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Sinazongwe’s drought no longer disaster

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By Tovin Ngombe:-
Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Laiven Apuleni has said the drought situation in the district was no longer a disaster and an excuse for people to be appealing for relief food.

Apuleni noted that the district has economic potential that people could use to feed themselves.
He said government would not send relief food to feed people that were lazy and able to venture into economic activities.

The DC disclosed that Sinazongwe was amongst the district with the highest number of cattle and goats that people could sale to feed themselves.

Despite the raring of animals, Apuleni said district was near lake Kariba where most people were fish traders adding that he does not see any reason why people should use the high prevalent of drought as a scapegoat to appeal for relief food.

He pointed out that every day trucks from ZAMBEEF were tracking to Kanchindu in Senior Chief Mweemba’s area to buy cattle and people could use the same money to buy food other than hiding in the guise of drought.

Apuleni disclosed that the 150 metric tones that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) was about to send to the district would be given to the orphans vulnerable children, the aged, HIV/AIDS patients, and to child headed households.

He said some people in the district were selling fresh maize on the streets and K200 million has been allocated to buy maize in the district.

“We will only feed the vulnerable people, orphans, the sick, the aged we have a list and we know them not giving food to lazy people,” The DC said.

He urged people to desist from rushing to the press to issue statements on relief food when they could afford to feed themselves.

The DC said certain places in the district that were not near Lake Kariba such as Siampondo and Siameja areas may have problem of food and not near by places such as Kanchindu.

Two weeks ago Senior Chief Mweemba of the Tonga people said the hunger situation in the district would be worse in this month if government fails to send relief food to save his subjects from starvation.
The senior chief who was speaking through his representative Richwell Ntundulu at his palace said the hunger situation in his areas has continued to haunt his people because of the erratic rainfall experienced in the district last year.

Zambia U23-Senegal U23 Preview

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Group B of the Olympic games qualifiers arrives at the half-way point with leaders Zambia Under-23 team hoping to stay ahead of the chasing pack for a third successive match when they host Senegal Under-23 at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

Zambia are on maximum six points from their opening two Group B games and victory today would put Peter Kaumba’s team as the team to beat from Group B.

However Kaumba will be missing two key players on Saturday against winless Senegal who have also yet to score a goal in their Group B games.

Missing are Konkola Blades striker Felix Nsunzu suspended while Given Singuluma of Bay United of South Africa has flight connection problems from his Port Elizabeth base who have scored five and two goals respectively.

Kaumba has disclosed that he has good cover for the missing duo in the trio of Forest Rangers striker Christopher Musonda, Reuben Tembo of Green Buffaloes and Nakambala Leopards attacker Signs Chibambo.

Chibambo proved his worth with a goal last month in the Under-23 teams 2-1 come-from-behind-win over Mali on August 22.

The availability of former Under-20 winger Clifford Mulenga is also a boost to Kaumba’s team who should add an extra dimension to their attack from the left of midfield.

Kaumba will also welcome back midfielder Stophira Nsunzu who missed the opening two Group B games against Ivory Coast and Mali due to Under-20 World Cup duty in Canada last July.

And in the other Group B game taking place this weekend, second placed Ivory Coast on three points host third from bottom Mali in Abidjan.

Ivory Coast will be hoping for another win after collecting their first points in August with that home win over Senegal to help stay in touch with leaders Zambia.

Mugabe’s confrontation with Mwanawasa comes to light

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ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe stormed out of the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit after an explosive clash with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa during a closed session, it has emerged.

Mugabe’s confrontation with Mwanawasa and his subsequent indignant departure from the meeting raised fears that the already divided regional bloc could be further weakened by further infighting and divisions.

The SADC is riddled with geo-political and personal rivalries among leaders which threaten to make it difficult to deal with internal conflicts and rein in rogue states. Mugabe’s fracas with Mwanawasa was reminiscent of his row with former South African president Nelson Mandela during a SADC meeting in Angola in 1997.

Diplomatic sources who attended the summit revealed this week that Mugabe walked out of the meeting after a row with Mwanawasa over Zimbabwe’s political and economic crisis.

The sources said Mugabe went off in a huff after the unprecedented confrontation. Mwanawasa was chairing the meeting, which ended on a sour note.

The wrangle was caused by an attempt by Mwanawasa to table Zimbabwe for discussion, a move which enraged Mugabe.

Mugabe arrived home early looking glum after hurriedly leaving the summit. Upon his return, he said the meeting went well but made it clear his regime would continue with its own programmes, regardless of what the SADC leaders were saying.

The SADC said it was preparing an economic recovery package for Zimbabwe, but Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, said in his anonymous column in the government-controlled daily Herald that Zimbabwe did not need help from the region because “no aid cent will come from SADC countries”, reflecting Mugabe’s attitude after the summit.

This was contrary to President Thabo Mbeki’s claims that there were no divisions over Zimbabwe at the summit and that the SADC was committed to helping Zimbabwe out of its crisis. He had described reports of division as “fictional” and said SADC leaders were not at odds over Zimbabwe.

But information gleaned from senior SADC diplomats indicates there were not just divisions, but a fierce clash between Mugabe and Mwanawasa that left the regional leaders shocked. They say the trouble started after Mbeki del-ivered his report on talks between the Zimbabwean ruling party Zanu (PF) and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mbeki had earlier given the report to Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, the chairman of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security. Mbeki briefed the summit on Zimbabwe in his capacity as an SADC -appointed mediator .

Mbeki said in his briefing there was progress in the talks, although parties needed to intensify negotiations.

“After Mbeki delivered his report to the summit, Mwanawasa, as the chair of the meeting, said there was an urgent need to discuss Zimbabwe because the situation there had become ‘unacceptable’. Kikwete said there was no need to discuss it because talks were in progress and Mbeki concurred,” a senior diplomat said. “Kikwete then suggested Mugabe should be asked what he thought about Mwanawasa’s proposal. When Mugabe was given the platform to speak he launched an angry tirade, attacking Mwanawasa left, right and centre before walking out in protest.”

The diplomat said Mugabe angrily asked: “Who are you, Mwanawasa? Who are you? Who do you think you are?”

“Mugabe also said he was aware of Mwanawasa’s recent meetings with western intelligence agencies on Zimbabwe. He said he would ‘not allow Mwanawasa to sell out Zimbabwe as he has done to Zambia’,” the diplomat said.

“During the process Mwana-wasa was shaken and he kept on saying: ‘Mr President I didn’t mean to say that; you misunderstood me. No, Mr President, that was not my intention’ .”

Sources said Mugabe, after blasting Mwanawasa, walked out and did not return.

Efforts by colleagues — including Kikwete and Mbeki — to persuade him to return to the meeting failed.

BusinessDay 

Zambia Sugar a let down

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zamsugar.jpgMazabuka member of parliament, Garry Nkombo, says the K840 Billion sugarcane investment programme at Zambia Sugar Company plc in Mazabuka, has not benefited local businessmen.

Mr. Nkombo said in Mazabuka during a stakeholders meeting chaired by District Commissioner, Misheck Chiinda, that the company has failed to honour the agreement it made with the local business persons.

He said what is happening now is totally different from what was agreed upon with the company.

Mr. Nkombo said the company assured local contractors and business persons that priority would be given to them before seeking services elswhere.

Mazabuka District Business Association member, George Daka, said his association is disappointed with the company.

Mr. Daka said the association has received a raw deal over the contracts despite assurances from management.

Parliamentary constituency offices vital – Kunda

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Muchinga Member of Parliament in Serenje, George Kunda, has said the Parliamentary Cosntituency offices were important for communication between members of parliament and the electorate.

Speaking after visiting Muchinga cosntituency office at Chibale, Mr. Kunda who, is
also Justice Minister, said he was happy that people were reporting  issues
pertainig to the developent of the constituency to the professional assistant.

He urged the members of the public to cotinue using the office to communciate to him
matters of development so that they were in touch with him as Member of Parliament
for the area.

”This is good because sometimes these people don’t see me and yet they have issues
of development to report.  Even when I am not around they bring reprots to the
professional assistant here. I am happy that this is going on,” he said.

He commended National Assembly for coming up with constituency offices, saying it
was a good initiative, which should be supproted by all.

And professional assistant (PA) Chibuye Chisanga, said many people from nearby
places flocked to the office to report various issues of development to him.

Mr Chisanga said it was just unfortunate that those from far away places in the
cosntituency, failed due to distance.

Meanwhile, Muchinga cosntituency member of parliament, Goerge Kunda has called upon
people in his constituency to ensure that they got involved in monitoring
development projects in the area.

Mr. Kunda said it was sad that when government released funds for development
projects, the communities appeared to have nothing to do with its implementation.

He was speaking after Muchinga cosntituency professional assistant, Chibuye
Chisanga, reproted that constituency development fund (CDF) released between 1988
and 2001 for cosntruction of Kantamba-bridge were not accounted for.

Confusion erupts among Maamba coal mine retrenchees

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By Tovin Ngombe:
Confusion is reigning among the Maamba Coal Mine retrenchees over the one billion Kwacha that government has released to pay them.
Million Mudenda one of the Committee member for the retrenchees in the new executive said two camps have been created out of the 340 members.
He said problem begun when the old executive committee was voted out of office and a new one was ushered in.
Mr. Mudenda said the old committee has rejected to work with the new one and have refused to accept the lawyer representing the new committee Mr. Mwiya Imenda from the Veritas Chambers a law firm for Mr Mundia Sikatana.

He said 80 people have defected from the 340 retrenchees because they would want to have their own lawyer to represent them over the same case that they already won through the Veritas Chambers.

Mudenda said the group that had defected had been allegedly writing disparaging letters to the Veritas Chambers for no apparent reason.

He said the defecting group being represented by Boniface Chola filed in an injunction over the one billion kwacha that government released to pay the retrenchees until their matter was held in court.

Mr. Mudenda said the Lusaka high court throw out their case because it had terrible errors and they were told to seek legal advice.

He said the bickering among the retrenchees have delayed the release of their money.
“ Right now our children are stuck they cannot go to School because our money is held up at the bank because of people’s hidden agendas, we have never had this problems even with other previous committees,” Mudenda said.
Three months ago when government released K800, 000,000 Mr Chola’s group withheld the flash disk containing vital information for the previous payment made to each retrenchees.
The new executive for the retrenches stormed Maamba police to have their matter resolved but they failed until the Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Laiven Apuleni intervened.

Nsofwa put to rest

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Zambia national team striker Chaswe Nsofwa was put to rest today at Old Leopards Hill Cemetery in Lusaka this afternoon.

Nsofwa, 27, was put to rest this afternoon in a mournful and colorful atmosphere at Old Leopards Hill.

The funeral was attended by former president Fredrick Chiluba who was present at the church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross including his wife Regina.

Nsofwa died last Wednesday during a training game with Israel club Hapoel Beersheva whom he joined a month ago.

The striker is survived by a wife and four children.

Nsofwa has played his professional football abroad in Russia, Greece, and Malaysia before moving to Israel in August.

His former local clubs include Zanaco, Green Buffaloes and Lusaka Dynamos.

Warriors stomp on Zanaco and race into the sunset

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On a late Wednesday afternoon that saw ex-player Chaswe Nsofwa’s body arrived back home from Israel, a darker and mournful shadow descended on Sunset stadium as Zanaco went down 3-1 to their Midlands rivals Kabwe Warriors.

Nsofwa’s body arrived one hour fifty minutes late this afternoon at 15:50 and as the cortège rolled down Great East Road from Lusaka International Airport just 300 meters away from Sunset stadium, Zanaco were heading to their fourth home league defeat of the season.

Goals from Musonda Mweuke, Siloni Jere and Vias Mwendalubi made sure of the 3 points to see Warriors move within earshot of second placed Green Buffaloes.

Warriors are on 43 points, one behind Buffaloes with five games left to play.

Zanaco scored their consolation through substitute Ignatius Lwipa who scored his third goal of the season in what is proving to be a forgettable term for him too at Sunset.

And at Queensmead, Roan United edged closer to survival with a 1-0 away win over Lusaka Dynamos whose Africa ambitions suffered a blow thanks to the loss.

Derrick Kabwe headed in the winner in the 84th minute to give Roan the win in this lively game.

Roan are on 29 points and in 10th place and need just seven points in their next three games to stay up.

Dynamos on the other hand stay 4th and have some work cutout for them in their remaining five matches in to help keep their Caf club cup dreams alive

Mukangala health centre in Mwinilunga is run by untrained person

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Mukangala ward councilor in Mwinilunga district has  bemoaned lack of qualified health personnel running Mukangala health centre.

Councillor Francis Kanema complaiend to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS)
in an interview that the clinic in question is being run by unqualified health
staff.

”Mukangala clinic in my ward is being run by unqualified health staff instead of
trained  personnel,” he hinted.

”The clinic needs to be run by well trained health personal because of the large
population that lives in my ward,” he added.

He disclosed that at the moment the clinic is being run by one untraiend health
worker who most of the time is carrying out administrative duties.

Councillor Kanema complaiend that the untrained member of staff  is faced with
numerous challenges.

The councillor appealed to Mwinilunga ditrict health management team to consider
sendig qualified staff to Mukangala health centre.

Mwanawasa says the death of Nsofwa is a great loss to the nation

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President Levy Mwanawasa has described the late Zambia National Soccer team player, Chaswe Nsofwa, who died in Israel last week, as a great loss to the nation.

Nsofwa died on Wednesday last week after he collapsed during a training session of
second division team, Hapoel Beersheva, for which he was playing.

In a message of condolences, signed by his Special Assistance for Press and Public
Relations, President Mwanawasa said Nsofwa was a rising football star, whose future
was bright.

The message of condolences has been sent to Nsofwa’s family and the Football
Association of Zambia (FAZ).

Mr. Mwanawasa said he learnt with deep sense of shock and grief the sudden death of
Nsofwa who died on Wednesday last week.

“On behalf of the government, the people of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, I
convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children and family,” he said.

The President said, despite being a valuable member of the national team, Nsofwa
would be remembered for having been in the Under-20 Zambian side that reached the
semi-finals of the 1999 Africa Youth Cup, the FIFA world Youth cup hosted by
Ghana/Nigeria.

He was also part of the under-20 team that won the 1999 COSAFA Championship in South Africa.

Mr. Mwanawasa said the death of Nsofwa was a great blow, not only to Zambian
football, his family and children, but to the Zambian nation as a whole.

Meanwhile, Nsofwa’s body has arrived in the country for burial. He was in Israel
pursuing his professional carrier in football with the second division side, Hapoel
Beersheva.

FRA purchases over 77 000 bags of maize in Itezhi Tezhi

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The Food  Reserve Agency (FRA) has purchased  over 77,000 bags of maize in Itezhi-tezhi district in Southern Province since the marketing season began.

In an interview with ZANIS in Itezhi-tezhi today, District Commissioner Leonard
Shampile said that since the beginning of the marketing season, the FRA has
purchased 77,000 bags of maize and it has continued buying.

Mr Shampile said FRA was targeting to buy about 90,000 bags of maize from farmers in
the district.

However, the District Commissioner expressed concern over the limited availability
of local transporters who can transport the maize which is lying in various depots
around the district.

The District Commissioner has since appealed to FRA to hasten the transportation of
maize from the satellite depots in a bid to reduce chances of maize getting soaked
by the rains as they approach.

And the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MACO) has advertised for tenders
to transport white maize from the various satellite depots to more secure main
depot.

District Agricultural Coordinator Frank Lubasi issued the advertisement in
Itezhi-tezhi recently.

Mwata Kazembe implores government officers to visit chiefs

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Paramount Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda People of Kawambwa district in Luapula Province has implored government leaders to ensure that they regularly visit traditional leaders in order to acquaint themselves with the many districts the chiefs are encountering.

And Chief Kazembe has asked government to find a way to charge vehicles, especially
trucks from neighbouring countries, which pass through the Zambian Roads carrying
heavy goods.

Chief Kazembe was speaking when Works and Supply Minister, Kapembwa Simbao paid a acourtesy call on him at his palace in Mwansabombwe  today.

Chief Kazembe noted that most traditional leaders are encountering various
difficulties, adding that government is not aware of this because they do not visit
the traditional leaders regularly.

He noted that government officials should take time to visit traditional leaders
when passing through their respective areas.

Chief Kazembe pointed out that most of the Chiefs’ palaces he had visited were in
bad state adding that there is need to rehabilitate them.

He observed that govenment had promised to rehabilitate all palaces in the country
and wondered when the exercise would commence.

And chief Kazembe has asked government to ensure that it rehabilitates the
Mansa-Nchelenge road.

He noted that the road was last worked on about 27 years ago, adding that it was in
a bad state because of the heavy trucks passing through from the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DR) carrying copper.

Chief Kazembe said government should find a way to charge the heavy trucks as they
cause extensive damage to the Zambian roads.

And Chief Kazembe has asked governmet to ensure that it rehabilitates the pedical
road from Mufulira district through the DRC leading to the Chembe bridge in Mansa in
Luapula Province.

He noted that the road was so bad  that it takes four hours to get to Chembe bridge
from Mufuira instead of the required one hour.

Chief Kazembe observed that Chembe Bridge, once complete, would not be of great use
if the pedical road remains in a bad state.

And Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao said government is committed to ensure that  all the roads in the country are in a good state.

Mr. Simbao noted that government was equally concerned with the heavy trucks passing through the Zambian roads were causing damage.

He explaianed that in November this year, a law would be passed which will require
all heavy trucks passing through the country to pay a fee.

Mr. Simbao has since assured the chief that government will ensure that the welfare
of the chiefs is taken care off.

AVAP salutes government for increasing CDF funds

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The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has commended government for increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K60 million to K200 million per constituency.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says the move will enable Members of Parliament
and stakeholders in development to initiate meaningful developmental projects in the
respective constituencies.

Mr Tembo however told ZANIS that the Ministry of Local Government and Housing should
advertise the guidelines for accessing and utilising the funds.

He said this is because many people in the various constituencies have no
information regarding the CDF.

Mr. Tembo proposed the formation of committees to spearhead the utilisation of the
funds.

” However in the spirit of transparency and making sure that the funds are used for
eligible developmental projects, the CDF committees should de-politicised,” said Mr
Tembo

He pointed out that this is because in the past the CDF committees comprised of
party cadres belonging to the Area Member of Parliament.

Mr. Tembo said CDF committees should be balanced with a number of stakeholder
organisations sitting on such committees.

He further called upon the electorate in all the constituencies to monitor the
disbursement of the funds.

Mr Tembo also called on MPs to visit their constituencies to explain the CDF in
terms of accessing, utilising and accountability.

He said MPs should take a lead in ensuring that the electorate identify viable
projects.

State condemns cop for assaulting nurses

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Government has joined scores of people that have condemned the behaviour of a police officer, who assaulted two nurses after his child died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka over the weekend.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti said the behaviour of sub-inspector Peter Mwale was uncalled for even under such circumstances.

Mr. Mwale is alleged to have assaulted two nurses at UTH, whom he accused of
negligence resulting into the death of his child.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said
in a statement to ZANIS today that as an officer charged with a duty to enforce the
law and keep order, Mr. Mwale should have exercised restraint even after losing his
child.

He said government would not condone the behaviour displayed by Mr. Mwale, noting
that nurses were overwhelmed with work hence the seemingly slackening behaviour
towards attending to patients.

“While it is appreciated and understandable that a person who loses a close relation
may lose composure, Government will not allow anyone to take the law into their own
hands or disrupt services at any public institution due to failure to exercise
self-control,” he said.

Mr. Mulongoti said Mr. Mwale should have exercised some level of restraint as a law
enforcement officer and should not have allowed himself to be overtaken by personal
emotions.

The minister said even nurses themselves did not enjoy seeing people dying and
therefore they try their best to preserve lives even when they were working under
very difficult conditions.

He also explained that following a serious brain drain in the health sector in
Zambia, medical personnel were overstretched and stressed as they attended to many
patients.

He added that members of the public should understand the way nurses operate.

“I would also like to appeal to all individuals and organisations that have made
comments on the same, including those aggrieved by the act to exercise forgiveness
so that the healing process can start,” he said.

Mr. Mulongoti explained that government delayed in making its stance on the matter
known for fear of prejudicing investigations that were going on

Tuesday Football Updates

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The body of the late Zambia national team striker Chaswe Nsofwa who died last Wednesday after collapsing during training with his Israel club Maccabi Beersheba arrives in the country tomorrow afternoon.

A family spokesman revealed today that the body will arrive 24 hours ahead of schedule on Wednesday with burial tentatively set for Thursday in Lusaka at Old Leopards Hill Cemetery.

Nsofwa’s Zambia team mates are expected to attend the burial before the squad departs for South Africa on the late evening flight out of Lusaka for Johannesburg.

The team meanwhile gathered for training camp in Lusaka yesterday and the home-based players were by midday Tuesday joined by six foreign-based squad members in camp.

The six in camp include Christopher Katongo of Brondby in Denmark who was the only one of four European-based call-ups to arrive in camp by lunchtime.

The rest are the Angola based trio of Ian Bakala, Dube Phiri and Felix Katongo including Songwe Chalwe and Kennedy Mweene, both based in South Africa.

Zambia takes on South Africa in their final Africa Cup Group 11 qualifying game this Sunday that will be played at Newlands in Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Under-23 team wraps-up its Kitwe training camp on Wednesday before shifting camp to Lusaka ahead of Saturday Olympic qualifier against Senegal under-23 to be played at Nkoloma stadium.

Goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje is the first of three foreign-based players, all South African based, to arrive in camp.

Kakonje meanwhile has just completed a 1-year loan deal from top-flight Golden Arrows to division 1team Nathi Lions.

Others expected are defender Davies Nkausu and Given Singuluma of Pretoria University and Bay United respectively.

The Under-23 will play Nkana in a training game on Wednesday.

Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).

Defenders: Willy Chinyama (ZEsco United), Clive Hchilensa (IFK Mariehamn, Finland), Kennedy Nkethani (Zanaco), Elijah Tana (El Merrikeh, Sudan), Joseph Musonda, Billy Mwanza (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Mark Sinyangwe (Nkana).

Midfielders: Ian Bakala, Felix Katongo (Both Clube Desportive de Augusto, Angola), Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Allen Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Lameck Njovu (Zanaco), Andrew Sinkala (Paderborn, Germany).

Forwards: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark), Collins Mbesuma (Bursaspor, Turkey), Elson Mukandawire (Power Dynamos), Jacob Mulenga (Racing Strasbourg, France), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Dube Phiri (Clube Desportive de Augusto, Angola), Enoch Sakala (Zesco United).

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