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Vice president George Kunda and his wife Irene
MMD Katuba Member of Parliament (MP) Jonas Shakafuswa has charged that Vice president George Kunda wrongly advised late president Levy Mwanawasa in his pursuance of alleged plunderers.
Mr Shakafuswa said he laughs at the vice president each time he remembers the advice he used to give to the late president.
He said the recent unfolding events with regards to the outcome of corruption cases of high profile politicians is an indication that the vice president started a losing battle.
Mr Shakafuswa noted that this also renders all the efforts, the money, and other resources used to pursue cases of plunder to be in vain.
Mr Shakafuswa added that all this is proof that Mr Kundu who was Justice Minister at that time wrongly advised the late president.
He told QFM that it makes sad reading to start recalling the days when Mr Kunda was at the helm of the fight against corruption.
The MP said that the money spent on pursuing corruption cases would have been well utilized if government knew that the fighting was not going to yield any results.
[ QFM ]
Myth 1: Judge Hamaundu’s Verdict Reversed the London Judgment
Reality: Judge Hamaundu’s verdict did not deal with the substantive issues of whether Chiluba was liable or not, or whether Judge Peter Smith was right or not. Instead, all Judge Hamaundu ruled on was on whether the Government could serve Chiluba with the London High Court papers so that he recompenses Government for what Judge Smith said was Chiluba’s liability. Judge Hamaundu ruled that the law Government relied on in its application to register the London judgment was insufficient. However, Hamaundu stated, that the Government could have relied on common law, but that was not his responsibility to tell them how they should have sought to register this judgment. The courts cannot make up for the legal recklessness of a party to a lawsuit.
Myth 2: After Judge Hamaundu’s ruling the London High Court ruling loses its effect
Reality: As a ruling which was obtained in the jurisdiction of England and Wales, the London High Court is still an effective ruling, unless it is appealed or overruled by the higher courts of England. The Government of Zambia can still serve it on Chiluba within England or European jurisdictions. The question, therefore, should be how much of the verdict has actually been effected within its own jurisdiction? The Zambian government cannot make up in Lusaka what it has failed to do in London.
Myth 3: The London High Court judgment was supposed to be recognized by Zambian courts based on international laws
Reality: There is nothing in international law that obligates a sovereign jurisdiction to recognise or effect judgments from another sovereign jurisdiction. International law is not a set of laws that nations mandatory abide by; rather it is a complex mix of conventions and agreements that nations agree to voluntarily. But the London High Court ruling is not part of international law unless there is an Agreement of Legal Reciprocity between the jurisdiction of England and Zambia. From the look of things, there is no legal framework for the reciprocation of judgments between England and Zambia. And that is the reason why after Shansonga ran away from Zambia’s legal jurisdiction to England, the Zambian police could not even attempt to ask England to extradite Shansonga! Similarly, in the case of contempt involving the Post Newspapers and Fred Membe, one of the co-accused Sam Mujuda could not be served with court papers from the Zambian magistrate courts because he was outside its jurisdiction in England. When Professor Muna Ndulo faced the same “Comedy of Errors” predicament, he was quick to answer that the Zambian magistrate court could not reach him in the comfort of the United States of America!
On the other hand there are some courts, on the principle of jurisdictional sovereignty and equality, which the international communities have set up such as the International Courts of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). All these courts are specialised courts that deal with particular issues in matters of its members or those that have signed their constitutive acts. Similarly, the International Criminal Tribunal is a specialised international court that tries cases of crimes against humanity and genocide. It should be noted that the London High Court is not an international court in the fashion that the ICJ or the ICC is.
Myth 4: The London High Court is superior to the Lusaka High Court
Reality: This is unfortunately believed by some very well-meaning people. The Zambian court systems are not subservient to the English Courts. Both English and Zambian courts are sovereign courts in their own rights, and are effective within their own jurisdiction. The Zambian High Court is not obliged to follow or obey London and neither is London obliged to follow Lusaka. However, the legal judgments and opinions are of persuasive value to each jurisdiction.
Myth 5: Zambia should follow English Judgments because it is a Commonwealth country which follows Common Law
Reality: Yes, Zambia as well many other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria and the United States of America, are known as Common Law jurisdictions. These common law systems differ from Civil Law systems such as France, Germany and Quebec or hybrid systems such as Scotland, Israel, and South Africa. Common Law systems are so called because their foundation of law is based upon the English Legal Systems, and as such much of their legal philosophy is based upon the legal foundations of England and Wales. Major cornerstones of the common law system are that it is mainly based on tradition, judicial precedence, and common law judgements. However, following a common law legal system is not synonymous with being subservient to English High Court or the Supreme Court of England and Wales. In fact, even if all these countries follow the Common Law system they differ with each other on several substantive laws. Being a common law country does not mean that the current English judgments set a precedence for all the other jurisdictions to follow. In other words, London High Court or Supreme Court of England and Wales (formerly the House of Lords) do not make laws or make judgements for everybody else apart from themselves and their jurisdictions.
Myth 6: Judge Peter Smith ruled that Chiluba was a thief
Reality: Ruling that someone is a thief, in its legal sense, is the responsibility of a criminal court. Of course, in informal ways people label any one they want as a thief, but that does not make a thief before the law. Judge Peter Smith only ruled on a civil case in which he held that Chiluba was liable to repay the Zambian government monies which the Judge felt Chiluba had either misappropriated or misused. There is a distinction between a civil case and a criminal case. A civil case is one in which one part sues the other party for compensation over civil liability. This may happen usually between private individuals or companies. As an example, a civil case is usually brought to have the respondent pay compensation to the plaintiff. On the other hand a criminal case is brought by the State or in the case of England by the Crown, against an accused or a defendant who is charged by the prosecution with a crime, such theft, murder, treason, and contempt of court. Theft is a crime and as such, only the prosecution (that is the Crown or the State) can bring a matter against the accused. In London, the Zambian government could not have instituted a criminal case against Chiluba unless the Crown so decided.
The Zambian government on the other hand, decided to charge Chiluba with a crime of theft in the Zambian court system. In a criminal case, it is the responsibility of the prosecution to prove to the court beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime he is charged with. In a civil case it is incumbent upon the plaintiff to prove on a balance of probabilities that the respondent wronged him or broke the contract as the case may be. When Chiluba was charged with theft in the Zambian courts, it was incumbent upon the Zambian prosecution to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Chiluba had stolen. For the accused to be guilty of theft the prosecution must prove several elements, first it must be proved that the accused appropriated property, second that property belonged to another, third that the accused had the intention to permanently deprive the other of the property, and fourthly that the accused was dishonest. The prosecution in the case of Chiluba needed to prove all these elements for Chiluba to be convicted. On the other hand if the accused convinces the court that just one of these elements is not true then he cannot be convicted of theft. That is exactly what Chiluba and his lawyers did in the criminal case here in Zambia. All they argued was that the money Chiluba was accused of appropriating was indeed his money which he put in the ZAMTROP account. To support this evidence they collected the Zambian Supreme Court’s judgment in the presidential petition between Mazoka and others v. Levy Mwanawasa. That evidence was enough to create doubt in the Court’s mind, as such Chiluba was acquitted.
Myth 7: The Zambian Courts had the Responsibility to Jail Chiluba
Reality: The Courts can only jail a person who is guilty of a criminal offence. As stated above, before the courts try a case, it is up to the State to make their minds on which offense they will charge the accused. In the case of Chiluba of all the charges they could have brought against him the State chose to bring the charge of theft. Now theft in complex matters such as Chiluba’s case was going to be difficult to prosecute because of the many elements the prosecution needed to prove. All Chiluba needed was clever lawyers that would discredit the prosecution’s case on just any of the many elements. The reason why the Mwanawasa government decided to go for the theft charge is still a mystery when they could have pursued other charges which had some chance of success. The charge with the most success could have been the charge of the abuse of the authority of office, under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. In fact, most of Chiluba’s compatriots have been convicted under this Act, but in the Zambian prosecution’s sovereign decision they went for theft. And what Magistrate Chinyama ruled on, was great embarrassment to the Zambian clever prosecutors. The courts cannot make up for the inefficiency of the prosecution. If the State decides to charge Chiluba with theft and they fail to prove theft, the courts cannot make up for the State’s foolishness. Please leave Chiluba alone, he is not sorely responsible for this legal mess we all are!
Defending Super Division champions Zanaco will try to make Nchanga Rangers feel like title pretenders when they clash at Nchanga stadium in Chingola on Saturday in a Week 22 game.
Not only do rangers lead the table but also have the privilege of beating Zanaco this season in a week 7 game last may at Sunset stadium in Lusaka.
It will be interesting to see how Zanaco, with five losses under their belt this season so far, will handled themselves in Chingola.
Rangers have lost just once all of this season at Nchanga and that was against second placed Zesco United who beat them 2-1 on May 22.
Victory over Zanaco will see rangers extend their stay at the top of the Super Division table to a third successive week as they search for their first league title since 1998.
A hawker selling carrier bags near the filthy alley near the New Soweto Market in Lusaka
By Gerald Nkisu Katayi
Lawlessness according to Mr. Webster is something that is not regulated, restrained or controlled by law. Lawlessness therefore could mean; the law is being ignored. This attitude breeds anarchy.
Zambia is a beautiful country with wonderful people who live in harmony without creating atrocities for themselves due to differences in tribe, race, or religion like other countries in Africa and around the world.
Despite these positive attributes, Zambia remains a poor country in Africa with very high levels of poverty and diseases. To a degree this is due to lawlessness. A visit to down town in Lusaka will bring you to a group of women with small children selling fruits, fish, meat and vegetables by the road side. Pedestrians throwing banana skins at will, hawkers litter the streets with impunity. Street corners are turned into water closets leaving behind horrible stitch.
Every rain season uncollected piles of garbage remains an eye sore in many towns and cities. The less privileged that live in high density areas lose their loved ones to water borne diseases like cholera and dysentery because of the unsanitary conditions they inhabit. Some of these deaths could be avoided if civic education is reinforced, law and order restored.
Shanty compounds look like a gate way to hell. Lawlessness reign! Bars and Taverns open as early as five or six in the morning and close late the following day. Some operate 24 hours without authorization. These drinking places become the womb of evil where prostitution, child abuse, and diseases are conceived. And the end results are AIDS, poverty, crime and untimed deaths. Poverty should not send people to break the law; instead they should do what they do legally.
Unfortunately these characteristics are now not limited to peri- ubarn areas any more. A visit to Kabwata shows no difference. Prostitution is high; music from the bars is too loud; you can hear it a mile away. An unwanted pregnancy which leads to unplanned children among the teenage girls in this vicinity is growing.
How can sanity return to our society? The Local Government Act stipulates clearly how towns and cities must be managed. The guide lines ranges from drinking places, streets, buildings etc. For example, no illegal selling on the streets, Music should be enjoyed at a volume where you don’t annoy or disturb the neighbors. Under age drinking, prostitution, and using unauthorized areas to answer the call of nature is forbidden.
The people who drafted this Act were seeking for a civilized and progressive society. Chingola used to be the cleanest town in Zambia, Lusaka was a garden city. Today all that is gone with the wind. When lawlessness creeps in any society, decay, poverty and crime become the order of the day. This is where Zambia is heading…Cleanliness is closer to godliness!
Citizens should be reminded of the laws that govern their society every day by any means possible. The church and civic bodies must contribute by educating their constituencies. But above all; it is the responsibility of those with political power to regulate and reinforce the law.
Late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son Patrick has questioned the coincidence of the courts’ decisions on former president Fredrick Chiluba’s cases with his father’s death anniversaries.
Patrick recalled that last year, Dr Chiluba was acquitted two days before his father’s memorial, while the high court decision to dismiss an application seeking to register the London high court came almost a week before the second anniversary of the late president’s death.
He said he does not understand the rationale behind the coincidence in the dates.
In an interview, Patrick bemoaned that things that his father fought for have now been abandoned by the current regime.
He observed that people who worked closely with his father have now abandoned his plans and strategy.
Patrick, however, remained optimistic that things would change and will be better for all the people in the country.
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) owes farmers in Kawambwa District K3 billion for about 45,000 x 50 kilogramme bags of white maize that have so far been bought in the district.
Senior Agriculture Officer (SAO), Samson Chipeta disclosed the development to ZANIS in an interview in Kawambwa yesterday.
Mr Chipeta said FRA has only paid K 77 million to 12 farmers since the maize marketing exercise began in July this year.
He said the amount of money paid to farmers is equivalent to about 1,200 x 50 kg bags of white maize.
He said because of the delay to release enough funds, many farmers in the area have started storming his office to air their grievances.
Mr Chipeta said the situation is worrying because agriculture is an income for the farmers and they need to be paid on time to ease their sufferings.
Meanwhile, Mr Chipeta has complained at the delay by the transporters to deliver maize from satellite depots to the main depot.
He said his office carried out a survey yesterday and discovered that there is a lot of maize not yet collected at various satellite depots in the district because of the transporters’ slow pace.
And main depot manager, Michael Nonde also confirmed to ZANIS in a separate interview that farmers have not been paid their money up to now and urged them to be patient.
Mr Nonde also said there is slow pace of maize collection from satellite depots in the area because there are few trucks.
He said there is need to increase the number of trucks especially bigger ones to speed up the process and to enhance the marketing exercise.
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema
UNITED Party for national Development (UPND) officials have said their leader Hakainde Hichilema is best suited to lead the pact and urged Patriotic Front (PF) members to stop treating UPND as a junior partner.
Bweengwa Member of Parliament (MP) Highvie Hamududu said the party would not allow the PF to treat their president Mr Hichilema as a junior partner in the pact.
And UPND national youth chairperson, Joe Kalusa said yesterday it was only Mr Hichilema who was the rightful candidate for the pact and Republican presidency.
UPND Copperbelt chairperson Elisha Matambo also said Mr Hichilema should lead the party’s pact with PF because he had the age benefit and good leadership skills.
They were all reacting to Nkana MP Mwenya Musenge’s statement that Mr Hichilema should stand aside and allow Mr Sata to run for the Republican presidency.
Mr Hamududu said yesterday in Lusaka that UPND was an equal partner that deserved respect.
“The earlier they respect us the better for the pact because we shall not allow them to continue to demean out president,” he said.
Mr Kalusa said yesterday that it was only Mr Hichilema who was the rightful candidate for the pact presidency as well as Republican presidency.
He said Mr Sata should instead stand aside and allow the UPND president to contest the pact presidency.
He said with PF vice-president Guy Scott’s last week’s analysis of the UPND poularity, the UPND was now scared that Mr Hichilema would be dribbled and would not be given the Republican vice-presidency if Mr Sata was sworn in as president.
And Mr Matambo said in an interview yesterday that Mr Hichilema was the right person to lead Zambia because, like former president Kenneth Kaunda who was in his 40s when he went to State House, the UPND leader had age on his side and would withstand the rigours of being republican president.
He said contrary to Mr Musenge’s views, Mr Hichilema stood a good chance of being chosen as the pact presidential candidate for the 2011 elections because he had the qualities of being president.
Last week, the UPND accused PF of not being sincere following an article authored by Dr Scott in a daily tabloid where he questioned the UPND’s popularity after the Luena and Chifubu by-elections.
The PF and UPND contested against each other in the Kaoma and Chadiza local government by- elections of August 5 this year.
GOVERNMENT will not appeal against the verdict by the Lusaka High Court in a matter in which it sought the registration and enforcement of the London judgment that found second president Frederick Chiluba and seven others guilty of theft of US$46 million.
Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha also challenged Senior Chief Bright Nalubamba, The Post, and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) to explain why they did not demand an appeal in a matter in which Post news editor Chansa Kabwela was acquitted over possession of pornographic material.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Government’s view was that the nation should move ahead and concentrate on providing development and other services instead of persecuting former heads of State and satisfy foreign interests.
He said all citizens, including Chief Nalubamba, had an obligation to respect the outcome of the courts and the weight of the judiciary instead of pouring scorn on critical institutions that should be held in high esteem.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said TIZ, The Post newspaper, Chief Nalubamba and some critical civil society organisations were fond of condemning verdicts that went against the wishes of the people whose interests they wanted to satisfy.
“You cannot celebrate the acquittal of Chansa Kabwela today because we did not appeal and then tomorrow you demand an appeal when others have been cleared,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
[pullquote]“You cannot celebrate the acquittal of Chansa Kabwela today because we did not appeal and then tomorrow you demand an appeal when others have been cleared,” Gen Shikapwasha said.[/pullquote]
The Zambian Government, through the office of the Attorney General had been pursuing the registration of the verdict passed in London by Judge Peter Smith but the court ruled on Friday that there was no reciprocal arrangement between Zambia and the United Kingdom to facilitate the registration of the judgment.
Dr Chiluba had contested late Judge Japhet Banda’s order to register the judgment in Zambia, arguing that he could not be tried by a British judge being a citizen of another sovereign State.
Gen Shikapwasha said it was unfortunate that critical civil society organisations and a traditional leader could bring the reputation of the Zambian judiciary down when the institution was enjoying respect internationally.
He said Zambian judges were highly respected by international organisations that include COMESA and the SADC Tribunal where they were serving.
The minister said the Government did not have anything to do with the verdict passed by the High Court.
Critics of the Government wanted to satisfy the interests of foreign agencies at the expense of national interest that included respect for the judicial system.
There had been many verdicts passed against the Government and no appeals had been lodged to avoid protracting legal matters and diverting from its development agenda and national unity.
[pullquote]But US embassy public affairs officer, Priscilla Hernandez said recovering the money would have sent a strong message about Zambia’s commitment to good governance for the benefit of investors, US tax payers and other countries who provide assistance to Zambia.[/pullquote]
But US embassy public affairs officer, Priscilla Hernandez said recovering the money would have sent a strong message about Zambia’s commitment to good governance for the benefit of investors, US tax payers and other countries who provide assistance to Zambia.
She said the outcome was a lost opportunity for Zambians and the US government had followed events connected to Dr Chiluba’s civil judgment with great interest.
She observed that Dr Chiluba’s case had garnered significant interest in the international media and continued to influence the way donors and investors perceive Zambia’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
“It is crucial that serious efforts to combat corruption at all levels continue to be pursued vigorously and effectively. We have ongoing dialogue with the Government on corruption,” Ms Hernandez said in a media release in Lusaka yesterday.
President Rupiah Banda says the City of Lusaka and the city of Maputo should work together and exchange developmental ideas in order for them to grow into greater cities economically.
President Banda said the two cities share a lot of similarities in many areas and should therefore cooperate towards developing into economic hubs.
He said when one of the two cities faces challenges of any form, it means the other would not enjoy as well.
President Banda said this today at Maputo City Council when he received the key to the city from the Mayor of Maputo, David Simango.
The handing over of the Key to the visitor into a city is a symbolic welcome to a special guest to that particular city.
Mr. Banda said Zambia and Mozambique share long history of bilateral relations which should be enhanced at all levels of governance.
He said although Mozambicans were paying tribute to Zambia for the role she played in helping liberate their country, the Zambian people were also grateful of the cooperation existing between the two countries.
He said when people of the neighbouring country are not free, it means Zambia was not free as well hence the need to support each other in many areas.
The President assured the people of Mozambique that Zambia was ready to welcome them at any time because the people from the two countries were culturally, socially and economically the same despite being separated by geographical borders.
Earlier in the day, President Banda paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Mozambican National Assembly, Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlovu, where he said the role of parliament was to unite people regardless of their political affiliations.
President Banda said Mozambican parliament, which comprises members from three different political parties, was exhibiting tenets of democracy.
And Speaker of the National Assembly, Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlovu thanked President Banda for considering visiting parliament during his three days state visit to Mozambique.
This evening, the President is expected to meet Zambians living in Mozambique. This will be after returning from Beira, which is about 1,000 Kilometres from Maputo, where he has gone to tour Beira Port facilities.
President Banda winds up his three day state visit to this country tomorrow after touring the animal science directorate of the Mozambique National Research Institute.
Zain Zambia has today donated K 50 million to three traditional ceremonies namely, Kulamba Kubwalo of the Lenje people, Kunda Malaila of the Kunda people and Kulamba of the Chewa people.
Speaking during the handover of the cheques to the chairpersons of the three organizing committees, Zain Zambia Commercial Director Mark Ocitti said the three ceremonies have a special role to play in Zambia’s history and should therefore be preserved not only for future generations but for tourists and scholars who want to know the country’s cultural diversity.
Mr. Ocitti said Zain has planned to spend three quarters of a billion kwacha to sponsor traditional ceremonies on the calendar this year.
He disclosed that this year alone Zain has spent a total of K 250 million in sponsoring traditional ceremonies such as N’cwala, Kuomboka, Umotomboko, Builile, Lwiindi, Kazanga of Kabompo and Kazanga of Kaoma.
Mr. Ocitti has since announced that the telecommunication company will be conducting activities at the ceremonies so as to encourage and educate people on the use of mobile phone in order to enhance their lives.
He noted that the usage of mobile phones in rural areas was low adding that Zain would like to empower people with phones and also educate them on how to maximize the usage of handsets.
And receiving the donation, Kulamba ceremony organizing committee chairperson Lameck Mangani, Kulamba Kubwalo organizing chairperson Bishop Luputa and Malambo Cultural Association Chairman Robert Kamuzimbi all thanked Zain Zambia for the donation.
They noted that Zain is one of the companies committed to promoting Zambia’s traditional ceremonies adding that the gesture should be commended.
Lameck Mangani who is also Science and Technology Deputy Minister said government will always appreciate and support companies that help local people preserve their cultural and heritage.
Kulamba Kubwalo of the Lenje people which will take place on October 2, was given K10 million while Kulamba of the Chewa people got K 30 million and Kunda Malaila ceremony of the Kunda people which will be held on 28th august got K10 million.
FIRE swept through a dormitory at Saint Monica’s Girls Secondary school in Chipata this morning, destroying property worth millions of Kwacha.
Provincial Education Officer, Pilila Jere and school Head Teacher, Arthur Sakala, confirmed the development in Chipata today.
A ZANIS spot check revealed that four hundred and fifteen mattresses, 17 single beds and four single bankers were destroyed in the inferno which started around 02: 00 hours today.
In an interview with ZANIS, Mr. Sakala said 51 Asbestos iron sheets were also destroyed while 45 window panes were broken and 26 metal lockers were also damaged.
Meanwhile, sources at the school said the fire was noticed by a security guard who immediately alerted school authorities who later called the fire brigade.
The sources narrated that in the process of quenching the fire, the fire engine ran out of water and it had to go to Lutembwe Dam to draw water to continue putting off the fire.
And Mr. Sakala observed that the school was worried especially that pupils will be reporting back for lessons in two weeks time, adding that, there was no money to replace the burnt mattresses and repair the damaged building.
Mr. Sakala said from the assessment made, over K 200 million is needed to bring back the situation to normal, saying, pupils will find it difficult to sleep as the school which was already faced with the shortage of dormitories.
Meanwhile, Provincial Education Officer, Pilila Jere, said her office will sit down with school authorities to see the way forward.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba has called on employers in the country to ensure that they promote a decent working culture for their employees.
Mr. Kachimba noted that while government has put in place investment and economic policies meant to create employment, such jobs should be decent.
Speaking in Chongwe today in a meeting with farm employers and farmers union, Mr. Kachimba advised employers to ensure that they are not in conflict with labour laws.
He also warned employers not to engage in cheap labour as it usually leads to child labour adding that such activities call for prosecution.
The Deputy Minister urged employers to treat workers as human assets or capital, as well as strategic partners in the expansion and growth of their respective organizations.
He, however, appealed to workers to exercise discipline at all costs and channel their grievances in a proper way.
And Chongwe District Commissioner Japhen Mwakalombe noted that any concerns of labour are of great importance to the nation.
INFRASTRUCTURE at the Nitrogent Chemicals of Zambia is becoming obsolete. The firm needs needs K120 billion to recapitalise but the government has insists the fertiliser plant is not viable
Government says the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is on course of producing over 20 000 metric tones of Compound D fertilizer in readiness for the 2010/2011 farming season.
Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa said government has since funded the company in order to revamp its operations and produce the fertilizer which will be delivered to Lusaka, Central and Southern provinces.
Mr. Shawa disclosed this in a speech read for him by acting Lusaka Province Assistant Secretary Chileshe Kasoma at the official opening of the 5th Annual General Meeting of the Kafue District Cooperative Marketing Union in Chilanga, Kafue today.
The provincial minister observed that resumption of fertiliser production at the company will create new employment opportunities and guarantee existing ones for the locals in the district.
He commended the cooperative union for purchasing 40 000X 50 Kg of maize from small scale farmers at the cost of K2.6 billion in addition to what the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has purchased in the current marketing season.
Mr. Shawa challenged the cooperative union to take advantage of government’s various business incentives by engaging in the processing industry to add value to farm produce.
And speaking at the same function, Lusaka Province Cooperative Marketing Union Chairperson John Nsandwe commended government for assisting small scale farmers with subsided agricultural inputs.
Mr Nsandwe said the increase in the number of recipients of agricultural inputs under the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) is testimony of government’s commitment to the sector.
He hailed FRA for increasing the satellite depots from 7 to 9 in the area aimed at reducing the distance for farmers to access the market.
Over 122 delegates drawn from primary society that are affiliated to the district union have convened in Kafue District to elect a new executive committee following the expiry of mandate to the outgoing one.
-Equinox Minerals has generated an operating profit of $91.1 million during the second quarter ending June 30, this year, an increase of 11 percent over the first quarter of and an after tax profit of $73.4 million, representing an increase of 128 percent over the first quarter at its Lumwana mine in Solwezi.
According to the quarterly web report obtained by ZANIS in Solwezi today, copper production increased 44 percent over the first quarter and by 80 percent over the second quarter of 2009, with 43,835 tonnes (96.64 million pounds) of copper in concentrate produced.
The report further says the Company has achieved the lowest quarterly operating cost to date of $1.19 per pound of copper and has also achieved recoveries of 94 percent and mine head grade of 1.02 percent copper.
It further states that the company has increased cash resources to $212.2 million, an increase of $92.1 million over the first quarter.
As a result of positive operating cash flows, the Company has achieved Lumwana Mine design output levels for the first time with an excess of 5 million tonnes of ore mined while total material movement increased by 77percent over first quarter.
“[pullquote]We are extremely pleased to have delivered record copper production and operating profits this quarter. With improvements in all areas of mining and processing operations, our committed hard work over the past year is now paying off; Lumwana is starting to show its true potential,” Mr Williams said.[/pullquote]
The output levels also increased by 28percent compared to the corresponding quarter last year and ore mined increased by 65percent over the first and by 68 percent compared to the corresponding quarter last year.
Commenting on the results, Equinox President and Chief Executive Officer Craig Williams expressed extreme pleasure on the positive record copper production and operating profits in the second quarter of this year, saying Lumwana is starting to show its true potential.
“We are extremely pleased to have delivered record copper production and operating profits this quarter. With improvements in all areas of mining and processing operations, our committed hard work over the past year is now paying off; Lumwana is starting to show its true potential,” Mr Williams said.
Vice president George Kunda this morning led scores of people from all walks of life who turned up at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka for the memorial service of the late president Levy Mwanawasa.
Today marks two years since the death of Dr Mwanawasa. Speaking during the memorial service, vice president George Kunda said government will continue standing by the legacy of the late president.
He said government will continue to remain grateful to the late Dr Mwanawasa for his contribution to the country.
Mr Kunda adds that Dr Mwanawasa’s legacy will stand for generations to come. He further disclosed that government is still working on the policy guidance on how best to remember the late president.
And former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa challenged Zambians to learn to live in a truthful way for that is what the late president stood for. She says the Mwanawasa family is proud of what the late president achieved despite threats on his life and his family for his zero tolerance to corruption.
The memorial service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross was followed with the laying of wreaths at Embassy Park were the late president is buried. Dr Mwanawasa died on August 19,2008 at Percy Military Hospital in France after suffering a stroke while attending an African Union summit in the Egyptian Resort town of Sharm El-Sheik.
The late president was credited for his strong stance against corruption during his tenure as president.
