President Levy Mwanawasa has sent  a message of condolences to former first republican president Dr.Kenneth Kaunda on the death of his grandson Zunda Banda who passed away in Harare, Zimbabwe.

This is contained in a statement signed by President Mwanawasa’s special assistant
for press and public relations John Musukuma and made available to ZANIS this
evening.

In his message President Mwanawawsa said:  “I have learnt with a deep sense of shock
of the untimely death of your dear grandson, Zunda Banda, son to James and Musata.
On behalf of the Government, the people of Zambia and indeed my own behalf, please
accept our deepest sympathies on this tragic loss.

“As you endure this sad and difficult times, please accept my deepest and heartfelt
condolences . The loss of a youthful life so close to one is deverseting, but as you
mourn your dearest grandson, be assured that James and Musata indeed, yourself and
madam Kaunda and your entire family will be in our prayers as we commit you all to
the Lord’s providence,” he said.

“Kindly convey these sympathies to Mr. and Mrs. Banda,” he added.

Celtel Star Search finalist, Levins Mwanza ,was last Sunday arrested in Lusaka for failing to pay K50,000 for a taxi that he hired.

Driver of a Hyundai Accent Registration ABD 6493, Zondiwe Kajane told ZANIS in a
telephone interview that Levins, who was in the company of a woman booked the taxi
around midnight on Sunday.

“He wanted to be driven to Matero from Kabwata, we first went to club Zone in
Emmasdale where the woman left, then to New Londe Matero where I requested for the
money but the star refused, saying the money was in Barrastone where he lives,” he
said.

Kajane said he refused to take Levins to Barrastone as he was in a drunken state and
there was no guarantee that he would pay once they reached his place.

He stated that he was forced to take the star to Salima Police post in Matero where
he was arrested and was only released yesterday after his manager only known as
Truman surrendered his cell phone as surety that Levins would pay the taxi fare.

Zondiwe revealed that Levins only managed to pay K40,000 yesterday.

And when contacted for comment Levins’ manager, Truman, who sounded defensive,  said the allegations were not true.

And Levins who is also known for his ‘Nalema’ hit, could not be reached for comment.

Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, has with immediate effect directed police officers to desist from chasing motorists who commit traffic offenses.

Mr Mateyo has however instructed the police officers to take note of the registration and fleet numbers of mini bus or any other vechicle and circulate the details to other officers.

He said this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Police
spokespserson, Bonny Kapeso.

Mr Mateyo’s directive comes in the wake of yesterday’s incident in which a traffic
officer who was allegedly chasing a mini-bus driver for a traffic offense, resulted
into an accident which almost sparked off a riot in town.

He noted that the law requires that 14 days be given to motorists who disobey
traffic rules to report themselves to any nearest police station, failure to which
they would be arrested.

Mr Mateyo noted that officers should be proffessional,considerate and polite when
dealing with members of the public while upholding the law firmly and fairly.

He has since regretted the death of an innocent person during yesterday’s near riot,
adding that the victim might have not even been involved in the confusion.

Mr Mateyo has assured the nation that measures will be put in place to avoid a
recurrence of yesterday’s incident, adding that only credible officers will be retained to perform traffic duties.

Parliament today heard that 860 Diplomatic Passports were issued between 2001 and 2005, out of which, 163 were withdrawn.

Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Grace Njapau, said in 2001 and 2004, 200
Diplomatic Passports were issued for each year, while 150  were issue in 2002 and
another 150 in 2003.

In 2005, 160 Diplomatic Passports were issued.

Ms. Njapau said of the 160 withdrawn Diplomtic Passports, 13 were withdrawn in 2001,
70 in 2002, 19 in 2003, 23 in 2004 and 38 in 2005.

She was answering a question raised by Kasama Central Patriotic Front Member of
Parliament, Saviour Chishimba on how many Diplomatic Passports were issued and
withdrawn between 2001 and 2005.

Meanwhile, Ms. Njapau told parliament that a total of 3,957,000 foreigners were
arrested for various criminal offences between the years 2000 and 2006 in Zambia.

She said most of the arrested foreigners were from African countries while others
were from Aisa, Europe and America.

She was responding to a question raised by Dundumwezi independent MP, Edgar
Singombe, who wanted to know how many foreign criminals were arrested from 2000 to
2006 and when the Immigration Department would be provided with firearms.

Ms. Njapau said government has no plans to provide the department with firearms for
its officers to be able to defend themselves because these were protected by the
Zambia Police officers.

She explained that the nature of the work of immmigration officers does not require
them to carry firearms.

PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa says he has accepted the apology from the chairman of the Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC), Lord Cairns, who yesterday castigated government for failing to implement most of the programmes agreed upon at the last meeting.

Mr Mwanawasa said Lord Cairns apologized for criticizing government, adding that he was upset by the remarks made yesterday.

He said government has been working very hard to ensure that the country made economic progress.

Mr Mwanawasa was speaking in Livingstone today during the closure of the Fifth ZIBAC meeting.

”Lord Cairns has apologized for criticizing us. I must say I was upset. We have been working very hard breaking our necks and he was here criticizing,” said Mr Mwanawasa.

Mr Mwanawasa said he had also apologized to Lord Cairns for sounding cruel yesterday and noted that it was not his intention.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwanawasa has directed various ministries to take up issues that were raised at the just ended ZIBAC meeting seriously.

He however assured participants that some issues that were raised at the previous meeting were being implemented and that issues raised today would be implemented within the reform program.

Mr Mwanawasa observed that even though a lot had been achieved, there was still need for more to be done.

He also directed ministries to speed up the implementation of the resolutions.

Mr Mwanawasa said he takes the consultation processes of the meetings and the outcomes very seriously.

”Our vision is to have a vibrant private sector driven economy. This is why I was disappointed a few months ago with the Zambia Business Forum who organised a workshop and only invited themselves without involving the private sector,” he said.

Mr Mwanawasa urged the Zambia Business Forum to ensure that they involve the private sector in their workshops so that they are given a platform to talk about their experiences which could, in turn, attract more investments.

The President said the country needed to attract more investments, especially in the energy sector, where there was a looming power deficit in the near future.

Mr Mwanawasa also noted that government was taking measures aimed at reducing the cost of doing business in the country.

And speaking earlier, Lord Cairns, who is based in the United Kingdom, said his comments on the Zambian economy that he uttered yesterday were based on the impressions that he had got from friends and hearsay.

He said after coming to Zambia and hearing for himself, his impression now was that Zambia was moving forward economically.

He said the country had an emerging private sector and that it had also scored some success stories.

”My impressions on Zambia then relied on hearsay and friends. My impressions, now that I have seen for myself, are that there is much more vibrant dialogue and that government and the private sector are seeing themselves as partners in developing this country.

”My sense, too, is that Zambia is moving forward. You have got an emerging private sector and you have some success stories,” he said.

Lord Cairns said there was need to develop passion in order to get things done, and that there was need to put a system in place that would ensure that things agreed upon are done.

Zambia Business Forum Chief Executive Officer, Reginald Mfula, urged government to resolve and revise policy framework on implementation.

Mr Mfula said efficient implementation of programmes would result in a lot of poverty reduction and direct foreign investments.

He pledged the private sector’s commitment in working with government on the implementation of various programmes.

Outgoing World Bank Country representative, Ohene Nyanin, commended government for taking bold and courageous steps to make Zambia a
better country.

He said when the first ZIBAC meeting was held in 2003, Zambia faced many economic challenges, among them was the issue of macro stability.

He however said in the last four and a half years, government had managed to reduce interest rates and inflation, adding that this was able to be achieved through the removal of the fourty per cent housing allowance that was earlier awarded to civil servants.

Mr Nyanin observed that although the country had done very well in the past four and a half years, the challenges were still immense.