Katanga Governor Moses Katumbi has denied that he is in the process of buying Kasaba Bay, a tourist resort in Northern Province. Mr Katumbi was speaking during a question-and-answer session with journalists that he had no interest to invest in the Zambian tourism sector.

“Although there is no law blocking me from buying any properties here in Zambia where I have a number of properties even today, I have no intentions to buy Kasaba Bay. Perhaps if it was a mine or an industry I could have interest in it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Katanga Province and Lafarge Cement yesterday signed a K50 billion (US$10 million) agreement for the supply of cement to the DRC region that is undertaking massive construction works.

Mr Katumbi signed the cement purchase deal on behalf of his provincial government while Lafarge Cement operations manager, Elililia Usiri represented the company’s management during the signing ceremony held at the Ndola cement manufacturing plant.

Mr Katumbi said the more than 50,000 tonnes of cement would be used for a $3 billion infrastructure reconstruction programme under which schools, hospitals, a drainage system and road infrastructure were being reconstructed.

The DRC government had embarked on a nationwide infrastructure development programme after the country’s cooperating partners wrote off a $10 billion debt when the country attained the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) completion point.

Mr Katumbi said DRC attainment of the HIPC completion point was as a result of the good record in human rights and good governance set by President Joseph Kabila’s administration.

Mr Usiri said the Lafarge plant had capacity to produce 400,000 tonnes of cement per year and currently 5,000 tonnes were ready for delivery to Katanga Province after the deal was signed.

The signing of the cement deal was witnessed by Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya and Ndola Mayor Charles Chiwala, Katanga Province Infrastructure Development minister, Lubumbashi mayor, Kolwezi mayor and some DRC embassy officials.

First lady Thandiwe Banda says simple sustainable transport is an essential tool in the provision of quality education and mitigating poverty. The first lady said this at State House on Wednesday when she received the First 100 bicycles of over 5,000 bicycles from the World Bicycle Relief (WBR) on behalf of Nakajoli Basic School in Mumbwa, Central Province.

Mrs. Banda said the bicycles will be delivered to over 40 schools for pupils and teachers to use in Mumbwa district. She said the Bicycle programme is aimed at improving the education in 17 rural districts through the nine provinces of Zambia by supplying 50,000 quality bicycles to pupils , teachers and community supporters.

The First lady noted that many children and teachers face many challenges in rural communities throughout Zambia hence the need to empower them with such a programme.

Mrs. Banda noted that bicycles can be an essential tool to link the pupil and Teacher and improve educational outcomes. She said 70 percent of the donated bicycles will be distributed to pupils and 30 percent will distributed to teachers and identified community supporters. Mrs Banda said Government has recognised the special vulnerabilities of the girl child especially in rural areas.

She added that Government has implemented the education policy to help mitigate these discrepancies and empower the girl child adding that other stakeholders should emulate this effort.

The first lady thanked World Bicycle Relief World Vision and other implementing partners for the gesture and commitment to improving education in Zambia .

World Bicycle Relief (WBR) Head of African operations Dave Neiwander said his organisation is committed to ensuring that Zambian education isimproved for people living in rural areas.

Mr Neiwander thanked the first lady for her commitment towards the education sector and especially to the vulnerable in rural communities. He pledged continued support to programmes aimed at empowering youth to meet the challenges they face in rural communities.

Mr Neiwander thanked Government for partnering with his organisation through Ministry of Education and World Vision in assisting the vulnerable in society who travel long distances due to lack of transport.

He said so far, over 5,000 bicycles have been delivered to Chongwe district where over 120 bicycle field mechanical officers have been trained.

ZANIS

Fifteen people are reported to have died while, 17 others sustained serious injuries during the heroes and unity holidays through out the country.
Central Province recorded the highest number of deaths with six, followed by North-Western and Northern Provinces that recorded three respectively.
Lusaka , Southern and Eastern Provinces each recorded one death while Copperbelt, Western and Luapula Provinces recorded nil returns.

This is according to a press statement released and made available ZANIS in Lusaka Wednesday by Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso.

And a total of 76 road traffic accidents were recorded through out the country with Lusaka recording the highest with 32 followed by Copperbelt
with 14 and Northern with 10. North-Western had nine, Eastern eight and Central had two with Southern recording only one accident.

This year has recorded an increase in deaths as compared to last year when only nine people were killed, but with a reduction of accidents unlike last
year when 125 were recorded

ZANIS

The Church has commended President Rupiah Banda for apologising to United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and has since asked other politicians to emulate the humility exhibited by Mr Banda.

Speaking in separate interviews, the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), and Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) said Mr Banda has shown high levels of humility, which should be emulated by other politicians.

CCZ general secretary Suzanne Matale said by apologising publicly, Mr Banda was leading by example, which the citizens and politicians in particular, should emulate.

Now that President Banda has apologised publicly to Mr Hichilema and his family, Reverend Matale said the Church expected the opposition leader to accept that.

“That was a good gesture from the president. He has shown humility and is leading by example.

“If we wrong people it is incumbent upon us to apologise and as the Church we expect the Hichilema family to accept the apology,” Rev Matale said.

She said the Church was hopeful that following the apology, politicians would work at promoting unity in the country, particularly that the nation was preparing for elections next year.
[pullquote]“That was a good gesture from the president. He has shown humility and is leading by example.

“If we wrong people it is incumbent upon us to apologise and as the Church we expect the Hichilema family to accept the apology,” Rev Matale said[/pullquote]
Rev Matale said it was important for all citizens to realise that there was no human being regardless of their status who could not make a mistake.

It was, therefore, soothing that the president realised that he had made a mistake and offered an apology.

EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza said President Banda should be commended for the action he had taken.

Reverend Mwanza said it was difficult for some people to apologise publicly.
He said Mr Banda had showed the citizens that it was possible despite somebody’s status in society.

“As the Church, we are encouraged by the president for taking such a humble position and we commend him. Humility and maturity are important if we are to foster unity in the country,” Rev Mwanza said.

ICOZ president David Masupa said it took humility for a person to realise that they had made a mistake and apologise.

“It only takes a servant of God to be that magnanimous and we only hope that other politicians can emulate President Banda. How many politicians have apologised for their mistakes?” Rev Masupa asked.

Rev Masupa also appealed to the Asian community to accept the president’s apology, saying his statement was not meant to injure them.

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) have also welcomed the president’s apology to Mr Hichilema, saying Mr Banda has demonstrated maturity and good leadership.

ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba said apologising did not mean that President Banda was weak but showed how mature and humble he was.

“We all make mistakes by virtue of being human beings but the best to do is what the president has done, by humbling himself and that shows integrity,” Mr Mwaba said.

The apology had showed that the president was accountable to the people of Zambia and had respect for humanity.

TIZ president Rueben Lifuka said he appreciated and valued the president’s apology because politics needed to reach that level, where the Head of State could apologise publicly for doing something wrong.

Mr Lifuka said the action had set the tone that politicians needed to focus on real issues that would bring development to the country.

He said doing so would reduce confusion and unnecessary tension.

[ Times of Zambia ]

President Lula Da Silva’s plane touched down at Lusaka International Airport around 17:10 hours and was received by his Zambian counterpart President Rupiah Banda and several senior government officials.

He immediately proceeded to inspect a guard of honor mounted by the Zambia Army’s Second Battalion before he was accorded a 21-man gun salute.

President Lula Da Silva later left in the company of his counterpart President Banda without speaking to journalists who had turned out at the airport.

He president Banda is expected to treat his guest to a State Banquet later this evening at Intercontinental Hotel.

President Lula Da Silva is visiting Zambia at the invitation of President Banda.

The two leaders are expected to hold official talks at State House tomorrow morning before witnessing the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) in different fields between the two countries.

Among the agreements to be signed include, the production and utilization of biofuels, strengthening the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS; and technical cooperation in the field of sports and education.
[ QFM ]

Transparency International Zambia TIZ has demanded that Government silently and quickly reinstate the clause of the abuse of office offence in the revised Anti Corruption Commission Act that has been removed.

This came to light last week when Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa questioned the Vice president during the vice president’s question time in Parliament as to why Government has removed the clause from the revised ACC Act which will be presented to parliament for amendment.

Transparency Executive Director Goodwell Lungu says it is not too late for the Government to reverse the grave mistake made by removing the clause for unknown reasons.

Mr Lungu explained that the complete removal of the clause from the ACC Act will completely kill the fight against graft in the country, in view of the high corruption levels.

[pullquote]Vice-President Kunda last Friday threatened Katuba MMD Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa when the latter questioned government’s motive for removing the offence of abuse of office from the revised ACC Act during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament.[/pullquote]

He also observed that the move by Government is contradictory to the African Convention against Corruption as well as the United Nations guidelines and provisions on the fight against Corruption to which Zambia is a signatory.

He said there was need for amendments to the Anti Corruption Commission Act which will build confidence in the people of Zambia with regards the fights against corruption and not amends which will only benefit a few individuals.

Mr Lungu said Government should rescind its decision to remove the clause from the Act if it is aware about what is best for the Zambians.

And Mr Lungu said there need to consider broadening the definition of what constitute corrupt acts and abuse of office.

He also reaffirmed the need for ACC commissioners’ appointments to be ratified by Parliament.

Vice-President Kunda last Friday threatened Katuba MMD Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa when the latter questioned government’s motive for removing the offence of abuse of office from the revised ACC Act during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament.

QFM

GOVERNMENT has instituted investigations to establish how K1.7 billion has allegedly been misappropriated at the Lusaka City Council (LCC).

Minister of Local Government and Housing Eustarckio Kazonga said Government is seeking a comprehensive forensic audit to trace the money and the culprits involved in the alleged scam.

Dr Kazonga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government is concerned and disappointed with people that are misapplying public funds, adding that stringent measures have been put in place to ensure that the culprits are punished.

He said police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have moved to the LCC to investigate the matter.

“We have instituted investigations to establish how the K1.7 billion went missing at the LCC, these are funds that were meant for service delivery but now, people are misusing the funds.

“These people are frustrating Government efforts in the delivery of quality and improved service to the people,” Dr Kazonga said.

Dr Kazonga said once investigations are concluded, Government will act in accordance with the recommendations that the investigative agencies will come up with.

He said Government is concerned with the missing funds and that it wants an account of how the local authority will recover the money that was misapplied.

Dr Kazonga said Government has set up financial regulations to ensure that all local authorities spend money on service provision and less on personal emoluments.

“We have just concluded our internal audit and what I can confirm now is that K1.7 billion has been misused. We have asked the Anti-Corruption Commission and police to move in and investigate the matter because we suspect more funds have been stolen,” he said.

Dr Kazonga said his ministry is working out measures to ensure that development targets are attained in all the 72 local authorities.

The statutory audit reports for 2008/9 have revealed irregularities in the Patriotic Front-run councils.

In April, this year Mr Kazonga gave LCC, Ndola City Council and Kitwe City Council a 60-day ultimatum to prepare an action-oriented report in which the local authorities are expected to explain how they would correct the weaknesses in the management of resources.

Dr Kazonga also wanted an account of how the councils would recover the misapplied funds, set up financial regulations and ensure that they spend more funds on service provision and less on personal emoluments.

[Zambia Daily Mail]