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UPND, PF differ over candidate

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UPND_PF_PACT

CONFUSION erupted in the UPND/PF Pact on Thursday during the filing of nomination papers for local government by-elections in the Chanjowe Ward in Chadiza Central Constituency in Chadiza District.

The two opposition political parties which last year entered into a pact failed to agree on which political party was supposed to float a candidate for the pact.

This resulted in United Party for National Development (UPND) fielding their own candidate while the Patriotic Front (PF) also picked their own candidate.

Those who successfully filed in their nomination papers are Isaac Phiri for MMD, Paul Phiri of PF, and Jester Mbewe for UPND.

And commenting on the misunderstandings, UPND secretary general, Winstone Chibwe expressed shock that PF fielded a candidate because according to the agreement, UPND was supposed to pick the pact candidate.

Mr Chibwe described the development as unfortunate but indicated that the confusion would not cause further division in the pact.

But UPND deputy chairperson for youth and child development, Michael Chuzu who also played down the confusion said it was unfortunate that the PF wanted to behave like they were more popular than UPND.

Mr Chuzu said that the PF members in Chadiza disregarded the agreement which was supposed to allow a UPND candidate represent the pact in the ward by-elections.

Information gathered indicated that PF insisted to contest the by-elections because the UPND did not give them enough support during the Milanzi parliamentary by-election which was scooped by MMD on April 29 this year.

And MMD provincial youth and information secretary, Chembe Daka said the confusion in the pact over which candidate to float was a clear indication that the ruling party has won the by-election slated for August 5.

[Times of Zambia]

Adhere to ARVs—People living with HIV virus told

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Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe(R)

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised people living with the HIV virus in the country to desist from taking alcohol and any other harmful drugs and ensure that they take their Anti retroviral (ARVs) drugs.

The Ministry of Health Spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe said it was very unfortunate that there were some people who smoked and took alcohol while on treatment.

Dr. Mbewe told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka on Friday that taking alcohol and other harmful drugs would make those living with the virus not respond well to treatment and advised them to adhere to prescribed treatment.

He said sticking to ARVs will make them live long enough and contribute effectively to the country’s economic development.

Dr. Mbewe said people living with the virus have lived long enough and significantly contributed to the nation’s welfare.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mbewe has urged people in the country especially in rural areas to desist from shunning Voluntary Testing and Counselling (VCT).

He added that the Ministry of Health wants a lot of people to know their status even though it was voluntary.
Dr. Mbewe said members of the public needed to know that HIV was not a death sentence like what other people were portraying it to be.

He said the Ministry of Health has intensified its sensitisation campaigns on the importance of VCTs especially in rural areas.

There have been reports of people shunning to go for VCT in some parts of Lusaka, the latest being in Chipata.

ZANIS

Zambia, Brazil deals to open development doors-Dodia

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The Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) has said the bilateral agreements that Zambia signed with Brazil will help open doors for the development of private sector in Zambia .

PSDA Chairperson Yusuf Dodia said the agreements that were signed by Presidents of the two countries will enable the private sector form joint venture with their Brazilian counterparts in many sectors.

Mr. Dodia told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka Friday that the agreements will also help accelerate the social, economic and cultural development of the country.

He noted that the signed agreements were good as they would promote South to South dialogue. He said Zambia stands to benefit a lot from the agreements looking the experience, Brazil has in many areas like, Bio technology, transport, and manufacturing sector.

In this vein, Mr Dodia called for serious implementations of the assigned agreements, if they were to be of benefit to Zambia.

Mr. Dodia said the agreements between Zambia and Brazil was not new but the past ones lacked implementation.

He expressed optimism that these agreements would be operationalised as shown by Government’s willingness to send a delegation to Brazil to learn from their achievements before the implementation of the agreements.

Zambia on Thursday signed a number of agreements with Brazil among them the exception of VISA requirements and the Food and Nutrition Security aimed at eradicating poverty.

ZANIS

PF MP Mushili gets 6 months suspended jail term

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The Lusaka Magistrate Court has convicted Ndola Central Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Mushili to Six Months Imprisonment with hard labour for attempting to swindle Government of over K300 million. Facts before the court were that Mushili, 65, a resident of Dr Dammie Street Northrise in Ndola was sentenced after being found guilty of attempting to obtain K360, 000 through fake claims of supplying food stuffs to Government ministries.

Mr. Mushili, who has been convicted with two other people Winfred Phiri and Enfred Sichela was arrested by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on 14th March 2006.

The accused together with Phiri and Sichelwa used Clemus Marketing Company for which he was the owner in an attempt to swindle Government by purporting that he had supplied food stuffs to Zambia Army when he did not.

In a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka on Friday, DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali said the sentence has however been suspended for one year.

Mr. Nyawali stated that Mr. Mushili has been ordered to do community service at the Lusaka Magistrate court premises for 120 hours.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mushili is also facing other charges of Money laundering activities before Ndola Magistrate court involving over K 6 billion.

And the DEC Public Relations Manager has warned that the Commission would ensure that the law visits all unscrupulous suppliers of goods and services to Government.

Chanda Chimba reports Sata threats to police

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PBJ Productions chief executive officer and ‘Stand up for Zambia’ producer Chanda Chimba (III) has reported Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to police for threats on his life that he says he has been receiving from various people, including Mr Sata.

But Mr Sata has denied ever issuing threats to Mr Chimba, saying he only called the television producer challenging him to give him an opportunity to respond to the various allegations he had raised against him in his documentary dubbed ‘The Way I See Things’.

Mr Chimba also revealed in an interview yesterday that Lusaka lawyer Mutembo Nchito, Post newspaper editor-in-chief Fred M’membe and The Post had sued him as the second respondent together with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and MUVI television for defamation.

He said the PF leader called him on June 16 around 10:50 hours and told him that he would deal with him appropriately for producing the documentaries.

“I can confirm that I have been receiving threats over the documentaries I have been producing.

“For instance on June 16, I received a call from Mr Sata who told me that he was going to deal with me appropriately,” he said.

Mr Chimba said he hang up the phone on Mr Sata because he did not think that a person aspiring to be Republican president could speak to him in the manner he did.

“Around 11:18 hours Mr Sata sent me a message which said: “Mr Chimba, thank you very much for your efforts.

“Your so-called documentary is in the hands of a private radio station and has been passed on to me. Keep it up. M.C Sata.”

He said he decided to report the matter to the police because Mr Sata’s remarks were not ordinary words.

“I know that all these things are meant to slow me down and intimidate me but I can tell you that I will not be intimidated by anyone,” he said.

Lusaka Province police chief Greenwell Ng’uni said he could neither confirm nor deny the report.

“We do not want to be dragged into politics,” Mr Ng’uni said.
But when contacted for a comment, Mr Sata wondered why Mr Chimba was bringing up the matter this time.

“The problem is that it seems all the people associated with MMD are reacting in arrears. They are reacting in the past tense.

“I didn’t send the bailiffs to go and grab his goods. What I told Mr Chimba was that you have made so many allegations against me, can you arrange a two-hour interview so that I can respond, so that I can deal with you on the programme,” he said.

Mr Sata said on the material day, he also called former acting ZNBC director-general Juliana Mwila challenging her to arrange a television interview so that he could respond to the issues raised in Mr Chimba’s documentaries.

Mr Chimba revealed that The Post newspapers had sued him and was claiming K5 billion for defamation of character arising from the documentaries.

Mr Chimba also wondered how The Post got exchanges between him and the bailiffs.
“The gentlemen that came were two and they claimed that they were bailiffs, so I wonder how they got those exchanges, it’s either one of them was impersonating,” he said.

Bailiffs on Thursday pounced on Mr Chimba and grabbed an assortment of household goods worth more than K15 million owed to a Lusaka business person, Kaluba Chanshi.

[Times of Zambia]

Govt is trying to legalize theft,SACCORD

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Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes, SACCORD, has accused government of attempting to legalize the theft of public funds.

Reacting to Justice Deputy Minister, Todd Chilembo’s statement that there is no need for Article 37 of the ACC Act which relates to abuse of office because public officers have other sources of income, SACCORD Information Officer, Obby Chibuluma,said the statement amounts to an attempt by government to legalize the theft of public funds.

He said there is no need for the government to remove article 37 of the ACC ACT because it exists to provide preventive mechanisms to people who might abuse public office.

Mr Chibuluma said despite public officers having other sources of income, removing the article would leave public funds prone to abuse.

He noted that removing the article would mean everyone entrusted with public funds will be at liberty to abuse their public office with impunity.

Mr Chibuluma said despite the trust bestowed on people with public funds, the fact that they are humans could tempt them to abuse the funds.

In yesterday’s Times of Zambia, the Government said there is need to review the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act in accordance with the present global and national realities that take into account the fact that public officers have other sources of income.

Justice Deputy Minister said in an interview that the current Act was insensitive to the fact that public officers had other sources of income, and it would, therefore, be unfair to criminalise a person with wealth more than their income.

He said the current law as provided for in Section 37 of the ACC Act of the Laws of Zambia was wrong because it assumed that any public service worker with wealth above their income had engaged in wrong acts.

[pullquote]He said the current law as provided for in Section 37 of the ACC Act of the Laws of Zambia was wrong because it assumed that any public service worker with wealth above their income had engaged in wrong acts.[/pullquote]

He said the economic situation had changed and workers were earning other incomes by engaging in other economic activities.

According to Section 37 of the ACC Act, a director-general, deputy director-general or any officer of the commission authorised in writing by the director-general, may investigate a public officer where there were reasonable grounds to believe that such public officer maintained a standard of living not commensurate with the present or past official emoluments.

Under the section, the ACC could institute an arrest on a public officer “who is in control or in possession of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his present or past official emoluments.”

Mr Chilembo, however, said currently, public officers had extra means of earning income.

[pullquote]He said the economic situation had changed and workers were earning other incomes by engaging in other economic activities.[/pullquote]

“Looking at the changed economic situation where people, even civil servants, have other sources of income, it will be wrong to have such a law,” he said.

Zambia had sufficient laws to deal with public officers who abused their offices.

“The Penal Code, which is the principle law, has various provisions to deal with such offences,” Mr Chilembo said.

Zanaco Seek First Victory In Kitwe In 2010

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Zanaco search of a first win the football crucible when they visit Power Dynamos at Arthur Davies stadium.

The defending champions’ last visit to Kitwe on Labour Day ended in shame when Nkana beat Zanaco 1-0 in a Week 8 game on May 1.

Moreover the defeat was Zanaco’s first of the season on their way to being eliminated from the Orange Caf Champions League by Entente Setif of Algeria.

Ironically, both Zanaco and Power are level on 21 points although the former enjoys a better goal difference and stand in 4th and 5th place respectively.

Victory for either side will push them within three points of leaders Zesco United who only play on Sunday at the same venue against Nkwazi due to patch-up works on their pitch in Ndola at the Trade Fair.

Meanwhile, in Saturdays other league matches, 2nd placed Green Buffaloes host bottom of the table and winless Forest rangers, Nchanga Rangers visit Red Arrows, Konkola Blades await Choma eagles while City of Lusaka are away to Kabwe  Warriors.

National Assembly take on Roan United at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.

Nkana and Lusaka Dynamos are in action on Sunday at Woodlands.

Faz Super Division

Week 15

10/07/2010

Konkola Blades-Choma Eagles

Red Arrows-Nchanga Rangers

Power Dynamos-Zanaco

Green Buffaloes-Forest Rangers

Kabwe Warriors-City of Lusaka

National Assembly-Roan United

11/07/2010

Lusaka Dynamos-Nkana

Zesco United-Nkwazi

[standings league_id=15 template=extend logo=false]

Zambia’s position, advantageous-Russian envoy

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Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga listen to Russian Ambassador to Zambia Boris Malakhov in Lusaka recently

Russian Ambassador to Zambia Boris Malakhov says Zambia’s position as a landlocked country is an advantage for regional economic development. The Ambassador said Zambia having eight neighbouring countries makes its position favourable to become a hub for producing energy and other goods to export to its neighbours.

The Ambassador was speaking at a Dinner in Luapula Province hosted recently after a conducted joint tour of the province with his counterpart South African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane.

Mr. Malakhov noted that Zambia can also benefit from the high prospects of regional integration under the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

And Mr Chikane said South Africa will remain grateful to Zambia for its contribution to that country’s political liberation struggle adding his country will now stand with Zambia to seek economic liberation.

At the same occasion, Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa told the two ambassadors that the province is endowed with vast potential for tourism, agriculture and mining.

Mr. Chikwakwa said the province has the best manganese in the world hence the need for investors to exploit the mining sector in a bid to foster development in the area.

While in Luapula, the two envoys visited Lake Bangweulu Beach in Samfya,Kabwelume and Ntumbachushi falls in Kawambwa.

ZANIS

Lumwana, Kansanshi pays K57.1bn mineral royalties

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Finance deputy minister Mulenga Kapwepwe greets finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane

Government says Lumwana and Kansanshi Mining Companies in Northwestern Province paid a total of K57.1 billion in mineral royalties in the last one and half years.

Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning, Chileshe Kapwepwe, told Parliament Friday that K38.4 billion was paid in 2009 and K18.7 billion has been paid since January this year.

She explained that there were no dividends paid to the Government treasury because this was paid to the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).

She said the moneys paid by mining companies are used to finance Government sponsored projects in various sectors of country’s development.

Ms. Kapwepwe was answering a question from Mwinilunga East Member of Parliament (MP), Stephen Katuka (UPND), who wanted to know how much money the mining companies in North-Western Province paid to Government in form of dividends and royalties in 2009 and 2010 and how the money was utilised by the Government.

And Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane said Northwestern Province was one of the fastest growing territories in the country.

Dr. Musokotwane said although the province was in the past ranked among the least development areas in the country, it was now growing at a very fast rate because of mining activities that started a few years ago.

He said Government was encouraging more investors to invest in the area because it has a lot of potential to develop economically.

He explained that Government was carrying out big developmental projects in the province, citing the construction of a new hospital in Mufumbwe and the upgrading of the M-8, also known as Mutanda-Chavuma road from the gravel level to tarmac standard.

ZANIS

New thermal power station coming

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The New Owners of Maamba Coal Mine, Nava Bharat Limited will construct a 270 mega watts thermo power station at the cost of US$ 420 million. Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Maxwell Mwale told Parliament in a ministerial statement today that the thermo power station will be commissioned in 2014.

He said Nava Bharat Limited has since started negotiations with the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) over the power purchase agreement in which the company wants to be selling power to ZESCO.

Mr. Mwale also disclosed that Maamba Collieries Limited will begin the production of coal in November this year. He said the company is currently undergoing different rehabilitation works in readiness for resumption of operations.
He revealed that about US$ 93 million will be needed for recapitalisation of the company

Mr. Mwale said once operational the company will produce 360,000 tonnes of coal by 2011 while it will increase its production to over 1 million when it starts producing at its peak for both market and the power plant.

He said the company has total coal reserves of 78.2 million tonnes of reserves and a life span of over 70 years. Mr. Mwale said over 750 people will be employed at the mine out of which 380 will be employed at the thermo power station.

Nava Bharat last year acquired 65 percent equity in Maamba Coal Mine while ZCCM –IH holds 35 percent shares.

ZANIS

Measles breaks out at Kasisi Orphanage

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Measles has broken out at Kasisi Children’s Home with one case recorded so far.

Kasisi Children’s Home Sister in Charge Mariola Mierzejewska confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS at Kasisi in Chongwe on Thursday.

Sister Mierzejewska said the affected patient was a child who was out of danger and was responding well to treatment.

But she expressed concern that the disease may spread further and affect other children at the orphanage.

She has since urged Government to quickly undertake a measles vaccination campaign countrywide in order to halt the further spread of the disease.

The country has so far, recorded over 2 800 cases of measles with over 70 deaths since the disease broke out in the country three months ago.

The Ministry of Health disclosed that Lusaka has recorded the highest cases of measles with over 2 600 and a record of over of 64 deaths.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao has since appealed to the donor community to help with financial resources to enable the Ministry of Health undertake a measles vaccination campaign to preserve life.

ZANIS

Second K3bn worth footbridge on cards in Lusaka

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The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has allocated over K3 billion towards the construction of a second footbridge on
Kafue Road near Down Town complex.

LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Mulundu Habenzu said K6.8 bilion was allocated for the construction of two footbridges on Kafue road last year with over K3 billion having been spent on the first bridge at Metropolitan.

On progress regarding the foot bridge at Metropolitan on Kafue Road , Mr Habenzu told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka on Thursday that the structure has reached an advanced stage and was set for completion this month.

Mr. Habenzu said the Council has contracted the same contractors, Luseed and Zuthona Engineering Technologies to construct the footbridge at Down Town .

He said the works on the second footbridge has commenced and is expected to take about five months and will be completed in November this year.

He said he was hopeful construction works on the bridge will be completed in good time as there will be no rain disruptions.
“The works on the second footbridge on Kafue road nears down town has started and will take nearly the same period as that one at Metropolitan. The one at Metropolitan had delayed because of the rains that we experienced last rain season but this one will take less time because it will be done before the rain seasons” he said.

Government in 2008 announced the construction of footbridges on Kafue road to help reduce on high cases of pedestrians being knocked down by speeding vehicles.

ZANIS

No extension to Draft Constitution comments-Veep

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VP George Kunda

Vice President George Kunda has reiterated that there will be no extension to the 40 days which was prescribed by Parliament for receiving comments from the members of the public on the draft constitution.

Mr. Kunda said since the 40 days time frame to receive comments from the public was made by Parliament, it can only be changed if it is taken to the House again.

He explained that Government and the members of the public were in a hurry to have a new constitution in place hence Parliament prescribed only 40 days to allow the general public to comment on the draft constitution.

The Vice President said 40 days was deemed enough for people to make their comments on the draft constitution, adding that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has been publishing the draft in newspapers in order for everyone to access it.
Mr. Kunda was speaking in Parliament Friday during his 30 minutes question time session.

This was in response to a question raised by Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa (MMD), who wanted to know whether there will be an extension to the 40 days long period, set for people to study the draft constitution and make comments.

Mr. Shakafuswa’s question comes against the backdrop of the late arrival of copies of the draft constitution in some areas in the country.

He said in some areas of Chibombo district, the draft constitution was only received yesterday, which is over two weeks after the draft constitution was launched to allow the public to comment on it.

Mr. Kunda said the process of constitution making by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) must come to an end by August 31st, this year hence there was no likelihood that the period for commenting on the document will be extended.
“There will be no extension to the 40 days. We need to conclude this process,” he told Parliament.

On 22nd June 2010, NCC Chairperson, Chifumu Banda, launched the initial report of the conference and the draft constitution which the conference adopted and called on the members of the general public to access the documents from District Commissioners’ offices, the NCC Secretariat or buy copies from Government Printers.

Mr. Banda also said the documents could be accessed on www.governance.gov.zm, www.parliament.gov.zm or on www.ncczambia.org. The 40 days period expires on August 1st, 2010.

In another development, Mr. Kunda said Parliament will decide on which constituencies will be divided into two. He said some constituencies, including his, were too big to properly be managed by one Member of Parliament.

He said there was already a proposal in the NCC to increase the number of constituencies but noted that the plans to delimitate some constituencies may be hampered by limited resources and space in the Parliament chamber.

ZANIS

CCZ loses confidence in govt’s fight against corruption

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The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has passed a vote of no confidence in Government’s commitment to fight Corruption.

CCZ president Reverend Rueben Mwale observed that government’s fight against corruption has become a problem.

He said the corruption taking place in the country would dent Zambia’s image if government fails to intensify the fight
Rev Mwale said government should ensures that people engaged in corruption are made to face the law than fighting corruption through mere lip service.

He said it is surprising that even with rampant revelations of corruption cases there seems to be no political will to fight it.

Reverend Mwale has since recommended that government should seriously considers including evils of corruption studies in the school curriculum so as to instill hope of having a corrupt free society in the upcoming young generations.

He said if the young generation is taught on the evils of corruption there wouldl be hope of getting rid of the culture of corruption in Zambia.
[ QFM ]

‘No one will force me out of MMD’-Mpombo

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Kafulafuta MP George Mpombo

Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo has vowed that no one will force him out of the ruling MMD for holding divergent views contrary to those of the party’s supreme body the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Mr Mpombo who is former defence minister said no MMD NEC member has any basis to hound him out of the ruling party.

He said all the statements he has been issuing are based on pertinent developmental issues which are clear to the Zambians.

The Kafulafuta MP added that the issues he has been raising are critical to the sustainability of the ruling MMD.

Mr.Mpombo said the failure by the NEC to appreciate his statements has exposed the ruling party’s intolerance to divergent views.

He has since vowed not to leave the ruling MMD regardless of the decision of the party’s NEC would make against him.
[ QFM ]

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