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Road linking Luapula and Northern underway

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Government is in the process of developing a new road link between Luapula and Northern Provinces through Musaila-Kasaba road in Samfya, Luapula.

President Rupiah Banda announced this yesterday in Samfya during the celebration of the Kwanga ceremony of the Ng’umbo people.

This was in a speech read for him by Luapula Province Minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe.

The President said Government would construct an embankment at Kasaba that would connect Musaila-Kasaba road to Luwingu district in the Northern Province.

“My Government is in the process of connecting Luapula to Northern Province through Kasaba to Luwingu district,” he said.

The President described the Musaila-Kasaba road via Luwingu as an important route that would easy the transportation of fish, maize and other products thereby increasing trade between Luapula and Northern Province.

“I am confident that once the roads rehabilitation and construction works have been completed it will become easier for farmers to transport their produce to selling points,” he said.

He explained that increased trade between Luapula and Northern provinces would contribute to poverty reduction as the people would create wealth through marketing of their various crops

President Banda also appealed to the people commuting between Samfya and Chilubi Island to use the Post Boat which was the safer mode of water transport and not canoes.

He said Government facilitated the refurbishing of the Post Boat at a cost of K880 million which had improved transportation of goods from Samfya to Mbabala, Chishi and Chilubi Islands.

The President noted that the Post boat had helped to reduce accidents on Lake Bangweulu compared to previous years when the boat was not in use.

“My appeal is that people should make use of the boat to avoid unnecessary accidents that come with use of dugout canoes,” he said.

Earlier, Kwanga ceremony organising committee chairman Eustace Bobo appealed to Government to upgrade the Musaila-Kasaba road to tarmac standard and build an embankment to connect the road to Luwingu district.

He also said Government should work towards tarring the pedicle road, saying the benefits of improving the two road networks would bring immeasurable benefits to the province.

Mr Bobo said upgrading the road and creating a link to Northern Province would open up the area and enhance commerce, trade, mining, fishing and tourism activities.

He said the tarring of the Pedicle would result in increased transportation of goods from Northern and Luapula Provinces to markets on the Copperbelt.

“When tarred, the Musaila-Kasaba-Luwingu and Pedicle roads will greatly improve transportation of produce and other goods from Luapula and Northern Provinces to markets on the Copperbelt and elsewhere in the country. The benefits of these road developments will be immeasurable in the future,” he said.

Mr Bobo further urged Government to consider giving Lubwe area district status as one way of accelerating the anticipated development activities.

He said turning Ng’umbo area into a district would help the area quickly get a police station and other Government departments.

He said police presence in Lubwe would ensure safety and security for investments and investors as well as act as a catalyst to peaceful co-existence between investors and the local people.

He challenged the local people in Lubwe to adopt health life styles, including hard work and reducing illicit beer consumption.
ZANIS

Help prevent exam malpractice, teachers told

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Southern Province Education Officer Mr Festus Mungo has appealed to stakeholders in Namwala District to help the Ministry of Education to prevent any examination malpractices from occurring.

And Mr Mungo has pleaded with teachers in Namwala District to return to work as Government was frantically looking into their various grievances including rural hardship allowances and anomalies on their pay slips.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Namwala District Commissioner Wilson Siadunka, Friday, Mr Mungo said he was concerned about the sit-in protests by teachers in the District and called on them, to
return to work as all their problems would be sorted out as soon as possible.

ZANIS reports that some teachers at Namwala High School, Baabwe Basic School, Lubanga Shabongwe Basic School, and Kalundu Basic School went on a sit-in protest last week disrupting normal classes.

During a meeting on September 27, 2010, teachers at the affected school resolved to go on a sit-in protest after they accused the Ministry of being insensitive to their plight despite numerous follow
up meetings by their Union representatives over rural hardship, remote allowances, and anomalies on some teachers’ pay slips.

But Mr Mungo said the sit-in was not necessary as their matter was been looked into.

“I have come here to request teachers to return to work and assure them that the Ministry of Education was doing everything possible to address their problems as soon as possible,” said Mr Mungo.

Mr Mungo also appealed to stakeholders to assist the ministry to prevent any examination malpractices from happening in the District.

He observed that examination malpractices such as leakages dId not only dent the image of the Ministry but also compromised pupils’ academic qualifications and ultimately retarded development in the nation.

“We are appealing to all stakeholders to help us in preventing examination malpractice so that at the end of the day we produce a cadre of qualified pupils to steer the country’s developmental agenda
forward,” Mr Mungo said.

Meanwhile, Mr Siadunka said teachers in the District should be patient and allow Government to solve their problems instead of resorting to protests.
ZANIS

RB directs funds release for Mansa cultural village

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President Rupiah Banda has directed the Ministry of Finance to release funds meant to construct a cultural and tourism village in Mansa of Luapula Province

President Banda issued the directive Saturday in a speech read for him by Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe during the Kwanga ceremony of the N’gumbo people of Lubwe area in Samfya district.

ZANIS reports that the President said Government has tasked the department of cultural affairs under the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to construct a cultural village at the Provincial headquarters Mansa.

He said construction of the cultural centre, which would eventually be replicated in other districts, would facilitate the preservation of traditions, norms and cultural values in Luapula.

Once constructed, the centre would provide space for training, production of cultural products and services, including handicrafts, artefacts, visual arts, music and dance among others.

President Banda said he wants to see the construction of the cultural and tourism centre commence before the rainy season and directed the ministry of finance to release the funds.

“I request the Ministry of Finance to release funds for the cultural and tourism infrastructure for Luapula Province so that the project can commence before the onset of the rainy season,” President Banda.

And President Banda said Government recognises the role culture plays in national development, saying it is imperative for all people in Zambia to work together to preserve the country’s cultural heritage.

He said it was through culture that Zambia as a country was able to discern values and make meaningful choices.

He said all Zambians must work together to preserve the country’s cultural heritage as culture was a treasure, a source of strength and unity.
The President said Government had put in place a deliberate policy of providing support to traditional ceremonies, as a way of augmenting the effort of traditional rulers in promoting the country’s tradition and culture.

He said traditional events like Kwanga were also important as they created an opportunity for young people to learn and appreciate true values of culture.

President Banda also announced that the number of beneficiary farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) had been increased by 35 percent in Luapula Province.

President Banda said Luapula Province would have 36,440 farmers benefiting from the FISP for 2010-2011 farming season, 35 percent increase from the 27,000 beneficiary farmers in the 2009-2010 season.

He said Government worked tirelessly in mobilising resources for the FISP hence, the increase in the number of beneficiaries from the inputs programme.

He also commended the people of Samfya for being among other farmers in Luapula who contributed to this year’s bumper harvest.

He told senior chief Mwewa and several other traditional rulers of the Ngoma clan that it was gratifying that his working Government had ensured Luapula province had started receiving inputs for 2010-2011 farming as early as in April this year.

The Kwanga ceremony is celebrated among five chiefs of the Ng’umbo people in Samfya to pay homage to their ancestors through music, dance and rituals.

It is also a thanks giving ceremony to God for guiding their fore bearers and settling them in a land endowed with abundant natural resources that include water, fish resources and agricultural land.

This year’s Kwanga ceremony was special as it was also attended by senior chief Chisamamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is part of the family clan to which the Ng’umbo chiefs trace their origins.

Meanwhile, President Banda has said Samfya is one district experiencing a lot of succession disputes resulting into three chiefdoms staying without a chief for a long time.

The President said Mulakwa, Kasomabangweulu and Mbulu are the three chiefdoms that have now stayed three to four years without a chief due to succession wrangles.

He said Government was not interested in seeing chiefs dragging each other to courts of law over succession disputes.

He appealed to the House of Chiefs to take a pivotal role in ensuring that succession disputes become the thing of the past so that harmony could be realised in all chiefdoms.
President Banda said it was not acceptable to continue seeing situations where chiefdoms have no chiefs for a long time.

He said relevant offices must deal with the problem especially that surrounding the Mulakwa chieftaincy as the issue of succession dispute was not even before the court of law.

“Samfya district is one district which is experiencing a lot of succession disputes resulting in three chiefdoms without a chief. These chiefdoms include Mulakwa, Kasomabangweulu and Mbulu. I would like therefore to appeal to relevant offices to work on these issues especially Mulakwa chiefdom because the issue is not even in court,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Kwanga Organising Chairman Eustace Bobo thanked Government for many development projects undertaken in Samfya district particularly and Luapula Province as a whole.

Mr Bobo said the Kwanga ceremony organising committee was indebted to the Government for rehabilitating and constructing new education infrastructure, and also for the education programmes aimed at improving the girl-child education.

He also thanked Government for the rehabilitation and resurfacing of Tuta road which he said was going to improve the transportation of people and goods, while reducing the cost of maintenance on vehicles.

Mr Bobo also said that the Ng’umbo people were happy with the speedy recognition of their three new chiefs, who include senior chief Mwewa, chieftainess Mulongwe and chief Mwansakombe.

However, he expressed sadness over the continued succession wrangles that have resulted into litigations, pledging that the Ng’umbo royal establishment would in future work with Government to forestall such disputes.
ZANIS

Seeing the Dream Come to Pass

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Seeing the Dream Come to Pass

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses”
(1 Timothy 6:12, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

One of the keys to seeing your dreams come to pass is to see them come to pass in your mind’s eye first. One of the greatest baseball players of our time told me that all through the day he sees himself hitting the ball. Before he gets up to the plate, he visualizes getting on base. He has this picture of himself succeeding. It’s gotten deep down on the inside and now he’s moving toward it.

Of course, it takes more than just visualization to see our dreams come to pass. It takes obedience; it takes prayer, and it has to be a part of God’s plan for our lives. But what I’m saying is that if you’ll keep the right pictures in your imagination, seeing yourself rising higher, seeing yourself healthy and whole, that’s going to get deep down on the inside and set the course for your life. When your mind is in agreement with God’s Word, it will help guide you toward your destiny. You will have a supernatural strength and power to see those dreams and desires come to pass in your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I submit my dreams, desires and thoughts to You. Use my imagination for Your purposes. Help me to see the dreams You’ve placed within me coming to pass. Help me to see myself rising higher in every area and bring You glory in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel & Victoria Osteen

FAZ Executive said to be no more

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Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya and general secretary George Kasengele (left)

Former Football Association of Zambia FAZ Disciplinary Committee chairperson Sunday Nkonde says the Kalusha Bwalya led executive has dissolved itself.

Nkonde explains that resignations of the four committee members have rendered the remaining five not capable of forming a quorum of six.

He says this is according to article 27 sub section 3 of the FAZ Constitution which stipulates that six members of the executive committee are needed to form a quorum .

Nkonde said this in a statement released to ZNBC Sports in Lusaka Saturday evening.

The former FAZ Disciplinary Committee chairperson also stressed that the Executive committee can co-opt a person to fill a vacancy in comformity with article 26 sub section 7 for remaining period of office.

Nkonde noted that the constitution stipulates that the executive committee shall meet at least once every four months or any time at the request of the President or three committee members.

On Friday, FAZ Vice president Emmanuel Munaile resigned from his position to joine three others Pivot Simwanza, Violet Bwalya and Henschel Chitembeya stepped down citing administrative shortcomings.

On Thursday FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya accepted the resignations of the other three executive members. Below is the Audio of the Press briefing he held at Football House. Click on the Play Button Below to Listen

President Banda back home

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President Rupiah Banda has arrived back home from Nigeria where he went to attend that country’s 50th independence anniversary.

President Banda arrived at the Lusaka International Airport Saturday evening at about 19:40 hours aboard the Presidential challenger.

ZANIS reports that Vice President George Kunda was on hand to receive the President.

Others who welcomed President Banda included Home Affairs Minister Mukhondo Lungu, Sports Permanent Secretary Teddy Mulonga, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Secretary to Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Service Chiefs and other senior government officials.

While in Nigeria where he was special Guest at the 50th Independence anniversary of Nigeria, the President also attended the Zambia-Nigeria Business Forum among other engagements.

And President Banda has since expressed his deep sadness over the bombings in Abuja Friday as Nigeria celebrated its independence.

According to the Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) website he told President Jonathan that the Nigerians will pull through even in the face of many challenges.

Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Chibombo district, Central Province to grace the Kulamba Kubwalo traditional ceremony of the Lenje- speaking people.

ZANIS

President Banda is deeply saddened by Abuja bombings

President Rupiah Banda among other invited guests leaving the main arena of Eagle Square after attending the 50th independence anniversary celebrations of Nigeria in Abuja

President Rupiah Banda has expressed his deep sadness over the bombings in Abuja Friday as Nigeria celebrated 50 years of independence.

Mr Banda said he delivered his condolences to Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan at State House Saturday morning when the two leaders met.

According to the Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) website he said he told President Jonathan that the Nigerians would pull through even in the face of many challenges.

Mr Banda was speaking to reporters at the Mnandi Azikiwe international airport Saturday shortly before leaving Abuja for Lusaka.

Mr Banda said it is sad that the bombings took place on a happy day.

And President Banda said he is sure that the ties between Zambia and Nigeria would continue to grow.

He also praised the business people who have helped to market Zambia in Nigeria.

Meanwhile Reuters reports that the death toll from car bombs that exploded near a parade marking Nigeria’s 50th anniversary of independence rose to 12 today.Authorities admitted they had been warned of the attack.

Jimoh Moshoo, police spokesman in the capital, Abuja, said 17 people were wounded in Friday’s blasts, which went off about an hour after an emailed bomb threat from a rebel group in the oil-producing Niger delta.

Nigerian paper This Day, citing presidency sources, said British intelligence had got wind of a plot and passed on a warning to Abuja. Britain’s Duke of Gloucester, who was due to represent Queen Elizabeth II at the event, pulled out.

The secret service in Africa’s most populous nation confirmed it had received foreign tip-offs and had stepped up security accordingly, including towing 65 vehicles from the streets and cordoning off roads leading to the parade ground.

“If we had ignored them the situation could have perhaps been worse than what happened,” State Security Service spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar said.

News outlets including Reuters received an emailed bomb warning about an hour before the explosions, signed by Jomo Gbomo, principal spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

Ogar said Henry Okah, a senior member of MEND, had been arrested in South Africa. Police there declined to comment.

MEND has been fighting for years for a greater share of oil revenues for the delta, home to Africa’s biggest oil and gas industry, but signed an amnesty with the government last year.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who faces an election next year and who is from the impoverished delta region, has condemned the attacks and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
[ZNBC,Reuters]

‘’Church has failed to provide leadership’’

Zambia Direct Democracy Movement National Coordinator Edwin Sakala has charged that the Church in the country has failed to provide the much needed leadership.

And Mr Sakala has accused pastors, Bishops and priests of preaching hatred in this country instead of uniting the Zambians a scenario he described as unfortunate.

In a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Sakala accused the Clergy for taking sides with the secular leadership at the expense of preaching the word of God as well as praying for peace in the country.

ZANIS reports that Mr Sakala said the Zambia Direct Democracy Movement would always support a crop of God fearing and Charismatic leaders to occupy various leadership positions in society to liberate Zambia from demonic forces that he noted had taken toll on people’s minds.

He said Zambians must be helped to understand that the Church, Government and Citizens were all part of one living organism called Zambia and that the Movement did not understand why some priests have decided to take sides with people in political circles.

He advised some priests in the country to take up the role of uniting than politically dividing the nation as the 2011 general and tripartite elections were imminent.

Mr Sakala has further charged that Multi -Party Politics maybe good for developing countries but not for countries like Zambia.

He observed that multi-party politics were dividing the people on tribal political groupings adding that this had been identified as a source of ethnic violence and poverty in many African Countries.

He further charged that multi-party politics in Zambia had become a dividing factor and for the ordinary citizens, they could not help noticing that Church leaders of the seven big religious organisations were siding with their tribesmen.
Without disclosing the churches he was referring to, Mr Sakala added that tribalism was a product from hell because tribe had nothing to do with one’s personality.

Mr Sakala called on all peace loving Zambians to condemn all those priests and church leaders busy preaching hatred at the expense of uniting the nation.

[ ZANIS ]

Zambia joins Commonwealth countries in games

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Zambia was yesterday among 71 commonwealth countries participating in the 19th commonwealth games in New Delhi, India with the national flag hoisted in a special welcome ceremony by the Mayor of the Commonwealth Village Dalbir Singh.

First Secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in India Bwalya Nondo in a statement to ZANIS today said the raising of the flag which was witnessed by the entire Zambian contingent to the Commonwealth games and officials from the Zambia High Commission in New Delhi went with the playing of the national Anthem.

Mr. Nondo also said a replica of the Queen’s button was thereafter presented to the delegation leader Geoffrey Yun’gana.

He revealed that that the Zambian team comprising a cross section of sports disciplines has been conducting training sessions since their arrival in that country adding that the team was confident of reaping medals for the country.

The official opening of the Commonwealth games competition will take place at Jaharlal Nehru Stadium tomorrow.
ZANIS

Nkhulungo Basic School wants desks

Authorities at Nkhulungo Basic School in Chipata’s Chipangali constituency have appealed to Government to consider giving the learning institution some desks to enable pupils sit comfortably.

School Head Teacher, Kezias Phiri, said from the time the school was upgraded it had not received desks from the office of the District Education Board Secretary ( DEBS).

Mr Phiri said the school which had been upgraded after construction of a 1x 3 Classroom Block with help from Cargill Cotton Company under its corporate social responsibility programme, had been given an examination centre number.
[pullquote] ‘’ After the school was given an examination centre number, we are wondering how the pupils will write their exams this year. We hope that government will consider giving us some desks,’’ Mr. Phiri said.[/pullquote]
He was speaking when District Administrative Officer, Masauso Banda, visited the school yesterday to commission the Ventilated and Improved Pit (VIP) latrines built by Cargill at the learning institution.

‘’ After the school was given an examination centre number, we are wondering how the pupils will write their exams this year. We hope that government will consider giving us some desks,’’ Mr. Phiri said.

He also said the school had no accommodation for teachers following the construction of a 1 x 3 classroom block.

Mr. Phiri observed that his family was accommodated in one of the classrooms, while one teacher was in the Deputy Head’s office and the other one was living in a grass thatched house.

He said four teachers who were posted to the school left because of lack of accommodation, adding that, currently there were four teachers who were manning all classes from grade one to seven.

‘’ Am afraid to request for teachers from the DEBS office because of lack of accommodation,’’ Mr. Phiri said.

And District Administrative Officer, Masauso Banda, said there was need for the school to inform the DEBS office before the national budget was presented to Parliament so that the issue of procurement of desks for the school was considered.

Mr Banda also said cooperating partners who wanted to help communities in areas they operated from, should start planning together with sector Government departments so that everything that was put in place was in conformity with Government’s standards.

He was reacting to the construction of a 1 x 3 classroom block at the school which had no teachers’ houses in its initial planning stage by Cargill Cotton Company.

Mr Banda said some cooperating partners may not know the requirements by Government when putting up any infrastructure, hence the need to involve Government personnel during planning to ensure all requirements were put in place.

And Cargill Field Operations Manager, Saul Zulu, said his company’s plans were to be closer to society by ploughing back to the community which deals with the agro-company.

Mr Zulu said safety of the community Cargill dealt with was priority, adding that, before construction of a 1 x 3 classroom block, the pupils were learning from grass thatched structures which were very dangerous to conduct lessons from, especially during the rainy season.

[ ZANIS ]

Zanaco Confed Cup Dreams End

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Zanaco’s dreams of reaching the Confederation Cup semifinals at the end of October ended today when they were held 1-1 at home by FUS Rabat of Morocco at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka today.

The draw means FUS book their semifinal with a game to spare and moved up to 10 points.

FUS take up one of the two semifinal slots from Group B while two-time Confederation Cup champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia on seven points could join the Moroccans this evening when they host bottom placed Haras El Hodoud of Egypt.

Zanaco move to five points from as many games played heading into their final game away to Haras on October 17 who have two points going into their penultimate Group B game away in Tunisia this evening.

FUS dominated Zanaco throughout a scoreless first half inspired by their attacking pair of Hicham Fatihi and the Niger striker Alhassane Issoufu.

The Moroccans took a deserved lead in the 50th minute thanks to a superbly taken shot from Issoufu who rifled in a left-foot shot in front of Zanaco’s goalmouth from a Fatihi corner.

The Niger international striker cracked in a left-footed shot in front of Zanaco’s goalmouth from a Fatihi corner in an unguarded position inside the box.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 73th minute through first half substitute midfielder Simon Silwiumba when he struck a sublime long-range shot with his right foot on the back of a labored attack by Zanaco.

FUS almost completed back-to-back wins over Zanaco whom they beat 1-0 in the first leg on August 14 in Rabat but midfielder Amine Bakkali’s long-range free kick that was parried by Titima subsequently came to nothing in the 88th minute.

Namugala Calls for Private involvement in Game ranches

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Tourism minister Catherine Namugala and United Nations Development Programme country co-ordinator Macleod Nyirongo during a press briefing on the Copenhagen climate change summit
Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala

Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala has called on the private sector in Zambia to partner with Government in establishing privately- owned game ranches across the country.

And Ms Namugala has further disclosed that the Tourism industry in Zambia had created many jobs for the citizens describing the sector as second in terms of driving the country’s economy from Agriculture.

ZANIS reports that speaking during the official Launch of the Wild Life Association of Zambia Open day at Lilayi Lodge in Lusaka today, Ms Namugala said so far, there were over 126 privately- owned game ranches throughout the country saying the number was not enough and had since called for more from the private sector.

She said that Government was geared to ensuring that innovative ways in the tourism sector were encouraged by venturing in non-traditional areas such as game ranching for the country’s development.

The tourism Minister also revealed that Government was reviewing the Wildlife Act to make it more inclusive and more viable for economic growth adding that there was hope that more private entrepreneurs would partner with Government in the sector.

She urged participants in the first ever open day to seriously look into challenges game management was facing in the country.

Mrs Namugala lamented that Government valued the preservation of Wildlife in the country, if the tourism sector was to flourish to profitable levels.

She also implored experts from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to work hand in hand with the private game owners in game ranching adding that Government would give necessary support in game management.

ZANIS

FRA pays K306bn to farmers

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has disclosed that it has so far paid out 306 billion kwacha to farmers countrywide with the latest release of 80 billion kwacha for the maize sold to the Agency.

The Agency said this is contrary to opposing views being issued by a cross section of society that FRA is not paying farmers who have sold their maize to it.

FRA Public Relations Officer Mwamba Siame in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today disclosed that another 150 billion kwacha would be released next week for maize purchase adding that the funds would be disbursed every week until all the farmers have been paid.

Mrs. Siame said the funds were a combination of Government injection and loans accessed from banks recently.

She revealed that the agency has also engaged paying banks and corporations across the country to ensure that their system remained alert to the huge amounts that were to be paid out to farmers.

Mrs. Siame however urged farmers countrywide to contact their warehouse managers in their respective areas to establish when they should go to the bank to receive their payments.

In another development, Mrs. Siame disclosed that FRA had so far exported 82, 000 metric tonnes of maize to Zimbabwe and projected that market prospects would continue to improve and offer a better price.

She said the crop mopping exercise to secure maize stocks was on coarse following the extension of the crop purchasing period to 31st October 2010.

ZANIS

Mpulungu, Chilanga by elections moved to 30th October

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The Electoral Commission of Zambia has postponed the poll date for the by-elections in Mpulungu and Chilanga Parliamentary Constituencies.

The same action also goes for five wards in various districts.

The elections will now be held on Saturday, 30th October rather than Thursday the 28th.

Making the announcement, ECZ public relations manager, Chris Akufuna said the postponement has been necessitated by the Grades 7, 9 and 12 examinations which will take place between 1st October to 3rd December at the same venues for the by-elections.

He however indicated that nomination dates will remain unchanged and proceed as planned on 7th October.

QFM

First Lady Thandiwe extols SOS Zambia

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First Lady Thandiwe Banda

First Lady Thandiwe Banda has paid tribute to SOS Children’s Villages Zambia for supplementing Government efforts in the provision of quality health care and education to children.

Mrs Banda who is also SOS Zambia Ambassador called for enhanced partnerships between Government and stakeholders in programmes that aims at uplifting the welfare of children in the country

ZANIS reports that the First Lady said this when she graced the SOS Children’s Villages Zambia, fundraising musical concert by Lee John and the Imagination Band from the United Kingdom in Lusaka.

Mrs Banda said it’s the duty of citizens to look after children as Government alone cannot manage due to meagre resources.

Earlier, SOS Children’s Villages Zambia National Director Florence Phiri said the village is currently supporting over 6 000 children at its three villages in Lusaka, Livingstone and Kitwe.

Mrs Phiri said the village has diversified its parameters by reaching out to other children in poorer communities surrounding the villages.

And speaking at the same function, SOS Children’s Villages Zambia Board Chairperson, Lucie Kasanda said plans are also underway to construct another children’s village in North-Western Province.

Ms Kasanda said this is in line with the village’s programme of targeting 16 000 children to be at its villages by the year 2016.

Proceeds from the fundraising will go towards the construction of the children’s village in Chipata, Eastern Province which is being funded by SOS-UK.

The Chipata Village will be home to 180 children and offer support to over 1 000 beneficiaries in the surrounding community.

ZANIS