The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has welcomed the National Constitution Conference (NCC) Bill which has been tabled before parliament.

And AVAP has commended government for being transparent and inclusive in the
drafting of the NCC Bill which is now before Parliament.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today
that  his organisation is satisfied that the proposed NCC Bill provides for broad
representation of the Zambian people in adopting the new republican constitution.

Mr Tembo further said that the powers and functions of the NCC will help the people
to effectively participate through their representatives in the constitution making
process.

Mr Tembo has however advised government to ensure that it advertises the NCC Bill in
the print media to enable the public people understand what the Bill is purposed to
achieve.

He said Zambians should be given an opportunity to understand the Bill for them to
effectively hold government and members of parliament accountable for their actions
in  the constitution making process.

Mr Tembo said the civil society, NGO’s, church and political parties among others
should also take a leading role in sensitizing people country wide in order for the
people to develop a sense of ownership and responsibility in the constitution making
process.

He added that members of parliament should also play their part by widely consulting
their constituents on the NCC Bill to ensure that people are part and parcel of the
process.

Mr Tembo  said people’s  participation was critical if the country is to realize a
people driven constitution.

He commended the ministry of justice for embracing some critical proposals from the
Constitutional Awareness Network(CNN) which he said added value to the NCC Bill.

Mr Tembo appealed to the government  to continuously  update the nation on the
constitution making process

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting  Services Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Nyirenda says commercial photographers will not be accredited to cover the SADC Heads of State and governments summit in Lusaka next week.

Mr. Nyirenda said at a press briefing today that only photographers taking photos
for news purposes will be accredited to cover the summit.

He said journalists covering the arrival of heads of state and government at the
Lusaka International Airport will be restricted by way of a cordon, adding that
those that wanting to interview foreign leaders will have to make their own
arrangmenents.

Mr. Nyirenda also said entry to the state banquet will be restricted.

He pointed out that journalists that would like want to link to their home countries
via satellite will have to make their own arrangements with the Zambia
Telecommunication company (ZAMTEL).

Mr. Nyirenda announced that journalists covering the summit will use the media
centre at the summit venue.

The Permanent Secretary emphasised the need for journalists to obtain proper
accreditation before the summit day to avoid inconveniences.

Meanwhile, SADC Head of Corporate Communications Unit, Leefa Martin said SADC
Executive Secretary Tomaz Salomao would hold a press brieifng at Mulungushi
International Conference Centre tomorrow.

Ms. Martin said Dr. salomao could not manage to hold a brieifng today because he was
held up in Johannesburg.

The 27th SADC heads of state and government officially at the Mulungushi
International Conference on 15th August.

Drug Enforcement Commissioner (DEC), Ryan Chitoba has been suspended.

Mr. Chitoba is suspended with immediate effect.

This is in order to pave way for the on-going investigations on alleged abuse of office against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganje announced Mr. Chitoba’s suspension in a statement issued to ZNBC news in Lusaka.

Dr. Kanganje said in the meantime Inspector-General of Police Ephraim Mateyo will over-see the operations of the DEC.

The ACC has been investigating Mr. Chitoba for abuse of office.

ACC Director General, Nixon Banda confirmed this last week.

GOVERNMENT says it will hold the Oasis Forum responsible for any lawlessness which may occur during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of State Summit in Lusaka.

The Oasis Forum are planning to hold peaceful demonstrations for five-days during the SADC Summit next week.

The intention is to picket leaders in the region over the perceived disagreement over constitution-making process in Zambia.

But Minister of Justice, George Kunda, said yesterday in Lusaka that it was unfortunate that the Oasis Forum and those bent on derailing the constitutional review process intended to demonstrate against the government during the SADC heads of State summit with a view to compelling Government to follow their constitution review Roadmap.

“Oasis Forum will be held responsible for any damage to property, loss of life or lawlessness which may occur during their planned demonstrations during the Southern Africa Development Community heads of State summit,” he said.

Mr Kunda said demonstrations were not necessary under present circumstances as Government was putting in place a broadly representative body, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC), to adopt the constitution or any part of the constitution as recommended by the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

“As Zambians, we are law-abiding and peaceful and should not ferment chaos or lawlessness, especially when we receive distinguished leaders from the SADC region,” he said.

Mr Kunda said in drafting the NCC Bill, Government had consulted stakeholders and accommodated divergent views.

And Minister of Home Affairs, Ronnie Shikapwasha, said the Oasis Forum and the Consultative Group on the Constitution could not guarantee that their planned demonstrations would be peaceful because they were unable to detect elements that may try to disturb the peace.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview yesterday in Lusaka that any planned demonstrations during the summit could not be allowed to proceed because they were a major security risk.

He said the arguments put forward by the two groups that it was their democratic right to hold peaceful demonstrations “did not hold water”, as it was also the democratic right of Government to maintain law and order, especially during a gathering such as the SADC summit.

“There is really no need for anyone to demonstrate.

We are in control of the security situation in the country and we do not want to see a situation where our visitors will think that we are not, after all, a peaceful country,” he said.

Lt-Gen. Shikapwasha said the Zambia Police Service was capable of dealing with all the security issues of the country and that Government would support them.

Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, said he had not seen the notice given by the two groups on their planned demonstrations.

He said, however, that the Lusaka Police Division may have received the notice and that the department would make a decision in the best interest of the nation.

Chilanga Constituency Member of Parliament,  Ngandu Mangande has called on the opposistion to work together with government to foster development in the country.

Mr. Magande says the opposition and ruling party, should bury their political differences to accelearte development.

Mr. Magande said this in Lusaka today when he handed over three sewing machines and K200,000 cash to the May Flower Women’s Club in Chilanga.

He further challenged Councilors in his constituency to be pro active and explain
government programes to people in rural areas.

Mr. Magande who is also Finance and National Planning Minister restated governments
committed to empowering women with income generating ventures so that they could
sustain themselves.

The donation was necessitated by Ms. Joyce Muwo, a renowned Lusaka business woman.

Last year, Mr. Magande donated seed to the May Flower Womens Club which they planted during the last farming season.

And receiving the donation, May Flower Womenæs Club Chairperson Nora Banda commended both Mr. Magande and Ms. Muwo for the gesture.

Ms. Banda disclosed that her organisation is expected to harvest 40 x 50 kilogram
bags of maize.

Leaders attending the 2007 Langkawi International Dialogue, LID2007, have been urged to become more practical in implementing policies to facilitate infrastructure development as an effective mechanism for poverty reduction.

About 16 African and Asian leaders, attending the Eighth Dialogue, have been urged to become more innovative in devising new sources of value required for the creation of wealth.

Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said leaders in developing countries should shift from concentrating on economic rhetoric to becoming innovative by putting in force policies that would create a strong foundation for infrastructure development as a prerequisite for economic growth and poverty reduction.

Mr. Badawi was speaking during a State Dinner hosted in honour of the Heads of State and Government attending the LID 2007 taking place at Berjaya Beach and Spa Resort on the Island city of Langkawi in Malaysia.

The Malaysian leader pointed out that human resource was another significant element in the development process and implored governments and the private sector in developing countries to place priority to the development of skilled human capital.

“Given the central role of people in the development process, it is crucial for developing countries to give priority to the development of skilled human capital,” Mr. Badawi said.

President Mwanawasa is among the 16 African and Asian leaders attending the LID 2007 which is being held in the resort town of Langkawi, Malaysia.

This year’s Dialogue is being held under the theme ‘Poverty eradication through human capital development and capacity building’.

“But for those of us who are decision-makers and public servants, we have a specific role to play; we must create the necessary infrastructure and a police environment which is necessary not only for social and economic development but also conducive for achieving the ultimate objective, that is the eradication of poverty in our community,” He added.

The Malaysian Prime minister was of the view that the development of the small and medium scale industries could effectively generate economic activity and help reduce unemployment levels
among the people.

He challenged participating leaders at LID2007 to put in place deliberate policy measures that would facilitate the channeling of Foreign Direct Investment towards activities that focus on poverty reduction in the respective nations.

LID 2007 is focusing on identifying practical measures that could help reduce the devastating impact of poverty among the people in African and Asian countries.

The Dialogue initiated in 1995, creates a platform for governments, private business sector and civil society to discuss and find solutions to issues affecting the economic developments of the people.

Mr. Badawi said Malaysia has significantly reduced poverty levels through a programme that brought on board the business sector in the provision of healthcare, education, housing and skills training for the people.

Earlier, Lesotho President, Pakalitha Mosisili,said the Smart Partnership principles that promote south-to-south cooperation should be promoted to address the problem of poverty and disease in African countries.

Professor Mosisili was confident that wealth creation should be encouraged as a sustainable measure of supporting efforts of combating the HIV/ AIDS pandemic and poverty that have ravaged people in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries of the world.

He acknowledged the enhanced networking among countries towards the goal of promoting investment for economic growth and improving the living standards for the people.

About 500 delegates are attending the Three-day Dialogue that officially opened today.

President Mwanawasa, as an active member of the network involving governments, would on Tuesday August 7, be convener of a session under the theme ‘capacity building for poverty eradication.’

LID creates a forum for government and the private business sector to exchange views, experiences and lessons on issues affecting economic and social development of African countries.

The Dialogue which was initiated in 1995, has been an effective avenue for the promotion of foreign direct investment in developing countries.