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

The MMD in Eastern Province has with immediat effect lifted the suspension of Chipata Mayor-elect, Sinoya Mwale and his deputy, Wilson Tembo.

Regional Party Executive Committee (PEC) chairperson Lameck Mangani, said the party resolved to lift the suspension of the two, following their being apologetic to the
remarks made against the party and its leadership.

During deliberations of the meeting held in Chipata yesterday, Mr. Mangani said the
situation had improved after a Tobacco company which is owed money by the two civic
leaders, assured that they had shown commitment to settle the debt.

He said after the election of the mayor and his deputy, there was some reaction from
members of the general public who felt that something was not being done well by the
party.

Mr. Mangani said the party’s involvement into the two civic leaders’ debt with
Alliance One, the tobacco company, was merely to serve itself from embarrassment and
not forcing them to pay back as indicated in some sections.

” As PEC chairperson, I confirmed with the company that the issue of debt was being
serviced by the two people and that they had shown commitment, ” he said, adding
that, what the MMD wanted was harmony between the two civic leaders and the company.

And Chipata Mayor-elect, Sinoya Mwale, said he had apologized to whoever was
affected by his remarks and urged fellow councillors to work in harmony to deliver
to the public, adding that, the party should remain united and work as one family.

His deputy, Wilson Tembo, said he would not repeat what he did, adding that, a text
message he set to the Provincial chairperson was not intentional but was done out of
pressure.

When welcoming them back, Mr. Mangani said the MMD was a family and it was not
expected that everything could be going on smoothly every time.

” The two are founder members of the party and we have discussed that we should
bury the differences and move forward,” he said.

He also warned party members to pay homage to the party, adding that, the utterances
made by the Mayor and his deputy were too harsh to go un noticed.

Mr. Mwale, who is Kapata ward councilor in Chipata Central constituency and Mr,
Tembo, councilor for Chipangali ward in Chipangali constituency, were suspended for
six months from the party with effect from September 23 this year and told not to
hold any party functions.
 

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has called on government to come-up with measures that would help build consensus and dialogue in  adopting the new constitution.

FODEP President, Stanley M’hango says his organisation believes that consensus
building through dialogue is critical for the nation to arrive at a new constitution that will answer the aspirations of the Zambian people.

Mr M’hango says government should expeditiously make practical steps towards
building a broad consensus on the critical issues raised by stakeholders so that the
National Constitution Conference (NCC) can deliver a constitution that will stand
the test of time and meet the expectations of the Zambian people.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS  in Lusaka today.

Mr M’hango said his organisation has been following with keen interest the recent
developments on the constitution making process regarding the NCC.

He said  with the recent developments on the NCC, FODEP has decided to engage other
stakeholders through constructive dialogue either within or outside the NCC in order
to enhance the coming-up of the constitution that will be widely accepted and owned
by all citizens.

President Levy Mwanawasa has told potential investors to ignore false negative stories they hear about Africa and Zambia in particular but instead visit the country to see  for themselves the immerse investment opportunities which they can exploit.

Addressing businessmen and women who are members of the initiative for global
development here, Dr. Mwanawasa said stories about insecurity, poor governance and
high incidences of killer diseases such as Malaria, were being spread.

The President said with 40 per cent of water in Southern Africa sitting in Zambia,
agrand opportunity was open for serious investment in hydroelectric generation as
well as bio fuels.

Dr. Mwanawasa, who reiterated that his New Deal Administration had achieved a lot in
the past five (05) years of running government, said the anchor for the increase in
economic growth was mining, which accounted for 4 billion US dollars investment
since the privatisation of the industry a few years ago.

He also said government was prudent in the use of tax payers’ money and, above all,
it had a lot of respect for private property.

The President assured the potential investors that Zambia was the safest and most
rewarding investment destinations as it boasted of being peaceful, non-violent,
tolerant and democractic in conducting its affairs.

In terms of Agriculture, the President said some 56 (fifty six) per cent of the
total landmass of arable land was still available for agricultural production.

He said the abundant available land was complimented with good climate and plenty
water resources thereby creating a huge irrigation potential.

The President was accompanied at this meeting by First Lady Maureen, Commerce and
Trade Minister, Felix Mutati, Health Minister Brian Chituwo and Education Minister,
professor Geofrey Lungwangwa.

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.