President Banda has advised newly appointed Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Gabriel Namulambe and his Science and Technology counterpart Lameck Mangani to ignore people who are advising them to reject the appointments.

The President said Mr Namulambe and Mr Mangani should not listen to detractors but should focus on the bigger responsibility of serving Zambians.

Mr Banda said this at State House yesterday when he swore-in Mr Namulambe and Mr Mangani.

“Honourable Mangani and Honourable Namulambe, I say welcome back. I am sincerely happy that you have accepted the appointments I have made despite the fact that you are taking up appointments lower than that of Cabinet minister,” he said.

President Banda said Mr Mangani and Mr Namulambe are his colleagues and they have to continue working together as Government to address bigger challenges which affect all Zambians.

Mr Banda said he is convinced that even when Mr Mangani and Mr Namulambe accepted to be appointed Deputy Ministers, they considered the fact that they were going back into Government to serve and help to address various problems facing the country.

“I am also sure that there are many people who came to you and said do not accept. I think you should let those people stay where they are,” he said.

Mr Banda said since he dropped the two from Cabinet, he has never received any adverse reports about their reactions.
[pullquote]“I am also sure that there are many people who came to you and said do not accept. I think you should let those people stay where they are,” he said.[/pullquote]
“And for this, I congratulate you. All the best and may God guide your work as you serve the people of Zambia,” he said.

And when swearing-in Pumulo Mundale as chief analyst for legal affairs at State House, President Banda said he is happy to welcome Ms Mundale to the family of State House staff and Government.

Mr Banda said he is sure that Ms Mundale will add value to the work being done at State House, particularly in the legal department.

President Banda said he is confident that Ms Mundale has the capacity to execute her duties diligently.
Mr Banda said it is particularly pleasing to him to have found a professional woman to work at State House.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that there is a balance between men and women serving both here and in Government,” he said.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed disappointment at the Director of Public Prosecutions DPP’s decision to slap former Deputy Health Minister Dr Solomon Musonda with a lesser charge of causing harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable instead of charging him with attempted murder.

PF National Youth Chairman Eric Chanda said the charge slapped on Dr Musonda is tantamount to assault.

Mr Chanda told QFM in an interview that the party is disappointed with the way the DPP is handling the case.

He said the offence committed by Dr Musonda is serious and that he deserves a serious charge.

Mr Chanda has since called on the DPP to consider slapping Dr Musonda with a stiffer charge and not the charge of causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable.

Dr Musonda shot and wounded Jackson Musaka a resident of Chitambo in Serenje district.

[ QFM ]

15-year-old Peterborough girls heading African nation of Zambia for three weeks volunteering with Teen Mania Ministries’ Global Expeditions

Jars of peanut butter and jelly and lots of wet naps are not the usual items that get thrown into a suitcase when packing for a vacation.

But then again, travelling to Zambia, Africa is not your usual trip and for Natasha Clutton and Natasha Telford, this is definitely not a vacation.

The two Natashas, both 15 years old, have much more in common than just their first name and their age.

They both share the Christian faith, have an adventurous spirit, very big hearts and are preparing for the trip of a lifetime.

On July 10 the girls are leaving Peterborough and everything familiar behind and flying to Texas for three days of intensive training before arriving in the Republic of Zambia, Africa, where they will spend three weeks volunteering with Teen Mania Ministries’ Global Expeditions. Since 1987, Global Expeditions has sent 62,321 missionaries to share their faith in 80 countries around the world. The girls will be part of a team of just five Canadians and 65 Americans, mostly teenagers, who will act almost as camp counsellors to children who have been orphaned by AIDS and will help build homes and dig trenches for water.

“They said if you really like working with children it is a good place to be,” says Natasha T., who has volunteered at Hope Valley Day Camp in Peterborough for two years.

Zambia, which is about the size of Texas, has one of the world’s most devastating HIV and AIDS epidemics with one in seven adults living with HIV.

“I still can’t believe that we’re actually going,” says Natasha T.

“It’s just now hitting me. It’s like, wow, Africa!” adds Natasha C.

This trip is not only taking the girls halfway across the world, but way out of their comfort zone.

The farthest Natasha C. has travelled is Alberta, while Natasha T. admits she has never been out of Ontario and never been on a plane.

But the girls have lots of experience camping and are prepared for three weeks of roughing it to the max. We’re talking not being able to shower for three weeks, which is where the wet naps fit in. Although Natasha C, mentions they will get to wash their hair once a week by using a bucket filled with water.

And while the girls will be cooking over a fire, they can bring some food, which explains the peanut butter and jelly. Natasha C. chims in that the ministry provides the bread.

While the girls never blinked an eyelash at the thought of cooking over a fire for three weeks, living with no electricity and being surrounded by armed guards 24 hours a day, their biggest challenge has been trying to raise $6,000 each for the trip.

“That was one of the main things I was worried about the most, was raising the money,” says Natasha T.

But through various fundraisers, such as chili dinners and yard sales, along with individual contributions the girls have nearly reached their goal.

And now with all of their vaccinations in order and their passports ready to go, all they have left to do is pack their bags, with means bringing lots of supplies, such as toothbrushes, for the children they are visiting.

“I’m really excited for them. It’s an incredible opportunity,” says Brenda Telford, Natasha’s mother.

“Who at 15 gets to spend three weeks in Africa? I just think it’s a fantastic way of showing who they are to the world.”

And when asked whether the moms are worried about their girls heading to Africa, Marilyn Clutton, Natasha C.’s mom, replies, “I would sooner them do this than hang out at the mall.” When the two girls leave Zambia, they’ve already decided all they are bringing home is the clothes on their backs, their camera, their passports and some awesome memories. Everything else they will leave behind for the children.

[mykawartha.com]

SOME people are making a killing out of the World Cup, but prostitutes are concerned that business is not going as expected – with some even experiencing a drop in clientele.

The soccer tournament brought with it much promise for ladies of the night, some of whom have travelled from far, but for many business has been far from what was anticipated.

However one prostitute, Jewel, said she had been lucky so far.

She travelled from Zambia after deciding to “fly solo” to get to South Africa in time for the soccer tournament.

“I arrived in Johannesburg in the first week of June and I came to Port Elizabeth and spent the weekend with a client,” she said.

The 34-year-old said business had been going well for her because she knew “just what the boys want”.

“Tomorrow (Friday) I will go to Cape Town to see how things are that side, but so far so good.”

Jewel said she would travel around the country following the major matches. “That is where the big spenders are, baby.” She said she made an average of R5000 a day, sometimes even as much as R8000.

Vee, 22, said she had not been as lucky. The human resources graduate from Durban said she had lost some of her regular clients as they had flown out of Port Elizabeth to watch the soccer.

“Right now I’m doing about two bookings a day, opposed to the usual six,” she said.

“A lot of my clients are from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Some are my regulars who always call me when they touch down in Port Elizabeth.”

Vee, based in Forest Hill, has been in the business for a year after being drawn in by friends.

Another unlucky woman is Sian, also from Port Elizabeth. She said that this time of year meant people preferred to stay at home or were “too busy with soccer to think about sex”.

Casanova Companions, a male escort agency in Sandton, had noted no change in business. Manager Jaco Noack said business had been on and off. “Some days are really busy, while some are quiet,” he said.

[weekendpost.co.za]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set August 5 as the date for parliamentary by-elections for Luena and Chifubu constituencies and local government elections in six wards in various districts, ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna has said.

The by-elections in Luena Constituency in Western Province and Chifubu Constituency on the Copperbelt Province respectively follows the resignation of area member of Parliament Charles Milupi while the Chifubu polls are as a result of the death of Patriotic front (PF) ember of Parlaiment Benson Bwalya.

In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Akufuna said the elections in six wards were as a result of resignations, convictions or deaths of incumbent councillors.

He named the six wards as Myulu in Mansa, Ilambo in Luwingu, Mailo in Serenje, Chimwemwe in Kitwe, Mpima in Kabwe and Kariba in Siavonga.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Police last night officially arrested and charged former Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda with causing grievous harm with intent to maim,disfigure or disable contrary to section 224(a) of the Penal Code.

Dr Musonda who reported at Woodlands Police Station in the company of his lawyer yesterday around 18:15 hours for questioning in connection with the shooting incident of a Patriotic Front (PF) youth, Jackson Musaka, in Serenje two weeks ago was only officially charged around 20:40 hours.

His arrest and subsequent charging by the police followed the decision by president Rupiah Banda yesterday to relieve him of his duties with immediate effect.

Dr Musonda who was released on police bond is expected to appear before a Magistrate court today for possible plea.

And Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed to journalists last evening the arrest and charging of Dr Musonda.

In relieving him of his duties, president Banda said he had received a report indicating that the Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended for the prosecution of the Dr Musonda following a shooting incident in his Chitambo Constituency.
[ QFM ]

President Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect relieved Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda of his duties. This decision comes after the President received a report from the Director of Public Prosecution recommending for the prosecution of Dr. Musonda following a shooting incident in his constituency.

President Banda noted that he wanted the Minister to concentrate on his case and the judicial process to take its course in the matter.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President Dickson Jere.

Meanwhile, President Banda has appointed Mpongwe Constituency Member of Parliament Gabriel Namulambe as new Mines and Minerals Development Deputy Minister with immediate effect.

Mr Namulambe once served as Science and Technology Minister in President Banda’s government before his appointment was revoked.

ZANIS