EVELYN Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce (EHC) in Lusaka has been shut following the extended class boycott and worsening student unrest that undermined law and order at the campus.

The closure is indefinite but students sitting for final examinations will be allowed to return to campus on December 2, 2007.

Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Peter Daka, announced the closure of the institution at a press briefing at his office in Lusaka yesterday.

The minister was acting on resolution of the EHC board of directors, who resolved to shut the college at an emergency meeting on Monday evening.

“From 6th November 2007, there have been some disturbances at Evelyn Hone College where students have boycotted classes because of problems with water reticulation,” Mr Daka said.

He said the ministry had instituted measures to restore water supply and to solve the problems of sanitation in hostels.

“Despite these measures, students have continued to boycott classes and to behave in a manner threatening the college and its surroundings.

In view of this situation, I have decided to close the college with immediate effect,” Mr Daka said.

Mr Daka said the decision to close the institution was arrived at after efforts to reason with students failed.

He said Government could not entertain the student’s unruly behaviour because it had an obligation to protect life and property and to maintain law and order.

He said apart from safeguarding life and property, the closure of the college would also facilitate the rehabilitation of hostels, improvement of water supply and sanitation.

And Mr Daka said management at the college should have dealt with the water problem as an urgent matter.

He said the water problem should not have gone as far as it did because this was an indication that “someone was not doing their job properly.”

“Management was supposed to have handled the grievances of the students before the situation got out of hand.

When you ask people to work, they fail to do so.

This issue should not have gone this far,” he said.

On the students’ demands to have EHC director of academic affairs, Ellan Kamfwa removed, Mr Daka said it was not possible to fire a person based on hearsay, without any investigations and without giving him an opportunity to exculpate himself.

A Zambia Daily Mail team that rushed to the college around 06:00 hours yesterday found students packing their belongings in readiness for evacuation.

Management hired buses to ferry students to provincial centres.

Heavy traffic formed outside the college as some parents and students drove in and out to collect students’ belongings.

College principal, Sam Kangwa, said management had arranged for transport for all students from outside Lusaka to take them to provincial centres through out the country.

Most of the students did not have time to pack as they were awoken in the early hours of the morning by armed police who ordered them to pack and wait for buses at a central place.

Outgoing students union president president, Kelezo Lushako, said no one was hurt when police hounded them out of their rooms but that most of them were terrified by the heavily armed police.

He said students cooperated with police who also maintained their calm.

On Monday, the students held Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training permanent secretary, Dr Buleti Nsemukila, hostage for one hour and Mr Kangwa for seven hours.

Meanwhile, Mr Daka has been directed to issue a statement in Parliament to explain the developments at EHC.

This came to light when a point of order was raised by Lusaka Central member of Parliament, Guy Scott (PF) who wanted to know whether Government was in order to ignore, three months ago, a Lusaka City Council’s report which described the water and sanitation situation at the college as a disaster.

Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa ruled that the minister gives a statement.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has blamed Evelyn Hone College authorities for failing to resolve sanitation problems at the institution which has lead to its closure.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says the closure of the college will result in
academic time loss and impact negatively on the school calender.

Mr. Kakoma said the closure of the college has a negative bearing not only on the
students who are in their final year but also incoming students who will have to
wait longer because of the closure.

Mr Kakoma said this in a statement made available to the Zambia News and Information
Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.

He said college authorities are to blame for failing to sort out the water and
sanitation problem at the institution adding that the K150, 000 needed to sort out
the problem was too little and could have easily been raised.

He further said the ministry of Science and Technology, through the inspectorate
department should have moved in to sort out the water problem before the situation
worsened.

Mr Kakoma has however appealed to students in various learning institutions to
desist from damaging property each when they are aggrieved adding that disturbing
innocent motorists and residents in surrounding areas was an act of
irresponsibility.

He further urged the college management to be proactive and resolve the water and
sanitation problem at the institution so that students do not lose out on the
academic calendar.

Government yesterday closed the Evelyn Hone College indefinitely after a week long
of protests against poor water reticulation and sanitation at the institution.

GOVERNMENT has asked former president, Fredrick Chiluba, to exercise maximum restraint when commenting on issues such as the MMD’s loss in the Nchanga parliamentary by-election.

Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, who is also MMD chairman for elections, said yesterday that Dr Chiluba should speak sparingly because the people of Nchanga were reacting to some of the bad policies the former head of state left.

“Dr Chiluba was head of the MMD.

He should therefore speak sparingly. Some of the policies that are still being followed were left by him.

The people of Nchanga are reacting to old issues like the effects of the sale of mines under Dr Chiluba,” he said.

Mr Mulongoti, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Dr Chiluba should realise that he was among the people who were appearing in court for allegedly being involved in theft of public funds.

The minister challenged the former president to ask himself why he was appearing in court before he comments on anything.

“We would like to accord him respect as former president.

But if he wants to celebrate over our loss, he is declaring war on us and adding salt to a wound,” Mr Mulongoti said.

He said the reactions of the people of Nchanga were not new because they were based on old issues, which included the sale of mines under Dr Chiluba’s reign.

Mr Mulongoti said the MMD would continue to examine what could have led to its loss in the parliamentary by-election.

And MMD national chairman, Michael Mabenga, said in an interview from Mongu yesterday that it was unfortunate that Dr Chiluba had turned against the ruling party that he helped found and was now celebrating its electoral loss.

“It is very unfortunate that the former president should now turn against the party he helped to form and cheer at its loss in the Nchanga parliamentary by-election.

It is very unfortunate,” Mr Mabenga said.

Mr Mabenga said the ruling party had always been promoting democracy and would ensure that it established the truth about the alleged malpractices during the Nchanga by-election.

He said the party leadership was waiting for a detailed report from the team that spearheaded the campaigns on alleged vote-buying during the
by-election.

Last Sunday, Dr Chiluba held a press briefing at Lusaka International Airport shortly before leaving for South Africa for routine medical review.

The former president congratulated the MMD for being good losers in the Nchanga by-election.

He also congratulated the Patriotic Front for retaining the parliamentary seat that fell vacant after the opposition party’s member of Parliament, Charles Chimumbwa, resigned to join the MMD.

Dr Chiluba said the MMD should learn a lesson from their loss in Nchanga so that they could do better in future elections.

He said the beauty of democracy was that no one could force the people to support a particular candidate or political party.

Daily-Mail

Two Lusaka Faith-Based organisations have condemned the practice of wichcraft and delivery of threatening letters to people and institutions in the country using the tortoise.

The organisations have also asked Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo to
device a mechanism that would ensure that culprits are severely dealt with.

The Christian Faith Mission Centre (CFMC) says the church is concerned about the
reported cases of satanism and wichcraft as well as the delivering of threatening
letters to some businessmen and some institutions by tortoise on the Copperbelt.

(CFMC) Pastor-In-Charge Pastor Peter Chanda says the practising of witchcraft and
sending tortoise to deliver threatening letters is an indication that the work of
the devil in the country is at its highest level.

Pastor Chanda called on the christian community to be strong and prayerful in an
effort to curtail such vices.

Pastor Chanda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the people practising
wichcraft should stop issuing threatening letters in the best interest of the
nation as such actions are frustrating christianity in the country.

The Clergy said there was need for the Zambian people to uphold the declaration of
Zambia as a christian nation and stop issuing threatening letters to people who have
defaulted in payments.

Pastor Chanda warned that those using satanism and wichcraft will be sent to hell
for their actions.

The CFMC Pastor -In-Charge further appealed to the Inspector General of Police
Ephraim Mateyo to ensure that he devices a mechanism that will ensure that the
culprits are severely punished.

Pastor Chanda said the Inspector General of Police should come up with extra
remedial measures that will assist in punishing pepertrators to deter others from
such vices.

He has since appealed to the public to desist from practising satanism and other
vices saying this would affect the christinian faith in the country.

And the Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) has advised the Zambia citizenry not
to practise satanism and wichcraft.

ICOZ Chairperson Reverend David Masupa says although the Zambian Law does not
recognise wichcraft, people should not take advantage of the Law by practising
wichcraft and satanism.

Reverend David Masupa told ZANIS in a seperate interview that it is an abomination
to be using tortoise when sending threatening messages to the people as this is
against Biblical principles.

Rev. Masupa said his organisation is concerned about the continued reports of
tortoise and pigeons being used to deliver letters to businessmen and institution on
the Copperbelt.

He said his organisation condemns the practice in strongest terms as it is not
Biblical and Christian.

Rev. Masupa said when Zambia is a Christian nation and about 80 percent of its
people are christians, there is need to promote christian values and principles
which can help in strengthening the christian community in the country.

The two Lusaka based clergys’ sentiments comes in the wake of a number of reported
cases of tortoise and doves being used to deliver letters of threats to businessmen
and institutions in the country for defaulting payments and other cases.

Yesterday, a tortoise delivered a letter to a Kitwe Magistrate, Phabious Numbwa with
a message demanding the release of the two prisoners whom he allegedly jailed and
currently serving jail terms at Kamfinsa prisons.

This was after another tortoise delivered a threatening letter to a Ndola
businessman. Similar bizarre events have also occurred in Kitwe and Luanshya with
local businessmen being targeted.

Two members of parliament in Mufulira have raised concern at the continued reports of harassment of miners at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) Mufulira Division by mine security.

Kantanshi member of parliament Yamfwa Mukanga and his Kankoyo counterpart for
Kantanshi Percy Chanda told ZANIS in separate interviews today that they are
saddened at reports of mine employees being clobbered by the security personnel at
the mine.

The two lawmakers have since advised Mopani security to desist taking the law in
their own hands but should instead hand over any suspects to state police for
further investigations.

Last week, police officers from Mufulira Central police station picked up and
briefly detained two Mopani security officers for assaulting their fellow employees.

But when reached for a comment, the named security men dismissed as baseless the
accusations of assault levelled against them.

Government says there is need for the National Council for Construction (NCC) and other key players in the construction industry to establish the root cause of shoddiness in road works, particularly by some local contractors.

Works and Supply Minister Kapembwa Simbao says the cause for the shoddy works should
be established in order to come up with appropriate remedial measures.

Mr. Simbao was speaking at the National Road Fund Agency conference held in Lusaka
today.

Mr Simbao said government is concerned at increasing cases of shoddy roads works
because a lot of money is expended on such undertakings.

“I would like to request the construction industry to re-look at its performance
because some road works leave much to be desired,” said Mr Simbao.

He said Government created the National Council for Construction-NCC to specifically
deal with capacity issues in the construction industry.

Mr Simbao urged NCC to help Government in addressing problems in the construction
sector so as to correct the situation.

He said Government wants to see a situation where the available meagre resources are
put to good use and result in quality works.

Mr. Simbao pointed out that road and other infrastructure is key to economic
activities and subsequently in efforts aimed at reducing poverty.

He said roads were the engine for national development and that they open up
landlocked countries to national and international trade.

Mr Simbao also said that roads improve accessibility and mobility, especially in the
rural areas.

Mr Simbao ,however, was glad to note that the road sector had gone back to its
original vision of dissemination of details of the annual work plan for road
projects and road transport services in Zambia.

He told the participants that information dissemination was very important to the
government and for stakeholders to know and be able to provide valuable input into
the planning process.

He pointed out that information dissemination also promotes transparency and
accountability.

Mr Simbao further said that there is need for the Road Sector to prioritize projects
so that Government can channel funds to projects that are of economic importance to
the country.

He noted that Government’s policy was to get value for the money from all road
projects implemented.

And National Road Fund Agency Board Chairperson Julu Simuule said the objective of
the seminar was to disseminate the proposed 2008 Annual Work Plan for phase two of
the Road Sector Investment Programme whose main objective is to obtain stakeholder
input.

Government in 2002 restructured the road sector through Acts of Parliament that
ushered in three Road Sector Agencies to instil transparency, checks and balances
and accountability in the management of the road sector

The Zambian government has temporarily withdrawn the passport of opposition leader Michael Sata, an arch critic of Lusaka’s key ally Beijing who has been lobbying against the Chinese economic presence in Africa, a minister said Saturday.Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwashya told reporters that Sata’s passport had been withdrawn with immediate effect to allow a probe.

“We asked him to temporarily surrender his passport because it was issued without following procedures,” Shikapwashya said.

He said the opposition leader, a vocal government critic, had been interrogated and cautioned by police over the matter and could be arrested if sufficient evidence was gathered against him.

Two weeks ago, Sata lost his passport while in London en route to the United States but quickly returned to Zambia and got a new passport without following the procedures, the minister said.

Shikapwashya said Sata failed to provide necessary documents to prove his claim that he lost his passport and needed a replacement.

The controversial opposition leader has been making international trips to campaign against China’s growing influence in Africa and is accused of receiving money from Taiwan for his mission.

Sata had threatened to expel Chinese traders from Zambia if elected president in last year’s elections.

Bilateral trade between Zambia and China, the third-largest foreign investor in the country, grew by 11.8 percent last year to 316 million dollars, according to the Zambia-China Business Forum.

There are some 180 Chinese firms doing business in the southern African nation.