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Zambezi Saw Mills sold at over K1bn

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Zambezi Saw Mills in Mulobezi, Western Province has been finally sold at a cost of K1.2 billion.   

The liquidator Germano Kaulung’ombe says the sale of the company to the successful bidder was not easy due to the obsolete state of machinery.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the Zambezi Sawmills to the buyer in Mulobezi, Western Province yesterday, Mr Kaulung’ombe said it had been difficult to find an investor for the Zambezi Sawmills as the company had run down and was non-functional.

He said it had been difficult to attract a buyer for the company due to the obsolete state of machinery compounded by the fact that the nearest conventional forest was about 50 kilometres away and was in a depleted state.

Mr Kaulung’ombe further said it had been a challenge to liquidate the company as it was not linked to the national grid adding that a bulk of investment in diesel is still required.

However, Mr. Kaulung’ombe said he has successfully sold the company to successful bidders at the cost of K1.2 billion.

He expressed happiness that all terminal benefits for former employees were settled down and that dividends would be declared to Government.

Mr. Kaulung’ombe expressed hope that the revamped operations at the Zambezi Sawmills would bring economic growth among the community in Mulobezi.

And Sesheke District Commissioner Godwin Nyuwa  urged chief Inyambo Yeta and chief Moomba to iron out their differences in order to allow economic activities to run smoothly in the area.

Mr. Nyuwa condemned the disputes between the two chiefs which he said had at one time led to a breakdown of law and order.

He described Western Province as a ‘Cinderella’ province that urgently needs to develop, adding that activities that are meant to uplift livelihoods must be appreciated.

Mr Nyuwa commended the liquidator and the buyers of the company and advised the two chiefs to keep their wrangles off the operations of the company.

Meanwhile, the buyers of the company have said that operations at the newly bought company will commence soon.

Operations that will start with the assessment of existing assets, personnel, and potential employees will also assess the resuscitation of the Mulobezi Rail line

Zambezi Sawmills Board Chairman Fred Chunga disclosed that about US$ 86 million has been projected for recreation facilities such as a golf club.

Mr. Chunga said the company has projected to produce 1000 cubic metres of timber within its first 18 months of operations and produce about 5000 cubic metres of dry timber monthly.

He further said that 25% of profit generated in the area will be ploughed back into the community.

“The company is mindful of its community responsibilities and it will embark on upgrading schools, clinics, markets and create employment for local people”. Mr. Chunga said.

Mr. Chunga further said that the company will promote small scale timber production thereby generating income for the rural poor.

He said the company is also expected to venture into agriculture, wildlife, tourism and safari industries in order to fully revamp and sustain economic activities in Mulobezi.

Wife weeps after granted divorce in Kafue

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A 45 year old woman of Lusaka yesterday shed tears before a Kafue Local Court when she was granted divorce.

Delivering the judgement in Kafue yesterday, Justice Annie Kugila said that the
court decided to terminate the marriage because of the continued threats by the
defendant  Mr. Ackim Chileya to kill the plaintiff, his wife, Evelyn Chileya, by
using a gun or witchcraft, and having starved her sexually for the past two years.

Facts before the court are that problems began in 2005 when the defendant, Mr. Ackim
Chileya, a former State House police officer, got retired on medical grounds and was
given his terminal benefits of K180 million. 

The man is said to have secretly bought a house in Mumbwa at K50 Million and a
canter truck at K80 Million without the knowledge of the wife.

The court also heard that the wife was only given K5 million in installment of K1
Million when she complained to the husband on how he was using the money without her
knowledge. 

She also complained that since 1988 when they got married she was only bought four
clothes by the husband who claimed that she was a working class who should buy her
own clothes.

The plaintiff said that she was always threatened to be killed if she does not
vacate from the matrimonial house because  she had failed to given him more children
as they had only one daughter. 

She complained that she was denied sex for two years and the husband called her a
sperm waster.

But in his defense, Mr Chileya stated that he denied having sex with her wife
because he suspected that she was flirting out with somebody by the name of Album
Muyuma after his wife recalled to him that the two used to exchange love messages
and letters for two years. 

He added that at one time he was chatting with his wife in the sitting room when the
phone rang and the wife rushed to the bedroom to answer it.

Mr. Chileya said that at one time his wife fell pregnant of the same man and aborted
after people started talking about the pregnancy. 

He claimed that his  wife had no respect for him and used to cook and wash for himself.

And passing the Judgment Justice Kajula said that two people who are threatening to
kill each other and are not having sex should not stay together, adding that the
court had no option but to grant them a divorce.

Trade Kings pumps K5m towards the Keep Kafue Clean drive

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Trade Kings Limited has donated  K5 million towards the Keep Kafue Clean Campaign.

Kafue District Commissioner Michael Bwalya who confirmed this in Kafue today
commended Trade Kings for the gesture.

Mr. Bwalya assured Trade Kings management that the money would strictly be used for
the intended purpose.

He called on other companies to emulate Trade Kings and donate generously towards
the campaign.

Mr. Bwalya said there is need for the district to work hard and improve standards of
cleanliness in the both residential areas and markets.

Mr. Bwalya has since said he would not tolerate shop owners and businesses that fail
to oblige with the call by government to improve cleanliness in the district.

He was speaking when he handed over the K5 million cheque to Kafue District Health
Management Team (KDHMT) in Kafue today.

And receiving the cheque, Kafue District Health Management Team (KDHMT) Director of
Health Dr. Mwila Lembalemba appealed for support from the district commissioner’s
office and other cooperating partners if the campaign to keep Kafue Clean is to
succeed .

He also called on the media to involve itself in the programme by carrying out
sensitization programmes in order to educate communities on the issues of personal
hygiene, the environment and other related health matters.

Dr. Lembalemba also urged both private and government institutions to put aside a
day every week for cleaning of their premises.

Govt delays the 16% pay hike for ministers so as to pay farmers

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Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning Jonas Shakafuswa has disclosed that ministers and other senior government officials have not yet started receiving their 16 per cent salary increment because government has to pay farmers who sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).

And Mr. Shakafuswa has urged farmers who have not yet been paid by FRA to be
patient, assuring them that they would be fully paid their moneys despite the delays
that may occur.

He said government was so committed to pay farmers their dues that it even delayed
in effecting the 16 per cent salary increment for ministers.

“Some of the senior government officials, ministers haven’t received the 16 per cent
salary increase. Government has not paid them, we said no, the money must go to
farmers first. We want to be responsible,” he said.

Mr. Shakafuwa said today that government delayed in paying off farmers because of
irregular collections of revenue.

He explained that it was rare that government would have the money readily available
to purchase maize from farmers but it would provide an estimated budget, which would
only be fulfilled when moneys were collected.

He said government was however committed to pay farmers but urged them to sell some
of their products to genuine and committed private partners.

“When money is available, then we will pay the farmers. We want them to be paid,” he
said.

And Mr. Shakafuswa said the shortage of cement in the country was due to increased
activities in the construction industry around the country.

He said however that the shortage would be eased when Chilanga Cement PLC doubles
its production by the end of this year.

The Deputy Minister observed that increased activities in the construction industry
were an indicator that the country’s economy was growing.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shakafuswa said government has not properly handled the issue of
infrastructure development in the country but quickly pointed out that corrective
measure were being put in place.

He said government has been losing billions of Kwacha in paying contractors who in
turn end up abandoning road projects.

He said government would ensure that contractors who do the country a disservice did
not get any more contracts.

A number of road projects around the country have been abandoned by contractors who
allege that the Ministry of Finance has failed to pay them for their works.

Cosafa Castle Cup Semifinal draws & Barclays Cup fixture

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Defending champions Zambia will face Mozambique in the semifinals of this year’s Cosafa Castle Cup in a penultimate stage doubleheader to be played at Germiston stadium in Johannesburg on September 29.

South Africa will face Botswana in the other semifinals with the winners advancing to the final to be played on October 27.

The semifinal draws were made today in Johannesburg but the tournament organizers have yet to decide on the finals venue.

It will be the sixth time Zambia will be playing Mozambique in the Cosafa Castle Cup in which the latter has yet to beat the former.

South Africa on the other hand takes on Botswana for a fifth time in the same tournament and The Zebras will be hoping to record a second successive win over Bafana Bafana.

Botswana beat South Africa 6-5 on post-match penalties in last years Group B mini-tournament final played in Gaborone on May 21 following a scoreless draw before losing 1-0 in the final to eventual champions Zambia on August 19 in Lusaka.

2007 Barclays Cup Preliminary Round Fixtures

18/08/2007

Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka.

Young Green Eagles- Green Buffaloes

Kascol Rangers-Green Eagles.

Arthur Davis Stadium, Lusaka.

Kabwe Warriors-Nkana

Konkola Blades -Freedom Rangers

Staunch Kafue UNIPist advises Panji to resign

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A staunch UNIP member in Kafue has appealed to party president Tilyenji Kaunda to resign and concentrate on his personal businesses if the party is to survive.

Former Kafue UNIP Constituency Chairman, Boniface Mhango, told ZANIS in Kafue today
that Mr. Tilyenji Kaunda has failed to run the party because he is always in
Zimbabwe doing personal business instead of concentrating on building the party. 

He said there is no way UNIP will regain its former glory when he is always
traveling out.

Mr. Mhango pointed out that a lot of loyal party members were resigning from UNIP to
join other political parties because of frustrations being caused by Tilyenji’s
advisors who are misleading him. 

He said Tilyenji should be blamed for the downfall of UNIP as he has no interest to
run the party but wants to use it for his personal gain.

He wondered how Tilyenji could run the party effectively when he does not know what
problems the party was going through. 

Mr Mhango added that even calling for a convention in October this year is just too
far as members in the lower organs are not happy with him.

He charged that Colonel Panji Kaunda, his brother, was right when he accused him of
running UNIP from his bedroom because he does not want to get advice from wise
people but from crooks who have no heart for the party.

Mr. Mhango said that the party in Kafue has started identifying a leader who will
take over from Tilyenji as he has become unpopular and is not fit to be President of
Zambia.

SADC peacekeeping force becomes a reality

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Brigade (SADCBRIG) comprising the military, the police and civilian components has officially been launched in Lusaka at a colourful parade, with 554 uniformed personnel present.

The SADCBRIG, launched at Zambia Air Force’s (ZAF) City Airport, is a regional multidimensional peace support operations capability, established under the African standby force policy framework.

It was constituted under the African Union (AU) protocol on peace and security
requiring all regional economic communities to have standby peace keeping forces.

President Levy Mwanawasa, who assumed SADC Chairmanship yesterday, said when he
launched the brigade that peace, security and stability was a prerequisite to
regional and continental economic development and integration.

President Mwanawasa said the scourge of conflicts in the African region constituted
a major impediment to socio-economic development of the continent.

The purpose of the SADCBRIG is to participate in missions, including performing
observations and monitoring, peace support, interventions for peace and security
restoration in grave circumstances at the request of a member state.

The brigade will also participate in missions to prevent the spearheading to
neighbouring areas or states of conflict or the resurgence of violence after
agreements have been reached.

Mr. Mwanawasa said that the SADC brigade would also serve in peace-building efforts,
which include post-conflict disarmament and demobilisation and humanitarian
assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations in conflict areas and
support efforts on major natural disasters.
  
He said the troops or personnel would remain domiciled in their countries of origin
on an ‘on call’ level of alert for the duration of the assignment.

“Training of the brigade at all levels will remain a key priority for the SADC in
order to achieve the principle of uniformity and be able to operate together its
systems and equipment,” he said.
 
President Mwanawasa further said the regional peacekeeping training centre in
Zimbabwe and other national peace support training institutions would be important
in training commanders, police officers and civilian officials at various levels.

The institutions would also act as a clearing house for all peace support operations
and training activities in the region.

Earlier, President Mwanawasa unveiled a SADC plaque after which the heads of state
and government released white, green, gold and blue balloons to symbolise the
launch.

The white balloons symbolise the commitment of SADC to peace in the region while
green, gold, and blue were SADC colours.

Mr. Mwanawasa also presented conferred medals on military officials that were in the
planning element of the standby brigade and other structures.

He also inspected a parade constituted by 11 countries. Three other SADC countries
were not represented.

The SADC heads of state that are attending the 27th summit, senior defence and
police officials from countries in the SADC region, ministers and other officials
with the region witnessed the launch of the standby brigade.

There was also a presidential salute, which was accorded a 21 gun salute when the
Zambia Army brass band was singing the Zambian National Anthem and the SADC anthem.

A fly past by five Zambia Air Force (ZAF) jets, tow of them emitted a smoke, added
colour to the ceremony.

The 554 personnel present at the launch today did not have representation from
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mauritius and Madagascar while the rest of the
SADC countries contributed.

The brigade will comprise military personnel drawn from the member states, who will
be assigned to quell disturbances and maintain peace and stability in trouble areas
within the SADC region.

Legalise your businesses, mote, hotel managements told

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The Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia  (HCAZ) has urged all those involved in the hospitality industry in Kafue to legalize their businesses and pay taxes to government.

Association President Sylvia Eneke, speaking in Kafue today, said all those who
have not legalized their motels, lodges and guest houses, risk  having their
facilities closed down because they are operating illegally.

Mrs Eneke said this during the official launch of Hotel and Catering Association of
Zambia (HCAZ) branch in Kafue.

Mrs. Eneke said her association in conjunction with government has a
responsibility to ensure standards and professionalism are upheld in the
hospitality industry.

She also urged investors in the hospitality industry to apply for the tourism
credit fund at the under Ministry of Tourism to boost their businesses. 

She added that government was committed to the development of the hotel and tourism
industry  by giving out small loans ranging from K50 to K300 million.

Speaking at the same function, Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI)
Director Greeves Sitwala expressed concern at some  hotels and motels which are
employing unqualified staff.  

Mr Sitwala said this has led to poor services for the clients.

Mr. Sitwala also advised the owners of motels and hotels to take their staff
for medical check-ups every six months as required by law.

Kabila finally in for SADC summit

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DRC President Joseph Kabila has arrived in Lusaka five hours after the official opening of the SADC summit.

Mr Kabila arrived at 15:50 hours and was met by Youth, Sport and Child Development
Minister, Gabriel Namulambe, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa and Lusaka
Mayor, Steven Chilatu, among others.

Mr Kabila is among three heads of state and government that were scheduled to arrive
today for the SADC heads of state andgovernment summit which officially opened this
morning.

Others who arrived this morning were Angolan President, Eduardo Dos Santos and
Madagascar’s Marc Ravalomanana.

The theme for this year’s summit being held at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International
Conference Centre is “Infrastructure Development in Support of Regional
Integration”.

President Mwanawasa has since assumed the chairmanship of the regional body from
Lesotho prime minister Pkalitha Mosisili.

Luangwa youths empowered

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A local developmental project in Luangwa has been commended for training youths in various skills aimed at empowering them economically.

   A Mr Moses Mwanza, speaking on behalf of Luangwa acting District Commissioner
Captain Stanslaus Kalunga, commended Zanimuone Prevention and Care Project for
successfully organising a tailoring course for youths in the area.

Mr Mwanza said the course empowered youths with skills to embark on income
generating activities through tailoring.

     He urged the youths to use their newly acquired skills to improve  their lives.

And Luangwa District Aids Taskforce, DATF, Coordinator Alfred Milamba
expressed gratitude to Zanimuone Prevention and Care Project for its support
to youth empowerment programmes.

 Milamba said K400 million was released by the Community Response to AIDS,
CRAIDS, to fund 13 prevention and care projects throughout the district.

He said out of this money,  Zanimuone Prevention and Care Project received K32
million for tailoring, bricklaying, carpentry and formation of Ant-AIDS groups which
he said has started yielding positive results.

SADC First Spouses commend SOS for helping under privileged children

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The Southern African Development Community, SADC First Spouses have commended SOS for the  good work it is doing to uplift the living standards of the less privileged children in society.

Speaking on behalf of the First Spouses, Lesotho’s First Lady Mathato Mosisili said
money cannot be  compared to the  love the organization was giving to the children.

Mrs. Mosisili said this after touring the SOS children village in Lusaka today.

She called on other organizations to emulate and support  SOS in order for it to run
smoothly.

And speaking  earlier at the same function, SOS Director , Florence Phiri paid
glowing tribute to the First Ladies for finding time off their busy schedule to
visit the childrens village.

Mrs. Phiri  appealed for support from the SADC First Ladies.

She said her organization  is present in all the SADC member countries and that
currently 48, 000 children were being looked after in the region.

She added that a total of 4,800 children were being looked after in Zambia alone.

The SADC First Spouses also donated $8, 300 US dollars to SOS in Zambia
 

Sorry for power disruption during SADC summit

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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

Patrick Phiri names squad for Togo friendly

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Patrick Phiri has called-up seven foreign based players and named two new caps for Zambia’s international friendly match away to Togo in Lome on August 22.

Strikers Jacob Mulenga of French Ligue 2 club Chateauroux and Christopher Katongo of Danish top-flight club Brondby have both been called up to lead Zambia’s attack against Togo next week.

The other five players are all South African based and they include first-choice goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene of 2nd division club Free State Stars.

Others are defenders Billy Mwanza and Joseph Musonda, both of top-flight team Lamotville Golden Arrows.

Striker Songwe Chalwe of Moroka Swallows and the club-less junior international winger Clifford Mulenga who recently rejoined division 2 side Pretoria University FC are all in the team.

Phiri meanwhile has given first caps to Young Arrows and Zambia Under-20 left-back Joseph Zimba and Power Dynamos’ teenage left-winger Kennedy Mudenda.

Lusaka Dynamos and Zambia Under-17 midfielder Tom Bakala has been given a second chance to finally pick up his first senior cap.

Tom Bakala, young brother of veteran midfielder Ian Bakala, gets a chance to impress after missing out on the Botswana friendly played away in Orapa July 21.

Dropped from the squad for this encounter are the Zanaco duo of goalkeeper George Kolala and defender Kennedy Nkethani.

Zambia goes into camp in Lusaka tomorrow and departs for Lome via South Africa on Sunday.

The two European-based players will join the team in Lome while the five South African based players will join-up with the team in Johannesburg en route to Togo.

Zambia is using the match as part of its preparations for the teams September 8 final match in their 2008 Africa Cup, Group 11 qualifier against South Africa to be played in Cape Town.

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

Defenders: Dennis Banda, Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), William Chinyama (Zesco United), Joseph Zimba (Young Arrows), Lameck Njobvu (Zanaco), Patrick Masosa (Buffaloes), Gilbert Kalusa (Lusaka Dynamos),Billy Mwanza, Joseph Musonda (Both Lamotville Golden Arrows, South Africa).

Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba (Zesco United), Kruger Mwansa (Red Arrows), Tom Bakala (Lusaka Dynamos), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Clifford Mulenga (Pretoria University, South Africa).

Strikers: Songwe Chalwe (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Brondby, Denmark) Enoch Sakala (Zesco United), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Elson Mkandawire (Power Dynamos), Jacob Mulenga (Chateauroux, France).

The power blackout that lasted for four minutes was

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The 12 Heads of State and country representatives who are attending the summit remained in the dark while seated at the high table in the main hall, save for a litle light from a few power saving florescent tubes.

The sudden blackout happened when winner of the SADC Secondary Schools essay competition Diana Kawenda from Zimbabwe was reading to the delegates the essay that made her scoop the competition.

The deafening silence that followed the power failure was however diluted by songs from the MMD choir as the fault was being rectified

Zesco has in the recent past received a barrage of complaints from people around the country on its unannounced power cuts.

Zambia under 23 beat Malaw 6 – 1

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The under 23 Zambia National Soccer Team yesterday won the Malawi Premier League 6 goals to 1.

The match which started at around 15:30 and ended at 17:25 hours at David Kaunda
Stadium in Chipata saw Zambia’s Timothy Mbewe scoring the first goal 7 minutes after
the game started while the second one was coverted 20 minutes later by Reuben Tembo.

Speaking just after the game, Assistant Zambian National Soccer Team Coach Wesley
Mondo, said the aim of the game was not to win but to equip the team adequately as
they prepare for the Olympic games that will take place on the 22 of August 2007.

Mr Mondo said the team will tomorrow have another game with the Eastern Province
selected side and this will give them an opportunity to scout for good players from
Eastern Province.

Mr. Mondo said the Malawian team posed a good challenge to the Zambian Team and has
since called for such friendly matches in future.

Meanwhile Burger World Co-Director Charles Kumwenda, who is one of the sponsors of
the game, revealed that more than K20 million will spent for the games,
accommodation of the players, food and advertising.

He has appealed to government and the people of Zambia to support such games if they
want to expect good results from the football team.

Mr. Kumwenda said Eastern Province has a lot of talented footballers and believed
that tomorrows game will help in exposing the local players.

The team which arrived in Chipata on 12th August is expected to leave for Lusaka on
17th August 2007.

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