Government has unreservedly apologised to the Heads of  State and Government and delegates attending  the 27th SADC summit at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, MICC for the power failure that occurred during the official opening of the summit.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti says Government,Management of MICC and Zambia Electricity Supply, ZESCO regrets the unexpected power disruption which occured in the morning when a Zimbabwean student was reading her essay.

“The unexpected power disruption which occurred at about 11.20 hrs this morning and
lasts several minutes when a Zimbabwean student was reading her essay is deeply
regretted by government, the management of MICC and ZESCO,” he said.

This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka this evening.

Mr. Mulongoti who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said government
has since asked ZESCO to explain why the two independent sources of supply did not
respond immediately.

Mr Mulongoti  wondered why the standby generators took longer, which under
normal circumstances should have taken over within seconds.

Mr. Mulongoti has however said MICC management and ZESCO has taken all the
necessary measures to ensure that there was no occurrence of power disruptions.

He said ZESCO has provided two independent sources of power in additional to a
diesel standby generator to provide power in the event of failure of the two sources.

He added that ZESCO personnel have been deployed at the conference centre to ensure
that there is quick restoration of supply in the event of power failure.

Power failure this morning partially disrupted the official opening of the 27th SADC
Heads of States and government summit.

Power went off when this years SADC regional secondary school winner Diana
Kawendu , a pupil from Zimbabwe was reading her extracts from the essay.

Deliberations however continued after four minutes when power was restored to the
venture.

And ZESCO has attributed the power failure to a lizard which crept in the Great East
Road Substation on the Great East road.

 ZANIS

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has underscored the need for member countries to carefully strategize at national level in order to make the regional integration agenda a reality.

Outgoing Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairperson Professor
Pakalitha Mosisili stated that deepening of regional integration can only be
realised if adequate and cost effective infrastructure is in place.

He said the region, in line with the theme of this summit ‘scaling up the
implementation of regional infrastructure development’ has realised the need for
strengthening capacities to develop infrastructure at national and regional levels.

Prof Mosisili, who is Lesotho Prime Minister said when he officially opened the 27th
Heads of State and Government summit in Lusaka today that there is need to adopt
radical measures to finance the infrastructure gap in the region.

NEPAD has already made provisions for financing projects that include one in
transport, three communications, six energy projects which are being packaged in to
bankable projects.

” We are grateful for the $8.2 million allocated to NEPAD for infrastructure
projects by our cooperating partners , we urge the G8 countries among others to
honour their pledges that amount to several billions of dollars.

And Prof. Mosisili says the challenges of overlapping membership and configurations
within the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union
would continue to haunt the region as uncertainty continues to obscure the
collective destiny.

He stressed the overlapping memberships will pose a big challenge to the region in
the near future as it moves towards deeper integration within SADC.

He however urged member countries to speedily address key obligations at the
national level to ensure that the Free Trade Area is realised by 2008 , a custom
union in 2010 and the common market in 2015.

Meanwhile Prof. Mosilili has urged the region to seek to achieve overarching
adjective of poverty reduction through deepening integration, global competitiveness
and export led growth.

He said it imperative that the region collectively fight for a SADC wide enabling
investment climate , complementary and supportive investment and industrial policies
as well as a fair multilateral trade regime.

Prof. Mosilili observed the current one is characterised by skewed market access ,
double standard on subsidies and other non reciprocal trade measures.

He said the region has to promote and increase trade among its members by focussing
more that ever on market integration and all efforts that add value to regional
integration.

Prof. Mosilili added it is important that the region reviews the energy cris as
energy falls will derail programmes and slow down the economic growth.

He said SADC needs to adopt clear strategy to address the matter with as an integral
part of the regional integration framework.

” Beyond energy, we must commit to goods moving between and within our countries
easily and without ant barriers by opening up all transportation corridors,’ he
added .

He said special attention should be paid to the effective operationalisation of
corridors whose impact on landlocked countries such as Lesotho has a telling effect
on the landing costs of both imports and exports.

He said the Almaty declaration which seeks to unlock routes to sea for land locked
countries should remain one of the guiding principles.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has underscored the need for member countries to carefully strategize at national level in order to make the regional integration agenda a reality.

Outgoing Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairperson Professor Pakalitha Mosisili stated that deepening of regional integration can only be realised if adequate and cost effective infrastructure is in place.

He said the region, in line with the theme of this summit ‘scaling up the
implementation of regional infrastructure development’ has realised the need for
strengthening capacities to develop infrastructure at national and regional levels.

Prof Mosisili, who is Lesotho Prime Minister said when he officially opened the 27th
Heads of State and Government summit in Lusaka today that there is need to adopt
radical measures to finance the infrastructure gap in the region.

NEPAD has already made provisions for financing projects that include one in
transport, three communications, six energy projects which are being packaged in to
bankable projects.

” We are grateful for the $8.2 million allocated to NEPAD for infrastructure
projects by our cooperating partners , we urge the G8 countries among others to
honour their pledges that amount to several billions of dollars.

And Prof. Mosisili says the challenges of overlapping membership and configurations
within the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations with the European Union
would continue to haunt the region as uncertainty continues to obscure the
collective destiny.

He stressed the overlapping memberships will pose a big challenge to the region in
the near future as it moves towards deeper integration within SADC.

He however urged member countries to speedily address key obligations at the
national level to ensure that the Free Trade Area is realised by 2008 , a custom
union in 2010 and the common market in 2015.

Meanwhile Prof. Mosilili has urged the region to seek to achieve overarching
adjective of poverty reduction through deepening integration, global competitiveness
and export led growth.

He said it imperative that the region collectively fight for a SADC wide enabling
investment climate , complementary and supportive investment and industrial policies
as well as a fair multilateral trade regime.

Prof. Mosilili observed the current one is characterised by skewed market access ,
double standard on subsidies and other non reciprocal trade measures.

He said the region has to promote and increase trade among its members by focussing
more that ever on market integration and all efforts that add value to regional
integration.

Prof. Mosilili added it is important that the region reviews the energy cris as
energy falls will derail programmes and slow down the economic growth.

He said SADC needs to adopt clear strategy to address the matter with as an integral
part of the regional integration framework.

” Beyond energy, we must commit to goods moving between and within our countries
easily and without ant barriers by opening up all transportation corridors,’ he
added .

He said special attention should be paid to the effective operationalisation of
corridors whose impact on landlocked countries such as Lesotho has a telling effect
on the landing costs of both imports and exports.

He said the Almaty declaration which seeks to unlock routes to sea for land locked
countries should remain one of the guiding principles.

Zambians are now becoming well traveled and if you ever went to a faraway place like Hong Kong for example, chances are you will bump into a Zambian if you looked hard enough.

I did not want to be one of the less traveled Zambians and decided to travel to Bangkok with an acquaintance of mine – Big Jo. We were first to spend some days in Johannesburg at a place called Hilbrow. My well traveled friend Big Jo, told me they had cheap accommodation and would be the best place to stay, you see we had limited funds. Big Jo’s neighbor’s cousin was doing some business in Bangkok and we were going to help him sell some of the “stuff” in Johannesburg and Zambia. I knew northwestern province like the back of my hand and I was going to make millions of kwacha selling the “stuff” there. Well that’s what Big Jo said. I did ask him what we would be selling and he said clothes, sofas, spare parts etc.

I later got to learn that Big Jo had conveniently left out some vital information about Hilbrow, like it was a dangerous place to be! But how was an innocent boy from Kasempa supposed to know such details.

So we traveled in a dirty “luxury coach from Lusaka to Johannesburg. When we arrived I had never seen such a big bus station in my life! It was called Park station. I thought when become rich I’ll build one like this in Solwezi.We then took a mini bus to Hilbrow. As we drove another mini bus driver waved a gun at us. It was then my legs began shaking. Despite that, we arrived safely in Hilbrow, but just in time to hear more gun shots.
“Big Jo lets go back,” I cried. He, like all the other people around was calm. I was later to learn this was a way of life here. We had barely disembarked from the bus when a group of men approached us.
“Butuka!” Big Jo shouted. But before my wobbly legs could move, all my possessions were taken from me. I shook like a leaf, at least I was unharmed I thought. A few moments later Big Jo resurfaced. My passport, the driver’s license I had bought in Lusaka and all my money were stolen. At least Big Jo had kept the air ticket to Bangkok.

We were about to go to the police station when a Zimbabwean man approached us.
“I saw what happened,” he said “but if you go to the police they will think you are an illegal immigrant.”
Big Jo suggested we try the Zambian embassy. He said they would take care of me. As for him he had to proceed to Bangkok .The next day Big Jo left me at the Zambian embassy. I walked in and was looked at suspiciously by the beautiful lady at reception. I explained what happened and she said I needed a police report to verify what I was saying. I told her I had no transport money, no passport and no clothes. If they could just organize a passport and drivers license for me I could join Big Jo in Bangkok. She laughed at me so hard you would have thought she was watching one of the late “maximo’s” comedies. At this point I had had enough. I broke down in my mother tongue. This attracted two gentlemen from the next office. The lady told them I wanted a passport and drivers license from them. They too laughed at me. This again attracted an elderly gentleman, whom I’ll never forget. At least he showed more compassion for me.
To cut a long story short I never made it to Bangkok. I am back in Kasempa.I don’t have a passport. I tried to buy a drivers license from Mr. Mwape but I’m told things are now computerized so its difficult. As old as I am, I have to take a driving test. I’m told I have to reverse through drums on a hill!

So, I never want to travel outside Zambia again. I do not know what the function of a Zambian embassy is, if you can’t even obtain necessary documents from them when you are abroad. As for Big Jo I never heard from him. Never trust someone with the name Big Jo I guess!

Government says bilateral ties between nations should help transform the livelihoods of people economically.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Kabinga Pande says the south-to south cooperation between Zambia and India has greatly benefited the people in the two countries especially in education and technology.

Mr. Pande notes that that Zambia and India enjoy cordial relations because of the
good policies by government.

Mr. Pande  hailed the Indian government for the continued support in areas of
education as well as in technology, agriculture, manufacturing.

The Minister was speaking in Lusaka tonight when he officiated at the commemoration
of India’s 60th Independence Anniversary held at the High Commissioners’ residence.

He pointed out that Zambia continues to learn from that country in ensuring that
bilateral ties are cemented and strengthened.

And Indian High Commissioner to Zambia Rivar Wallang said investment and bilateral
trade between Zambia and India has remarkably increased.

Commissioner Wallang also disclosed that India will continue offering scholarships
to Zambians to study in that country. 

He reiterated his government’s commitment to helping Zambia in various fields by
capacitating more Zambians in different skills.

On Zambia’s hosting of the 27th SADC Heads of State Summit, Commissioner Wallang
commended the government saying Zambia is improving economically and has made
positive strides in breaking the cycle of poverty and under-development.

President Levy Mwanawasa today paid courtesy calls on five of the heads of state and government that are in the country for the 27th Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, which kicks off in Lusaka tomorrow.

President Mwanawasa first paid a courtesy call on Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, who is the current Chairman of SADC, at his Pamodzi Hotel’s presidential suite.

President Mwanawasa will takeover the chairmanship of the regional body from
professor Mosisili during the Heads of State and Government to be held at Mulungushi
International Conference Centre.

After the closed door meeting, the two leaders shared light moments, with President
Mwanawasa saying he visited Professor Mosisili at the Hotel to feel whether the
former was ready to handover the chairmanship of SADC to him.

Professor Mosisili laughed and said, “I assured him that his shoulders were broad
enough to carry the responsibility”.

President Mwanawasa later moved to pay a courtesy call on his Tanzanian counterpart,
Jakaya Kikwete, with whom he shared light moments too before going into closed door
meeting at the same Pamodzi Hotel.

He later went Intercontinental Hotel to meet Presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana,
Bingu Wa Mtarika of Malawi and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

Other heads of state that had already arrived by press time were Armando Guebuza of
Mozambique, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, King Mswati III of Swaziland and
Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia.

Those that were being expected by press time were Angola’s Eduardo Dos Santos,
Madagascar’s Mark Ravalomanana, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Joseph Kabila and
Mauritius’ Sir Anerood Jugnauth.  

Yesterday, President Mwanawasa said in his address to the nation that SADC member
states should step up their collective effort if the region was to achieve
sustainable economic development.

He said the summit was important to the SADC region and Zambia, noting that, “All
our neighbours will be looking up to us for leadership over the 12 months as we face
the daunting development challenges that lie ahead”.

Tomorrow’s SADC heads of State and Government summit is the first one Zambia is
hosting since April 1, 1980, when the Southern African Development Co-ordinating
Conference (SADCC) was born in Lusaka.