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The Weekend in Pictures
Rupiah is Zambia’s best president ever-Shikapwasha
Chief Government Spokesperson has described Republican President Rupiah Banda as the best president Zambia has ever had.
Rev. Shikapwasha saidpresident Banda’s regime has brought a lot of direct foreign investment into the country which cannot be compared to any other president in Zambia.
He said it is for this reason that the current government needs support from all the stakeholders instead of politicking.
Rev. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said Zambia has continued to record economic growth under the leadership of president Banda.
He added that Zambia is on track in achieving development and calls on Zambians to support Government efforts.
[QFM ]
Rupiah Banda visits maritime port facility site in Namibia
Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, on Friday set foot on a piece of land that Namibia has provided to Zambia to construct a maritime port facility in the port of Walvis Bay.
Africa Union Cargo (Pty) Limited, a division of South Africa Union Financial Services (Pty) Limited, is currently developing the 30 000-square metre site. Head of the Africa Union Cargo (Pty) Limited Namibia, Timothy Toussaint, informed President Banda that his company is working closely with NamPort in ensuring that a world-class infrastructure is built around the seaport area, to assist NamPort to continue offering efficient port services and to facilitate increase in trade and economic development in the region.
He said the site would be developed in two phases. A railway line runs through the middle of the area, where a 7 000-square-metre warehouse will be set up on the bigger part of the pristine land.
The site makes space for container handling and copper transfer handling.
The area will also be fitted with CCTV cameras as a safety measure.
The first part of the container handling will be operational after three months and full completion is expected in the second half of 2011. The investment is worth N$55 million after completion.
A representative of the Africa Union Financial Services (Pty) Limited, Albert Mumba, informed President Banda that the financing comes from his company’s internal resources, as the company could no longer qualify for a development loan on a compromised business plan. This is due to Namibia and the DRC suddenly pulling out of the signed agreement, and still expecting Zambia to singularly fund the cost of developing the corridor.
He appealed to President Banda, seeing that the Zambian government is satisfied with the level of the dry-port facility development so far, to expedite finalisation of the Mombassa Dry Port so that his company gets back on track in terms of the integrated off-take contracts that can boost their original business plan.
He said with Zambian mines in the first quarterly financial outlook showing an overall increase in copper production – and two more mines scheduled to restart – and without developing extra capacity at ports, exports are bound to suffer, and increases in production becomes meaningless if the end users cannot receive their cargo on time.
Mumba informed President Banda that the Zambian High Commission in Windhoek played a pivotal role in acquiring the prime land at the Namibian port.
Bisey Uirab, CEO of NamPort, told the visiting president, First Lady Thandiwe Banda and a ministerial delegation that the port was viewed as a God-given asset to the Namibian people and the entire SADC region, especially landlocked Zambia, Botswana, the DRC and Zimbabwe.
He said the dry port allocated to Zambia is seen as a significant development for NamPort. The recently signed Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor initiative will see an increase in the flow of cargo through the port.
Last year, Uirab said, the port handled 350 ships and promised that with the 634-strong workforce on his side both in Lüderitz and Walvis Bay, transshipment and transit will be maintained within the 3-4 days limit period. With other ports, he said, like Durban, Maputo, Dar es Salaam and Port Elizabeth, delivery to the land-locked countries takes 10 or more days, while all of them are the same distance from Lusaka as Walvis Bay.
NamPort, he said, is handling 5.4 million tonnes per year and it also loads and off-loads 350 000 containers per year.
The Trans-Kalahari Corridor is an additional route to Namibia, giving her a competitive advantage over her neighbours.
President Banda also visited the Walvis Bay Salt Company and the Etosha Fish Factory. He and his delegation left the country on Friday.
[New Era Publications]
For better or for worse
Can two walk together unless they are agreed? The rate of divorce in Zambia is going up. Divorce rates are also high in the church. People who should be setting the moral examples are now seen to be falling short.
This world is governed by laws. Just as everyone succumbs to the law of gravity whether rich or poor, politician or cadre, preacher or atheist, so there are laws that govern a successful marriage.
A couple ought to understand that men and women are wired differently and will therefore respond to things differently.Once this simple fact is accepted a lot of problems will be avoided.
Marriage is like a flower that wants watering every day or else it will be destroyed. So we must not rest on the fact that now that we are married we should not show any interest in our partner but let things as they come. It takes a lot of trouble and struggle to maintain quality and a genuine relationship. Every day we need to show our interest in our partner not only in words but also in deeds.[pullquote]Lets honor our marriages for good marriages breed good families which in turn breed good, strong societies.
[/pullquote]
Women generally are emotional beings, tend to talk a lot and love details. It is important for a husband to actively listen to his wife when she talks and show interest.A response like ‘hmmm’ doesn’t count.Husbands cherish and love your wives.Treat her well and she will make you happy.
In the context of marriage you have to give your partner the attention he/she deserves. You should not always deal with your work or children and neglect your partner. The principle is that you should have a balance in your life, so as to manage your time efficiently and have enough time to devote to your partner and family.
Men are generally more logical and tend to overlook details like women do. Ask a man how his day was at work and the answer will be – fine.A man can not multitask.It probably is not a good time to seek his attention when he is watching the England vs Germany football game.A wife who does not adhere to this simple rule will be destined for disappointment.
Apart from a lot of sex, men generally want their wives to hold them in high esteem.Men have fragile egos and a women who disrespects her husband privately or publicly just wounds him in ways she may never understand.
Showing lack of respect to our partner, whether occasional or on a permanent basis, is perhaps the biggest mistake that we do. When respect is not mutual in a marriage then it is more likely that marriage will end up in a disaster.
Every couple should have a clear vision of what they want their marriage to be. The word vision means ” mental sight – the ability to see a goal or destination. If you do not have a clear vision of where you are going, how will you know when you have arrived? How will you know when you are on the wrong path?
When you have a vision of success before you, you will naturally behave in such a way that causes success to happen. Every couple goes through difficult times but a vision encourages you in those difficult times. Lets honor our marriages for good marriages breed good families which in turn breed good, strong societies.
Mwaanga refutes ‘intentions’ to replace katele
Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon mwaanga says he is not aware of anyone pushing him to replace the ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary, Katele Kalumba.
Mr Mwaanga told QFM radio in an interview, when commenting over reported allegations that Mr Mwaanga is being touted to take over Mr. Kalumba’s position as party national secretary in an acting capacity.
Mr. Mwaanga, who recently traveled to Namibia with the republican president on a state visit, said that he has no such information.
He said he holds Mr. Katele in high esteem and would not at any point make such intentions.
Mr Mwaanga, however, maintained that he is not aware of any such endeavors by anyone within or outside the party.
[ QFM ]
Police won’t charge for reports – IG
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has directed all police commanding officers countrywide to allow people who lost their voters cards obtain police reports free to enable them register as voters.
Mr Kabonde said the decision follows several concerns from affected Zambians who complained about the K30,000 charge the police were demanding to obtain police reports.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kabonde said the directive was with immediate effect and appealed to all commanding officers to ensure that they implemented the directive without any further delays.
“I would like to confirm that I have directed all provincial commanding officers to allow people obtain police reports free. The directive is with immediate effect,” he said.
Mr Kabonde hoped that people who lost their cards would turn up in large numbers to register as voters during the 90 day period as announced by the Electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ).
He said that the move was aimed at attracting more people to register as voters ahead of the elections and called on the public to turn up in large numbers and register before the exercise comes to an end.
He said the police were committed to supplementing Government’s efforts in ensuring more Zambians who lost their voters’ cards registered. He does not want the issue of police reports to deny the public the right to vote.
“As police we have done our part by taking into consideration the concerns raised and we hope that people who lost their cards will take this opportunity to go and register at various registration centres without worrying about police reports,” he said.
And Mr Kabonde has called on Zambians to continue maintaining peace, especially during the registration period and that the police would continue to monitor the exercise as a way of maintaining law and order.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Sata’s risky choice – Global Justice
Zambians risk plunging the country into a dictatorial and failed State if they make a “wrong choice of voting for undemocratic” Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata in next year’s general elections, the Global Justice Zambia has warned.
Advocacy campaign manager, Samson Zulu said Zambians would be shooting themselves in the foot if they elected Mr Sata who had already shown that he was a dictator by refusing to go for the party convention.
[pullquote]“It is a vote that has power to reject such people. From the time he formed the party they have failed to go for a convention and Zambians should not be shocked when they hear that there will be no more elections if they vote for Mr Sata,” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Zulu said in an interview during the week that with the resumption of the continuous voters’ registration exercise by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), time had come for Zambians to reject Mr Sata and his ally through a vote next year.
“It is a vote that has power to reject such people. From the time he formed the party they have failed to go for a convention and Zambians should not be shocked when they hear that there will be no more elections if they vote for Mr Sata,” he said.
He said the PF president was a danger to democracy as well as the peace the country was currently enjoying and might scrap out elections if he was given an opportunity to rule in 2011.
Mr Zulu said it was not a secret that Mr Sata had exhibited lack of respect and compassion to others, especially his political opponents whom he had continued to insult and issuing derogatory statements against them through the media.
Mr Zulu, however, commended the ECZ for resuming the exercise and urged all eligible citizens to register and vote in numbers when the time comes.
Meanwhile, Mr Zulu has called on the general public to scrutinise the recently released Draft Constitution and make necessary comments that would help make up an appropriate document.
Mr Zulu said the Draft Constitution was an important document that affected every citizen and should be treated with the seriousness it deserved for it to be of great value to the Zambian people.
[ Times of Zambia ]
MMD has become stale-SATA
Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) president, Michael Sata, has charged that the ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) has over stayed in government and is beginning to run out of ideas.
Mr. Sata has also challenged republican President, Rupiah Banda to upgrade the health institutions in the country and stop trekking out of the country every time he has a small health complication.
Addressing a party rally in Chawama yesterday, Mr. Sata said that the president Banda has failed the nation from the time he was part of the first government to the point where he is heading his own.
He said President Banda has worsened the status of the social sector in the country ranging from the health sector to the education because he is a failed leader.
Mr. Sata also indicated that President Banda’s movements across the world has contributed to Zambia’s failure to record significant development during his tenure.
He said that President Banda has shifted his concentration and attention to unnecessary issues at the expense of Zambians.
The PF leader told the gathering Mr Banda has failed to deliver to because of his inability to set the right priority for national development.
[ QFM ]
COMESA making progress towards Customs Union launch
The Common for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) says tremendous progress has been made towards the launch of the regional Customs Union.
The committee on Trade and Customs which met in Zimbabwe recently said the regional bloc agreed on the need for member countries to put in place practical and comprehensive programmes that would speed up the implementation process by the set deadline of 2012.
According to the e-COMESA Newsletter made available to ZANIS in Lusaka Sunday, there is progress in key areas and several recommendations have so far been made to ensure that the process is quickened.
The committee has since appealed to member countries that have not joined the Free Trade Area (FTA) to join as soon as possible since COMESA was now a Custom Union.
The meeting also highlighted a few milestones in the area of Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) further urging focal points in member states to ascertain the report on NTBs and help in eliminating existing NTBs.
With regards to the Customs Union, the committee welcomed the improvement and recommended that member countries needed more time to examine the thresholds for sensitive products.
The meeting also advised the members to quickly submit their list of sensitive products in order for the committee to finalise the study that would be sent to member states before an intergovernmental committee meeting is held in August this year.
On the relationship between the regional integration agenda and multilateral trading system, the committee recommended that there was need to develop analytical work and develop a regional strategy on World Trade Organisation (WTO) issues.
It said this is in order to articulate coherent regional positions therefore reviving the COMESA working group on WTO. The committee further endorsed the initiative of focused training in institutions in member states on regional integration subjects. The meeting was attended by representatives from the 19 COMESA member states and representatives from WTO.
And Malawi offered to host the next meeting of the Committee meeting on Trade and Customs. Zambia is a member of the regional bloc and the country houses its headquarters.
ZANIS
MMD is an honest party-Veep
Vice President George Kunda has described the MMD as an honest party that had ensured prudent expenditure of national resources which he said had resulted in donors having confidence in the country.
The Vice President said Zambia’s economy was too small and only managed to raise a national income of about K17 trillion which he said was not enough to execute all the pressing needs of the citizens.
Mr. Kunda however noted that with these limited resources Government was trying to improve the living standards of its citizens.
Mr. Kunda said Government would continue taking development to all parts of the country through projects such as construction of schools, roads, and hospitals.
The Vice President has also assured the people of Mufulira that Government would work on the Sabina-Mufulira road and the Ndola-Mufulira roads which were in a deplorable state.
Mr. Kunda also promised the sitting tenants in the Kankoyo mine houses that they would be given those houses.
He said he would make recommendations to President Rupiah Banda to decide on how sitting tenants could be given ownership of the houses.
Meanwhile the Mr. Kunda has disclosed that the MMD was revising the party’s manifesto and was also strategising on how to approach the 2011 general elections.
The Vice President was speaking when he addressed scores of MMD members at Mufulira Municipal Council Chamber today. And speaking earlier, MMD Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Joseph Chilambwe said the party in the province was steady and intact.
He said party officials in the province have embarked on a strong campaign journey to recruiting new members.
ZANIS
Voters registration progressing well in Kitwe-Simwinga
-Kitwe District Registration Officer Ali Simwinga has said the ongoing voter registration exercise was progressing well and about 1, 200 people have registered to date in the district.
Mr Simwinga said in an interview that among the registered people 1,000 were new voter applicants at various registration centres.
Kitwe district was targeting to register about 157,000 people within 90 days of the registration period.
Mr Simwinga who is also Kitwe town clerk said the registration exercise was facing a challenge with people who have lost their voters cards because they were expected to obtain a Police report before they could be registered.
He said affected people had registered a complaint that Police officers at various Police stations were demanding between K30 000 and K50 000 instead of the required K22, 000 for obtaining a report, a situation he noted would impact on the outcome of the exercise if not addressed by relevant authorities.
Mr Simwinga however, appealed to Kitwe residents to turn out enmass to register within the stipulated time of 90 days.
The Voters Registration exercise commenced last week across the country and ends in September this year with ECZ targeting to capture 2.5 million voters in readiness for next year’s general elections.
ZANIS
FTJ backs President Banda over cooperating partners
Former Second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba says he fully supports President Rupiah Banda’s statement that cooperating partners should not blackmail government as a way of resolving challenges.
Dr Chiluba said cooperating partners should not take the country for granted because they were providing support to various sectors of the economy.
He said cooperating partners should respect the country’s sovereignty and not hold it to ransom.
The former president said Zambia never applied for support from donors but they have been bringing back what was gotten from the country. Dr Chiluba was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe on Sunday on the sidelines of the 50th birthday celebrations of Dr Bernard Nwaka at Global Living Water Ministeries International Church where he was invited to grace the occasion.
He said even the conditions attached to the aid was not necessary compared to what the colonial regime got from the country which was more than what they are giving back as aid.
He said the opposition leaders who were criticising President Banda on the matter were doing so because they were ignorant of what they were saying and have not been to State House.
He warned people to watch out for such leaders critiquing the President if they got to power because donors did not vote for Government but the people of Zambia did.
[pullquote]He said even the conditions attached to the aid was not necessary compared to what the colonial regime got from the country which was more than what they are giving back as aid.[/pullquote]
Dr Chiluba was commenting on recent criticism by some opposition leaders over President Banda’s reaction to some cooperating partners’ interference into the country’s internal matters.
Last week, upon arrival from Namibia where he had gone on an official State visit, President Banda said cooperating partners should not blackmail government as a way of resolving challenges that the country was facing in various sectors of the economy.
And speaking during celebrations, Dr Nwaka said people especially Christians need to stand with Dr Chiluba because of what he went through when he declared Zambia as a Christian nation.
The clergy said Dr Chiluba should be respected very much and look at him as a father of the nation for the good that he did when he was president.
He cited the home ownership policy that he implemented during his tenure of office saying it was unfortunate that many people have forgotten soon and failed to appreciate Dr Chiluba.
Dr Nwaka said what the former president went through after his presidency was a spiritual battle which God has seen him through.
ZANIS
“Be diplomatic”- Rb urged by AVAP
The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has described as unfortunate, republican president Rupiah Banda’s statement that co-operating partners should not blackmail the government by withholding donor support as a way of resolving challenges faced in various sectors of the economy.
And President Banda has been asked to apologize to the donor community for his undiplomatic behavior over their concerns raised on the accountability and usage of the resources they bring into the country.
AVAP executive director, Bonnie Tembo sai that national leaders should realize that Zambia is not an island and is dependant on the aid that comes into the country through donors.
He also indicated that President Banda as a national leader is expected to uphold a high level of diplomacy concerns that the donor community is bringing to the fore over the accountability of resources
Mr. Tembo said that government cannot go on to speak ill of the cooperating partners in national development even when it is clear that over half of the national budget is financed by donors for the implementation of programs every year.
He said it was surprising to note that even the vice president, George Kunda had the audacity of echoing the remarks from the president, when he is aware of the operations of government and how the nation needs to treasure cooperating partners.
Mr Tembo appealed to president Banda to apologize to the donor community and respect the cooperating partners for their contribution to national development.
He reminded him of the fact that the donor community’s aid to Zambia has never left the nation to suffer even when they accumulated serious debt which people could not pay back to the world lending bodies.
However, the Committee of Citizen’s executive director, Gregory Chifire, accused some donors of sponsoring regime change to some extent that they are bankrolling certain institutions.
Among them he cited, non governmental organization NGO, media institutes, religious organizations, political parties and some individuals.
[ QFM ]
Zambia on track over inflation target – BOZ
Bank of Zambia governor BOZ, Dr. Caleb Fundanga has assured Zambians that the country is on track in meeting the eight percent inflation target that government has set for end of this year.
Dr. Fundanga revealed that with the maize marketing just commencing, possibilities that Zambia will be able to meet the 8 percent inflation target are much alive.
The Bank governor indicated the bumper maize production that the nation has recorded this year is one of the most effective factors that would contribute to the attainment of the eight percent inflation rate target.
He said attaining low inflation rate should be encourage because it plays a critical role in national development and benefits everyone because of its cross cutting effects.
Dr Fundanga noted that he is hopeful that the rate will remain static at its current 9.1% till to the end of the year and at least drop to the eight percent as the year comes to a close.
He challenged Zambians to remain optimistic for a brighter future and a stronger economic status.
[ QFM ]
Namulambe decides to remain mute on Levy’s legacy
Mines and Mineral Development Deputy Minister, Gabriel Namulambe, has preferred to remain mute on his defense of late Republican President, Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Namulambe said he would not want to involve himself into politics barely a week after his reappointment as Deputy Minister.
He said being a Local Council man, he is still trying to understand how the Ministry of Mines operates.
He said he wanted to concentrate on business and developmental issues rather than discussing politics which do not yield any results afterwards.
Mr. Namulambe said whatever he had said earlier concerning the legacy of late President Levy Mwanawasa should not be brought back to public discussion because it is over.
He asked the reporter to find out views from Civil Society Organizations and some Non Governmental Organizations so that he hears what they have to say, hoping to make a response afterwards.
He added that politicians like Mr. William Banda and some opposition political parties must make comments on his reappointment, and not himself.
Early this year, President Rupiah Banda had relieved Mr. Namulambe of his duties as Science and Technology Minister for protecting the legacy of late President Levy Mwanawasa, but recently reappointed him as Deputy Minister of Mines.
QFM