morals and good conduct in the pupils.

”We have some names of teachers in connection with last week’s riots at Kawambwa
and Mwense secondary schools.  We will take a disciplinary decision against them
soon”, Ms. Kanchebele said.

She said this in a speech read for her by Provincial Education Standards Officer
(PESO) Paul Kafwanka at this year’s World Teachers’ Day commemoration dubbed
”Quality Teachers for Quality Education” in Mansa yesterday.

Last week pupils at both Kawambwa and Mwense Boys’ secondary schools went on rapage, destroying property and infrastructure worth millions of kwacha which resulted in the immediate closure of Mwense secondary school.

Meanwhile Ms. Kanchebele said qualaity education is attainable only when teachers
ensure professionalism and moral uprightness amongst themselves.

Ms. Kanchebele disclosed that the Teaching Service Team which toured the province
recently attended to 1,295 indiscipline cases amongst teachers this year alone.

She has since challenged the three teacher unions to initiate deliberate programs to
educate teachers on the terms and conditions of services if cases of indiscipline
were to be curbed.

”This shows that we have a lot of indisciplined teacher fraternity.  We need to
change if we are to be accredited  as professionals.  I’m calling on the teachers’
unions to look into addressing some of these attitudes by teachers”,  Ms.
Kanchebele said.

And Mansa District Eduction Boards Secretary (DEBS) Robert Zimba has advised
teachers to refrain from immorality and beer drinking with their pupils.

Mr. Simba noted that the increased number of cases involving teachers defiling
pupils  were as a result of teachers’ failure to uphold their professionalism.

He said some teachers have failed to keep a social distance with their pupils as
they even engage in drinking sprees with pupils.

”Teachers, you are washing down our education standards.  The pupils can not
respect you at all.  Let’s change for the better”, Mr. Zimba said.

He said his office will severely punish all teachers involved in immoral conduct and
absconding from duties.

And Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) Provincial Secretary, Robbie Mambwe
said the Unions noted with great disappointment that government has failed to honour
cruicial clauses in the last signed  collective agreements.

”Collective agreements on car loans, house loans, double and outstanding housing
allowances have not been honoured.  We need to be paid to deliver quality education
to meet the Millennium Developmen Goals on education,” Mr. Mambwe said.

He urged government to be committed and honuor the collective agrement to avoid
unnecessary disruptions of the school calendar.

Mr. Mambwe said quality education for all can be attained if government honoured its
commitments to fully remunerate teachers and invest in the sector.

HIV/AIDS-related deaths reduce in Mazabuka – Dr Puma

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Health Deputy Minister, Lwipa Puma, says the country has recorded a reduction in the number of people dying of HIV/AIDs due to the provision of free anti-retrovival therapy to the old and children.

Dr Puma said in Mazabuka during the official re-openning of the Salvation Army
college of Bio-medical sciences at Chikankata Mission Hospital that government has
scored a lot of successes in the delivery of health care because of the commitment
the new deal administration attaches to the health of its citizens.

He said the provision of free Anti-retroviral therapy to the old and children which
has resulted in the reduction of the number of people dying from the deadly disease
is one of the major successes of the Mwanawasa administration.

Dr Puma observed that because of good working policies, children are now being born
HIV negative from HIV positive parents.

He said apart from HIV, his ministry has also recorded a reduction in the number of
malaria cases, under-five and infant mortality rates.

The deputy minister said government, through its national health strategic plan,
which is a chapter of the Fifth National Development Plan, aims at providing the
people with equity of access to cost effective and quality healthcare as close to
the family as possible.

Dr Puma has since called on all stakeholders to join hands with government by
supplementing its efforts in the delivery of quality health services to
disadvantaged communities.

Speaking earlier, Chieftainess Mwenda commended the government for re-openning the
Salvation Army College of Bio-Medical sciences.

The Chieftainess also congratulated President Mwanawasa for having been honoured
with a Doctorate degree in Law.

She said bestowing of the doctorate to the President has cheered her subjects.

Government will not listen to arm-chair critics on NCC – Mpombo

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Government has reiterated that it will not listen to arm chair critics, but go ahead with the National Constitution Conference in order to make head way in the constitution making process.

Defence Minister, George Mpombo, said in Choma in Southern Province yesterday that
the nation can no longer afford to delay the constitution making process simply
because of critics who have no alternative to offer.

Mr Mpombo was speaking when he installed newly elected Choma Mayor, Geoffrey Makaya,
and his deputy, Tenson Hajongola.

He said government has embraced an open and democratic process in the constitution
making process which deserves support.

Mr Mpombo also urged leaders of some opposition political parties to be consistent
with their position on the NCC.

He said some of the leaders were not courageous enough to stand by their decision on
NCC and they easily gave in once criticized.

Mr Mpombo told councillors to support the NCC by selecting a councillor to represent
them.

 

Meanwhile, Defence Minister, George Mpombo has assured councils that are controlled
by opposition councillors that government will not discriminate against them in the
allocation of public resources.

Speaking in Choma yesterday when he installed Choma Mayor, Geoffrey Makaya, and his
deputy Tenson Hanjongola, Mr Mpombo said the fact that the local authority is in the
hands of the opposition UPND was immaterial to government.

He said government did not look at political affiliations when allocating resources
for development.

The Choma Municipal council has 27 councillors, out of whom 26 are  from UPND and
one from MMD.

The minister said the spirit of fighting on political lines at the expense of
development was long gone.

Mr Mpombo cautioned the councillors that the tendency of bringing politics into
council matters was very dangerous as it would hold back development.

He expressed happiness that the local authority had remained focused on development
despite being run by the opposition UPND.

Mr Mpombo appealed to chief officers to exhibit a high profile performance and avoid
running personal errands at the expense of council work.

Fuel shortage hits Lusaka

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Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga says a ship carrying Zambian crude oil has docked at the port of Dar es Salaam and that fuel will soon start flowing smoothly to filling stations.

Mr Konga was addressing a press briefing after a tour of the Copperbelt Province and Indeni Petroleum Refinery in Ndola yesterday.

He said the shortage was due to delays in finalising a letter of credit amounting to US$42 million that was due to the shipper supplying 60,000 metric tonnes of crude oil that would be offloaded and pumped through the Tanzania-Zambia (TAZAMA) Pipeline.

Mr Konga said Government was addressing the issue of credit with utmost urgency.

“The ship has docked in Dar es Salaam…that is evidence enough that the crude oil will come, so it is just addressing these issues of the letter of credit. Once that is done, the fuel will flow,” Mr Konga said.

He assured the nation that Government was making every effort to ensure the shortage of the commodity was cushioned off at the earliest possible time.

Indeni ran out of crude oil, prompting its closure and would be operational once the crude was offloaded.

Mr Konga also appealed to oil marketing companies (OMCs) to continue importing fuel to address the current shortage. “It is just some amendments to the letter of credit that has caused the delay,” he said.

He also urged the OMCs to work out ways of dealing with the problem.

Mr Konga observed during his tour of the Copperbelt that service stations belonging to BP Zambia and Kobil Oil had the supply of petrol but could not meet the demand.

Diesel is readily available.

With Total Fina, who has a 75 per cent market share on the Copperbelt, having little supply of petrol, the Minister said the oil marketing firm needs to get into an agreement with other OMCs on acquiring the commodity.

“I would like to urge Total to find ways of how they can collaborate with other organisations in dealing with fuel to ease the shortage.

“I also urge the OMCs to find a way of moving their stocks from Lusaka to the Copperbelt. There are enough stocks of fuel in Lusaka,” the minister said.

In Lusaka, KANGWA MULENGA reports that the fuel shortage being experienced in some parts of the country has now spread to Lusaka.

An on the spot check at most filling stations yesterday revealed that the commodity had run out.

Queues of vehicles formed at filling stations around the city. At BP filling stations at Arcades and Manda Hill Shopping Centre, several motorists waited for fuel for a long time but by press time the situation had normalised.

Fuel attendants said motorists were buying in bulk in anticipation that the shortage will get worse.

“I don’t think the fuel we have can last for the next few days because some motorists have started buying in bulk. Some fuel is being kept for account holders only,” said one fuel attendant at BP Manda Hill.

Other service stations which had motorists waiting to access fuel were Engen and Total on the Great East Road.

Ministry of Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary, Buleti Nsemukila warned fuel dealers to desist from hoarding the commodity as they anticipate a shortfall in supply.

Dr Nsemukila said in an interview yesterday that Government had meetings with OMC officials who have since assured the ministry of the availability of the commodity.

He said there was no need for panic buying because Government has put in place measures to ensure fuel was available.

The OMC’s had continued to import the commodity from South Africa and Mozambique to caution the shortage.

Dr Nsemukila also disclosed that yesterday two trains with fuel left Livingstone for Ndola.

“As government we have intervened, and I can confirm that two trains with fuel being imported from South Africa today (yesterday) left Livingstone for Ndola.

So, these are some of the measures we have put in place to control the situation,” he said.

FRA urged to shift maize to main storage depots in, Maize

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Mazabuka District Commissioner, Misheck Chiinda, has advised the Food reserve agency, FRA, to quickly consider moving maize from rural depots to main storage depots at the boma.

Mr. Chiinda advised the agency to hire IFA trucks to commence the haulage of maize
from rural depots to the main storage depot at the Boma before the onset of the
rains.

He said major local transporters are shunning some depots due to poor state of the
road network in the area.

Mr Chiinda told ZANIS in Mazabuka, FRA should move in quickly and protect the grain
from going to waste in view of the unexpected rains being experienced in the
district.

He said undisclosed bags of maize which where kept outside the storage sheds at
Chikombola and Hanzala depots where soaked by rains because of lack proper tents.

Mr Chiinda said FRA should take the appeal seriously because once serious rains
start, Chikombola and Hanzala will be completely cut off from the rest of the
country.

He charged that government spent colossal sums of money to buy the maize and cannot
afford to allow the commodity to go go waste.

Meanwhile, Mr Chiinda has disclosed that government through the food reserve agency
has purchased a total of 323,898 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize as at the closing
date for the maize marketing exercise on 1st October,2007.

He said a total amount of K 8, 250,000,000 out of the K 12 Billion has already been
paid to the farmers.

Mr Chiinda, however, appealed to farmers, who have not yet received their payment
not to panic because measures have been put in place to clear the outstanding
payments.

Mazabuka overshot its target of buying maize by over 100,000 by 50 Kilogramme bags.

The bumper harvest has been attributed to the good agricultural policies by government.

Government donates K6m to Kachema Musuma orphanage centre

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Government has donated over K6 million to Kachema Musuma orphange centre in Kawambwa district.

The funds are from the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child development.

Kawambwa District Commissioner, Wilbroad Mumba, made the donation on behalf of government yesterday at Kachema Musuma orphanage centre.

And presenting the cheque to the orphanage centre manager, Mary Makombe, Mr. Mumba
explained that the funds are meant to help the underprivileged.

He said government has greater concern for orphans, hence the donation to the
orphanage center.

Mr. Mumba encouraged the orphanage centre mangement to ensure that the funds are
retired to enable government know how it will be spent.

Receiving the donations, Ms. Makombe appreciated the government for the gesture and
said God will help them use the money wisely.

And Ms Makombe appealed to the government to continue helping the orphans who are
faced with various problems.

The visibly happy Ms. Makombe, who even shed tears of joy after receiving the
cheque, sang songs of praise to God for the assistance.

Kachema Musuma orphanage centre has 19 orphans who include girls and boys.

OASIS supporting group in Kafue to shun NCC

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A pressure group in Kafue supporting the Oasis Forum has vowed that it will not participate in the National Construction Conference (NCC) because  the whole process is not democratic and is a share waste of resources and time.

Group leaer, Clement Katongo, said that even those who are re-joining the NCC are
doing so because  they are just after  huge allowances which the government has
promised to give them. 

He said whatever document the NCC will come up with, it will be subjected to
criticism and may not stand the test of time.

Mr. Katongo charged that the whole process has been hijacked by politicians  who
have already manipulated for their own benefits and not for the nation. 

He said if the politicians were interested in the constitution making process they
should have consulted all stakeholders before passing the act.

Mr. Katongo said that the Oasis Forum had all the answers to the constitution making
process rather than the politicians who are deliberately delaying the process for
their personal interests.

He said the representation of the civil society was not much as compared to that of
government which at the end of the day will influence the outcome of the process.

Thursday Football Briefs

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Kalusha Bwalya has denied reports today linking him to the Zimbabwe national team job after Kickoff.com this morning posted on its site that he had applied for The Warriors job.

Bwalya told Kickoff.com that he have not at anytime filed in an application for the head coaches job with the Zimbabwe national team.

UNDER 23 IN MAAMBA

The Zambia Under-23 team are in Maamba in the Southern Province where they are on a week-long training camp ahead of their Olympic Games football tournament Group B qualifier against Senegal to be played on October 13 in Dakar.

14 local players were today joined in camp by three other home-based call-ups who missed the first two days of training due to club commitments with Zesco United and Red Arrows on Wednesday.

The three are goalkeeper Jacob Banda of Zesco including Red Arrows defender Joseph Zimba and midfielder Timothy Mbewe.

The team is due to play a series of training games with a Southern Province select team while in Maamba although the technical bench have yet to confirm the match dates.

The Under-23 currently lead Group B on 7 points from three games played one more than Cote d’Ivoire who face bottom placed Mali while Senegal are third.

Peter Kaumba’s team drew 1-1 with Senegal in August when they met in the first leg at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

The cost of a better life

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Dear sissy,

How are you and the family? I am well and love being here at Havard university. Who would have thought a boy from Kalingalinga would land at Havard! I miss my wife and kids though. As you you know I left Mary 7 months pregnant. Please check on her once in a while for me. She isn’t so impressed that I won’t be there when the baby is born and will only get to see the baby when he/she is 3 years old. Its a tough choice I had to make but I think my getting a pHD will eventually pay off.

Okey my little sissy take care and greeting to my brother-in -law and the kids.

Yours Max

Dear Max,

It was nice hearing from you and that you are fine. Indeed,we as a family are proud of your academic achievements. However, you should know that your in laws are very upset that you left Mary heavily pregnant with two other kids to look after. I did go to see her. I think you can tell she is depressed. She feels you value your education more than your family.

Max I sometimes tend to side with her too. You have hardly spent time with your wife and kids the last 2 years. You just came back from the U.K where you were doing your masters. Your family still stay in a small, dilapidated rented flat in Rhodes Park. Max juniour calls you uncle Max instead of Daddy because he’s only spent 1 full year with you out of his 3 years of existence. Now you are talking of coming back to Zambia after 3 years! Your children will not know you. I hope you will at least be coming for holidays.

Anyway. I hope your pHD brings you much happiness. Sorry for being harsh.You know I love you but sometimes your little sissy has to tell it as it is.Your kids are paying a huge price for your pursuit of a better life. Take care.

love Beauty

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