An electricity generation deficit is expected to hit Zambia next year due to the rising demand for energy in the country and the entire South and Eastern African regions as a result of increasing economic acitivity.

President Mwanawasa, who said this today when he addressed members of the Community Development Roundtable Chamber here, said business houses in the USA could exploit this opportunity by heavily investing in Zambia’s energy sector.

Dr. Mwanawasa said government had already started seeking alternative sources of energy while it expands the capacity of existing hydro electric power station.

The President told the businessmen during a working breakfast at Rainier club, which
was hosted in his honour by the Initiative for Global Development, IGD, that Zambia
had put in place prudent macroeconomic management measures that have so far
translated into an increase in the economic growth rate.

He said deliberate steps were also being taken to dismantle unnecessary red tape
against business development by way of reducing to one day the company registration
process.

Dr. Mwanawasa told the meeting, also attended by Bill Gates Senior who is the father
to Mr. Bill Gates, the owner of the Giant Microsoft company, that the reform process
to ease the burden of doing business in the country is highly ambitious and will
continue to occupy the Zambian leadership agenda for sometime to come.

The President assured the business community that his government will continue to
provide a stable political and legal environment conducive for business in the
country.

The President was also quick to mention that some of the improvements are processes
that will take time to be fully implement because they require enough time.

“That not withstanding, my government will be steadfgast in implementing all the
reform measured because I believe they are critical for our future success”, Dr.
Mwanawasa said.

The President, however, said he has in the past been disappointed that the response
from the business community in the USA has not been good despite giving them all the
attractive investment conditions.

Dr. Mwanawasa expressed hope that, this time around, there would be a good number of
business delegations visiting the country to set up businesses or even to make
serious  enquiries about establising business enterprises in the country.

“I therefore look forward to investments from American businessmen and women to take
advantage of the excellent business climte that we have establishd”, the President
sid.

Dr. Mwanawasa said he was fully aware of the fact that countries like Zambia need
the participation of private enterprises to fight and defeat poverty and as such he
admired the objectives of organisations like the IGD, who have taken it upon
themselves to help wipe out poverty in developing countries.

In the area of agriculture, the President said the abundant arable land was
complimented with climate and plenty of water resources that create a huge
irrigation potential.

Earlier, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Felix Mutati assured the businessmen
and women that when they set up businesses in Zambia, they will be assured of freely
remitting their profits and dividends.

He stressed that Zambia needs serious partners, who will help translate the prudent
investment policy into reality by way of increasing job opportunities for the local
people.

And Acting Director General of the Zambia Development Agency, ZDA, Glyne Michelo
said Zambia has stable microeconomic and political environment, coupled with abudant
natural resources for investment.

Mr. Michelo, who ran through the advantages of investing in Zambia which he said had
easy ccess to markets both within Africa and in Europe, said the government has put
in place deliberate policy incentives for investors.

The President was accompanied at the meeting by First Lady Maureen, Commerce
Minister Mr. Mutati, Health minister Brian Chituwo and Education Minister Geofrey
Lungwangwa.

Patriotic Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament, Chishimba Kambwili, says he will not boycott the National Constitution Conference (NCC) as directed by party leader, Micheal Sata.

Mr. Kambwili said he is bound by the collective responsibility of Parliament to participate and insisted he would not disappoint his representatives.

He accused Mr. Sata of misdirected himself, when he ordered all PF MPs to boycott the NCC because the directive was not made in the interest of the electorates.

Mr. Kambwili said this, when he officially opened Calvary Baptist Church in Mpatamatu township in Luanshya.

He also appealed to the Oasis Forum to reconsider the stance taken to boycott the NCC.

President Levy Mwanawasa says hunger and poverty can be eradicated through agriculture and hard work.

President Mwanawasa says agricultural production would increase food security in the country and for this reason government will continue to subside farm inputs by at least 50 percent.

The president said this yesterday in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka Province
Deputy Minister Charles Shawa during the Dantho traditional ceremony of the Chikunda
people of Chief Mpuka in Luangwa district.

He said government has already purchased fertilizer for this coming rain season and
will soon start distributing seed and other farming inputs.

Dr. Mwanawasa has also directed the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to scale up
their services and protect people’s lives and crops in Luangwa district while
conserving wildlife for tourism purposes.

President Mwanawasa also assured the people of Luangwa that government will ensure
that basic needs of children and youths such as shelter, education and health are
provided in Luangwa.

And Chief Mpuka in a speech read on his behalf by Nsenga -Luzi Chikunda Cultural
Association Chairperson Thompson Lungu commended government for help rendered to
flood victims early this year.

Chief Mpuka said government provided help to all the affected people in the district
by giving them tents, food and rehabilitating damaged infrastructure in the area.

However, Chief Mpuka appealed government to tar the D145 road and connect the
district to a sustainable source of electricity power supply to attract investors.

Dantho ceremony is celebrated in remembrance of the ancestors of the Chikunda
Kingdom and is an occasion to offer prayers to God for good rains and harvest.

The Chief received various gifts and in attendant was Chief Chapoto of Zimbabwe,
chiefs Mpasha, Bunda Bunda, Chieftainess Shikabeta and  Senior Chief tainess
Nkomesha Mukamabo 11 of the Soil people.

Government has called on the Oasis Forum to reconsider its decision and participate in the National Constitution Conference (NCC).

Home Affairs minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha says the Law Association of Zambia, a member of the Oasis Forum, has made a bold decision by agreeing to participate in the NCC.

Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha says the NCC is the key platform for Zambians to have a people
driven constitution adding that boycotting it will only derail the country’s
constitution making process.

The minister was speaking in Kabwe last night at the Prisons Day dinner dance held
at Tuskers Hotel.

He urged the civil society and the general citizenry not to antagonize the process
but to contribute positively to the NCC.

LAZ yesterday announced its decision to participate in the NCC, a move described by
many stakeholders as progress.

The United Party for Development (UPND) has congratulated President Levy Mwanawasa for the doctorate degree in law bestowed on him by the Harding University in recognition of his outstanding performance as a lawyer over the past years.

Party chairperson for Publicity and Information Charles Kakoma, in a statement
released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, said the UPND is of the view that the honour is
not only in recognition of the president’s personal efforts but is an honour to all
Zambians.

Mr Kakoma said the UPND would like to encourage Dr. Mwanawasa to use the honour as
an ingredient to help smoothen the constitution making process and the intire
political and economic governance of the country.

Meanwhile, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said he is humbled and encouraged
to that some UPND founder member who had left the party after the general assembly
have continued to come back to the party.

Mr Hachilema was speaking when he welcomed Mr Sibote Sibote, who has resigned from
the United Liberal Party (ULP) to re-join the UPND. Mr. Sibote was ULP National
chairman for Culture and Arts

He said that UPND stands ready to accommodate everyone to have concerted efforts to
create a better Zambia for all.

Mr Hachilema reiterated his personal hope that UPND will greatly benefit from Mr
Sibeto’s abilities and vast political experienced as founder member of UPND.

Mr Hichilema urged those remaining outside and indeed all other Zambians to take a
deep moment of reflection about the country’s economic malaise that only in unity
can Zambians effectively achieve her social economic goals.

 President Levy Mwanawasa has been bestowed with an honorary doctorate degree in law by the Harding University of the United States of America.

This is in recognition for his outstanding performance as a lawyer over the past years.

The presentation of the doctorate was given to the president at the Benson auditorium of the university.

Dr. Mwanawasa who has been attending the 62nd session of the United Nations in New York, was visibly overjoyed when David Burks, president of the University presented him with the doctorate.

In accepting the award, Dr. Mwanawasa said he will dedicate the degree to Zambian boys and girls still struggling to find their rightful position in society.

Dr. Mwanawasa said as a young boy, he never thought of pursuing law as a career but was inspired by a Mr. Jack Dare a renowned lawyer who had visited his school and gave an inspiring lecture about law.

He said since that lecture, he developed a special interest in law and worked hard to ensure his dreams of becoming a lawyer in life materialised.

He said before he met Mr. Dare, he had thought of becoming a pilot, teacher or even locomotive driver, but all these plans were pushed by the way side later in life.

Dr. Mwanawasa said career success always come with great responsibility not only to one’s family but to society at large and that it was for this reason that he had since his university days , endeavoured to make positive contribution to his country, Zambia.

Dr. Mwanawasa who ran through his early days as a young lawyer said he had for a long time been provoked by situations around him to do something for society as things usually go wrong as people decide not to do anything about them.

“During my years of practice, many of my clients were mostly those fighting for their fundamental human rights, a fact that was very dangerous during this time of Zambia’s history. People were being detained for expressing themselves. And for or not associating with certain individuals, friends and relatives,” Dr. Mwanawasa said.

He said people were detained on flimsy reasons and that he could not withstand the injustice that prevailed then.

He said what was more disturbing was the fact that people who were wrongly detained could not be compensated in any way.

Dr. Mwanawasa told the audience present at the ceremony that liberal politics in Zambia were outlawed and business was closely controlled thereby making both politics and very dangerous grounds to venture into as the country was steadily moving to communism.

He said following the wind of change which swept through the country in 1991, there was a change of Government which ushered in the MMD into power and he served as vice president.

He said as a lawyer, he was not happy that even the leadership of his party was not conforming to the needs of the people as some tenets of corruption started appearing, a thing which did not please him and thereby leading to his consequent resignation as vice president.

Dr. Mwanawasa said he felt challenged when he was elected as republican president in 2001 as he thought he now had an opportunity to tackle certain things he could not do as vice president.

The president said as a result of the fight against corruption, good governance has returned to Zambia but he was quick to say that good governance alone was not enough if it did not help to improve the livelihood of the people.

In this regard, the president said the country has been able to improve the economic growth and that 6.2 percent growth was achieved in the past five years for the first time in Zambia’s history.

Dr. Mwanawasa who paid glowing tribute to the Harding University for the excellent work they are doing at Namianga High School in Southern Province also wished the university success in their quest to establish a university at Namianga.

He said his Government’s aim was to establish Zambia as a centre of excellence in education in the Southern African region.

The President was accompanied by his wife Maureen, Minister of Education, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa, Health Minister Brian Chituwo, Agriculture Minister Ben Kapita and Minister of Justice George Kunda.

Other senior officials at hand to witness the ceremony were Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Tens Kapoma.