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Monday, May 5, 2025
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Police apprehend man, two suspected criminals’ wives

Zambia Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso

Police in Lusaka have apprehended a man and two women who are believed to be wives of some suspected fugitive criminals.

Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso said the trio was arrested in Ngwerere township following a security operation conducted in the area on Wednesday.

He said the police have in the past four days been conducting security operations in different townships, which include Chibolya and Kaunda Square.

He said this follows five dangerous criminals who have in the past few days been terrorising Lusaka residents stealing motor vehicles.

Mr Kapeso said four vehicles and six firearms were recovered in the operation.

Mr Kapeso said this after Lusaka division commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni displayed the recovered items at Lusaka Central Police Station yesterday.

He said the vehicles include three Toyota Corollas and Hilux, four AK 47 assault rifles and a pistol with 76 rounds of ammunition.

Mr Kapeso said the Toyota Hilux was snatched from Olympia Park on Wednesday night.

He said the vehicle was recovered on the Great North Road after the owner alerted Netstar tracking system company who worked with police in tracing the vehicle.

“This is a team of dangerous criminals who have been conducting operations in Lusaka in the past few days and we suspect one of the criminals was wounded during the exchange of fire,” Mr Kapeso said.

He said the police have launched a manhunt for the four other suspects and that the service will not relent in its efforts to have the criminals arrested.

“As you know, we have in custody the two women to help us with information leading to the arrest of the rest of the criminals. So my appeal to members of the public is let them come forward and assist us with information which will help in bringing the suspects to book,” Mr Kapeso said.

He appealed to members of the public in possession of military weapons to surrender them to police through the amnesty programme.

Mr Kapeso said a number of firearms used by criminals are suspected to be acquired from unsuspecting members of the public.

“Let those who have firearms surrender them to the police through the amnesty programme as it still stands and the offer is still at K1 million.

Most of these guns used by the criminals are private because all our guns have serial numbers,” he said.

And the Inspector General of police, Francis Kabonde, has appealed to police officers to remain calm as Government processes June salaries.

Mr Kapeso said the police high command is concerned about the delayed release of salaries for June.

He said the delay in the release of June salaries has been attributed to anomalies in some pay slips.

Mr Kapeso said the high command is doing everything possible to ensure the anomalies are corrected as soon as possible.

“As you know the machine which prepares pay slips for the civil service had some problems and so there are some anomalies on certain pay slips,” he said.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Diplomats breaching Vienna convention, says VJ

Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga (left)

Veteran diplomat and parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga yesterday said foreign diplomats in Zambia have breached the Vienna convention by airing concerns about donor aid utilisation in a manner that had the potential to set Government against its own citizens.

Appearing on a ‘Governance and You’ programme that is sponsored by the Press Association of Zambia and the Ministry of Justice governance secretariat on ZNBC Radio 2, Mr Mwaanga said the donors had the right to complain about issues but not through the media.

Mr Mwaanga, who was trained in diplomatic studies at the Oxford University in the United Kingdom, said diplomatic channels were spelt out in the African Union Charter and the United Nations Charter which govern relations between states.

He said Zambia was a sovereign State and must not be interfered with by any other State in the name of airing advise on development matters.

Mr Mwaanga said the contact point for diplomats was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and not the media.

He said Britain at one time demanded that a Zambian diplomat who had criticised that country’s government be recalled and Zambia had to oblige.

Mr Mwaanga said he had been a diplomat for many years and was certain that many foreign envoys in Zambia were getting things wrong.

Mr Mwaanga, who served as Foreign Affairs minister and permanent representative to the United Nations said there was no need for any donor to pull out because President Rupiah Banda stated the facts when he told donors to stop black mailing Government.

“To pull out for what reason, because the president said Zambia is a sovereign State? The president said the obvious,” Mr Mwaanga said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwaanga also said people raising concerns that the president had too much power were wrong and have not followed the transformation in the powers of the president.
[ Times of Zambia ]

‘Sata is an opportunist’

Chiluba and Sata during their happy days in MMD
Chiluba and Sata during their happy days in MMD

Former president Frederick Chiluba has described opposition PF president Michael Sata as an opportunist who comments on anything and has urged him to accept that his support for President Rupiah Banda was irrevocable.

Dr Chiluba said through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba that some people have committed resources to trail and plant mobs to embarrass him.

“We are surprised by Press reports alleging that Dr Chiluba said in Chambishi “the late president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa turned courts into playgrounds like Nkana Stadium in the eight years of his (Mr Mwanawasa) presidency.

“We chose to ignore these false reports fearing that our rebuttal would dignify this lie. However, we are alarmed that this fabrication is now a basis for comments and reactions from politicians such as Mr Sata,” he said.

Mr Mwamba said it was surprising that reactions and opinions are now being formed on a statement that was never made.

“We, therefore, urge opportunistic commentators such as Patriotic Front leader Mr Michael Sata and the so-called Dr Cosmo Mumba to seek clarification and the truth before making wild statements and demands,” he said.
[pullquote]“We are surprised by Press reports alleging that Dr Chiluba said in Chambishi “the late president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa turned courts into playgrounds like Nkana Stadium in the eight years of his (Mr Mwanawasa) presidency.

“We chose to ignore these false reports fearing that our rebuttal would dignify this lie. However, we are alarmed that this fabrication is now a basis for comments and reactions from politicians such as Mr Sata,” he said.[/pullquote]
The ploy by some people to block him from moving freely was a hindrance on his fundamental human rights.

“This is now interfering with his fundamental freedom of movement, of expression and other rights. We wish to advise that the planned activities against Dr Chiluba are becoming criminal and the police should not hesitate to pursue the perpetrators,” Mr Mwamba said.

Meanwhile, Dr Chiluba has described as strange the desperate panic by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and some sections of the media over his activities.

Mr Mwamba said while the former president was in retirement, it did not exclude him from attending to petitions from members of the communities who seek his intervention.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Govt pays back K13bn health donor funds

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao (Picture courtesy of Post Newspaper)

The Zambian Government has repaid the K13 billion donor funds that were allegedly misappropriated last year by some Ministry of Health officials.

Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao said the Zambian Government was committed to paying back the donor funds, and assured that the balance of K16 billion from the K29 billion would also be paid back.

Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a media breakfast on the update of the recent Zambian delegation’s visit to Geneva Switzerland, Mr Simbao said the alleged misappropriation of funds at the ministry last year was embarrassing for the Zambian Government.

Mr Simbao pledged Government’s commitment to the proper utilisation of donor funds in the country’s health sector.

“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.

“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said.

Mr Simbao said the ministry would not spend any funds on workshops and seminars in 2011.
[pullquote]“We are fully committed to utilising donor funds for their intended purposes, I must admit that what happened at the Ministry of Health last year was an embarrassment for all off us.

“What our people did, and I insist on our people, because its not the Government who stole the money, is very embarrassing,” he said. [/pullquote]

All workshops and seminars would instead be funded by donors and other partners.

“We have realised that there are some people who have been travelling all year round, leaving work piling in their offices because of seminars,” he said.

While in Geneva, Mr Simbao held discussions with officials from the United Nations HIV/Aids agency (UNAIDS) who assured him that the UN was interested in seeing Zambia’s image restored, and being able to access funding normally.

He reassured the donors that all money spent by his ministry would from now on be with the approval of only the permanent secretary.

The funds would now be subjected to both internal and external audits.

The Swedish government had insisted on all its funds to the government, being approved only by the permanent secretary (PS), and that no one acting in that position should approve spending of these funds.

Because of the stringent demands by the donors, the Health permanent secretary had been unable to travel outside the country.

As a result, the PS was not even able to attend the recently held World health Assembly meeting.

This measure had been taken to ensure the PS was always available to approve spending of donor funds.

Mr Simbao said all wrong doers in the Ministry of Health would be subjected to the due process of the law.

The ministry was anxious about the outcome of the courts ruling on the alleged misappropriation of donor funds by the Ministry of Health last year.

The ministry had also suffered the loss of manpower through the suspension of 35 officers, allegedly connected to the scam.

“Whatever the courts decide will be good for us, we will be able to know whether to restore our suspended officers, or make replacements, so we are waiting for the courts to decide, as the absence of 35 members of staff has stressed our operations,” he said.

World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Olusegun Babaniyi said the UN had appreciated that the Zambian Government had shown it was not supporting the misuse of donor funds.

Dr Babaniyi pledged the continued support by the UN to help Zambia get back to its previous position with regard to donor funding.

And Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for Global Fund chairperson Mwingache Siamwiza said the CCM had decided to appoint the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the principle recipient of global funds meant for the health sector.

The CCM had suspended the Ministry of Health from being the principle recipient of the funds and the UNDP would now receive and disburse all global funds to the ministry.

“Global Fund had made the decision not to disburse the funds for round four, because the Ministry of Health had not met the required conditionality at the time, but following the minister’s visit to Geneva, the ministry would have access to US$8 million,” he said.
Times of Zambia ]

Govt has not funded ACC for 3 months

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has not received any funding from the government for the past three months now.

Highly placed sources at the commission have revealed to QFM that the commission has not received any funding from the government since March.

And the sources who sought anonymity for fear of losing their jobs further said the allocation of funds to the commission by the government is not adequate.

They said calls by some opposition political parties that government considers increasing funding to the Anti Corruption Commission in order to enable it fight corruption effectively are genuine, adding such calls should not be politicized.

They revealed that since the commission was formed, government funding has been inadequate for it to operate effectively.

The sources further said the inadequate allocation of funds to ACC has made operations at the commission complicated.

They hailed stakeholders who are calling for the government to allocate more funds to the commission, urging them to continue pushing the government to do so.
[ QFM ]

Livingstone captures 500 plus voters

http://www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ecz.jpeg
Over 500 new voters have been captured in the tourist capital since commencement of the countrywide mobile voter registration exercise on June 21 2010.

Assistant Registration Officer, Nelson Sakala said by midday yesterday, 508 people had registered as new voters at the various registration centers across
the district.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone today, Mr. Sakala said withthe waiver of the police report fees for lost voters and National Registration Cards respectively, the number of people registering as voters was expected to
increase.

He said most people had shown keen interest in registering as voters and he urged them to wait for Registration Officers to get to their areas according tothe time frame indicated on the district deployment plan.

Meanwhile, Livingstone District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) Chairman, Moses Sakala has appealed to Voter Education Facilitators (VEFs) to improve in the manner they execute their duties.

Mr. Sakala said voter registration was an important exercise for the nation and as such ineffectiveness on the part of VEFs would negatively affect the number of people registering as voters.

He said he was not impressed with the methods some of the facilitators had employed to inform and educate members of the Livingstone community on the importance of voting.

[ ZANIS ]

Foreigners are influencing Zambia’s constitutional making process – Lifwekelo

36
Edwin Lifwekelo (L)

Forum for Leadership Search Zambia says the constitution making process should be without foreign influence to allow Zambians to decide how the process should proceed.

Exuctiive Director Edwin Lifwekelo said it is wrong for foreigners to instigate Zambians to boycott the constitution making process.

Mr. Lifwekelo claimed in a statement to ZANIS today that some of the leaders representing civil society organizations are foreigners and have no interest in the welfare of the Zambian people.

“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.

He notes that the constitution making process must not be a reflection of the 2011 presidential elections.

[pullquote]“They have a foreign agenda. They have always danced to the tune of foreigners that’s why they are even supporting homosexuality in our country and want Zambia to be a secular state,”Mr. Lifwekelo said.[/pullquote]

He states that it will be wrong to use the 2011 presidential elections as a basis for a new constitution because the country will not expire after 2011.

Mr.Lifwekelo explained that political parties and civil society that have refused to make submissions to the draft constitution lack moral values and are doing so at their own peril.

He has appealed to all Zambians to make submissions so as to add value to the people’s driven constitution.

Mr.Lifwekelo stated that Zambians should not allow foreigners to dictate how constitution making process should proceed as they are prophets of doom who aim to derail the process.

He also advised Zambians not to be hoodwinked by selected selfish individuals who don’t like President Rupiah Banda.

He commended the secretariat of the National Constitution Conference for finally coming up with the draft report.

ZANIS/

RDA calls for increased investiment

6

The Road Development Agency (RDA) has called for more investment in the road sector in the country.

RDA Head of Public Relations Loice Saili says this would be of great assistance in the development of roads
across the country.

Ms. Saili told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that what the Agency wants was to see a good road network in the nation.

Meanwhile, Ms. Saili has since dismissed claims from sections of society that the Agency has neglected the repairing of some roads in some parts of the country.

She said it was very unfair for members of the public to accuse the RDA of neglecting and failing to repair some roads in some parts of Zambia .

Ms. Saili added that the Agency was very committed to develop and to see a good road network in the country.

She said this was because the RDA knows and understands that a good road network was vital to the economic development of the country.

Ms. Saili said it was just that the Agency needs more resources to carry out repair works on some roads across the nation.

She said RDA has a road working plan put up that helps the Agency to know which roads need to be repaired on.

Ms. Saili said the Agency does do surveys across the country in order to know which roads need to be worked on by RDA.

ZANIS

ZACA opposed to Power hike proposal

3

The Zambia Consumer Association ( ZACA) has opposed the proposed 36 percent tariff increment by ZESCO and called on the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to reject the application.

ZACA Acting Executive Director Samuel Simutunda said the proposed tariff hike by ZESCO was unjustified and should not be allowed by ERB.

Mr. Simutunda said ZESCO has been awarded several hikes but it has not improved its quality of service to customers and it was unthinkable to hike the tariff by the company and at such a margin.

Mr. Simutunda noted that the company has abused its monopoly position for too long adding that it was high time the ERB took a firm stand regarding the operations of ZESCO.

He said that if the ERB can not take bold measures to protect consumers from ZESCO’s abuse, then the board itself should be disbanded.

He said domestic consumers in Zambia where paying exorbitant electricity bills and they should be protected from further abuse by ZESCO.

ZANIS

RB back from DRC

19

President Rupiah Banda has arrived back in the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were he went to join other invited Heads of State and Government to commemorate that country’s 50th Independence anniversary.

Mr Banda arrived in the country aboard the presidential challenger jet at 20:55hrs.

He was received on arrival by Vice president George Kunda, Secretary to the Treasury Evans Chibiliti, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha and Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti.

Others are, Presidential Affairs Minister, Ronald Mukuma, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Mines Minister Gladys Lundwe, Gender Minister Sara Sayifwanda, service chiefs and other government officials.

President Banda was not only invited in his capacity as Chairperson for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) but also as a member of SADC, COMESA and as a neighboring Head of State.

The President was accompanied to the DRC by First Lady Thandiwe Banda, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and Chief of Protocol Bob Samakai and other government officials.

ZANIS

Voting Registration Begins, But Where?

16
An Election registrar conducting the voter registration exercise in Lusaka

By Wesley Ngwenya

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) last week announced the commencement of voter registration on 21st June, 2010. This registration will be open to anyone who is eighteen years old or will turn eighteen before 31st July 2011. This registration will run for an initial period of ninety days.

Although the registration has come a little late ECZ should be commended especially for extending the registration to those who have not yet turned eighteen years old. Adverts are running in the media informing the public about this registration process. However, there are a few questions to consider as ECZ embarks on this task.

Firstly, how are voters in rural areas informed regarding this voter registration process considering that they have no access to newspapers, televisions and radios? Are there other medium that ECZ should consider so that they can reach this rural population?

[pullquote]What ECZ should have done is set up registration centers in all primary and secondary schools. They could also have used colleges, hospitals, rural health centers, post offices, markets and banks. This is where Zambians are found who are eighteen years and above. [/pullquote]

Why are they using mobile registration? The adverts are telling us to check the internet and see where their mobile vans will be at a particular time. Are you serious you expect us to get on a bus pay K7,000 round trip to town so we can go online to see where your van will be? Besides, what technology are you using to ensure that you can monitor the vans at all times?

Why did ECZ have to spend so much money using these ineffective vans? Was this the most efficient and effective method to reaching out to voters? Were the stakeholders consulted before it was decided on whether or not to use registration mobile vans? Could it be that this method was chosen because it was more porous and easier to get kickbacks?

What ECZ should have done is set up registration centers in all primary and secondary schools. They could also have used colleges, hospitals, rural health centers, post offices, markets and banks. This is where Zambians are found who are eighteen years and above. Setting up registration centers in these places would be much less expensive compared to the opted method. Besides, this would be more efficient and effective. I am willing to show and challenge ECZ that using mobile registration vans is more expensive than using permanent centers.

Mobile registration is certainly ideal for rural areas where schools and clinics are few and people are spread far apart. In addition, to permanent centers, mobile centers can be used too so as to better deliver the service to the Zambian public. But using mobile registration centers in Lusaka does not make sense at all when ECZ knows where people live, go to work, or go to school.

The Electoral Commission is asking for people who lost their voter’s card to provide a police report before registration. This is clearly a bad move on part of ECZ. How many Zambians will be able to afford to go through the tedious process of obtaining a police report, let alone pay K22,000 for it? Before writing this article, I sampled roughly about twenty people who lost their cards and none of them can afford to pay the required amount to obtain one. Maybe what they need to do is provide free police reports for all those who have lost their cards.

[pullquote]Zambians may not be interested in voting because they actually do not see the use. Yes, it is the constitutional right of every Zambian who is aged eighteen and above to vote. However, there are more pressing issues in the hearts and minds of many Zambians.[/pullquote]

The issue of registration hits home to me because in 2008 I was denied the opportunity to register as a voter simply because I was not in the country in 2006. Electoral Commission of Zambia failed to update voters’ registers so that people like me could equally have voted during the presidential elections. I have kept an eye in my neighborhood to see if I will ever see these vans but nothing yet.

It has been over a week since this registration supposedly started but I have not heard anyone who has registered yet. Will it be another week or another month before we see the registration vans? The chairperson for Electoral Commission of Zambia Florence Mumba, this weekend, blamed the politicians for the low turnout of prospective voters. Personally, I think what she should have said was ask the politicians to appeal to the Zambians to register to vote.

Zambians may not be interested in voting because they actually do not see the use. Yes, it is the constitutional right of every Zambian who is aged eighteen and above to vote. However, there are more pressing issues in the hearts and minds of many Zambians. There are poverty, diseases, and unemployment issues. Voting for people who look the same, speak the same language but are using different slogans is not one of them. As for me, I keep watching so that when that van passes my neighborhood I will register. I am eagerly waiting to cast my vote.

‘HH childish, irritating’

United Party for National Development (UPND) party president Hakainde Hichilema
United Party for National Development (UPND) party president Hakainde Hichilema

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has described as childish and irritating United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s remarks that President Banda should apologise for allegedly misbehaving and extending his bullying tactics to the donor community.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said Government is not surprised with Mr Hichilema’s outbursts because he is ignorant of governance issues.

He said Mr Hichilema should tone down and develop the habit of respecting President Banda.

“Let Mr Hichilema tone down because he should remember what the Bible says, that what you do unto others is bound to happen to you.

“The unpalatable language which Mr Hichilema has continued to use against President Banda is unacceptable and demeaning to the head of state,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda should be respected because he was elected by the majority of Zambians.

He said Mr Hichilema should study how politics is conducted because he is still new in politics.
[pullquote]“Let Mr Hichilema tone down because he should remember what the Bible says, that what you do unto others is bound to happen to you.

“The unpalatable language which Mr Hichilema has continued to use against President Banda is unacceptable and demeaning to the head of state,” he said.[/pullquote]
Gen Shikapwasha said Mr Hichilema might fool members of the UPND-Patriotic Front (PF) pact with his outbursts, but his conduct will be judged by the majority Zambians.

“What Mr Hichilema and his PF counterpart, Mr Michael Sata, should concentrate on is trying to find solutions to the many challenges the pact is facing as opposed to attacking President Banda,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda’s recent statement on donors has been blown out of proportion by some people who are trying to gain cheap political mileage.

He said there is no cause for President Banda to apologise over the recent statement as he was merely expressing his views over the matter.

Gen Shikapwasha said the relationship between Government and donors is still cordial, contrary to assertions by some members of the public and opposition political party leaders.

He said Government is working hard to deliver development and social services to the Zambian people, but that its efforts are being obstructed by unnecessary criticism by the opposition.

Mr Hichilema was quoted by yesterday’s edition of The Post newspaper as saying that President Banda owes donors and Zambians an apology for misbehaving.

And Gen Shikapwasha said Government is ready to dialogue with the donor community on issues affecting the country.

He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government’s doors are open for the donor community to sit down and discuss issues of national interest.

“The administration of President Banda stands ready to discuss anything which concerns donors and any other issues which will benefit Zambia as a country than using the media,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

He said it is important for donors to seek audience with Government when need arises.

“The donors that have intentions of seeking an audience with Government are more than welcome to do so at any given time,” Gen Shikapwasha said.

On Monday, British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter said he will seek an audience with President Banda to discuss the use of aid in the country.

Mr Carter said the partnership between donors and the Zambian government is of key importance.

“The partnership with the Zambian government is significant as we all try together to deliver the long-term goals of reducing poverty in Zambia and achieving the Zambian government’s target of reaching middle-income status by 2030,” he said.

President Banda recently advised diplomats accredited to Zambia to stop meddling in the internal affairs of the country.

Mr Banda said diplomats should not be made to interfere in the internal matters of Zambia because the country is a sovereign state.

“There has been too much peddling of stories in the media by diplomats who feel that because their respective countries are donating to the road or health sector, they can use that as blackmail,” he said.

The President said the diplomats should appreciate the spirit of warmth being given by Government instead of resorting to public statements regarding funding to Zambia.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

‘ Donors are crying out too loud’ says Chifire

Committee of Citizens Executive Director Gregory Chifire has charged that the donor community is crying out too loud over its demands for accountability of the resources it provides Zambia.

Mr. Chifire challenged government to come up with a donor aid exit mechanism by beginning to put in place long term plans that would help the country diversify into other modes of resource mobilization.

He said the current situation where donors are making the government feel as if it is not accountable and incapable of accounting for the little that they provide to Zambia is retrogressive.

The Executive Director said the best solution to avoid confrontations between government and the donor community is to put an end to donor dependency.

Mr. Chifire added that Zambia has the ability to stand on its own if only resources were properly utilized and directly spent for the benefit of the people.

He further stated that it does not give respect for the nation to be scandalized by the donor community.

He noted that Zambia has been begging for far too long and now is the time that government began to work towards policies that would help the nation to stand on its own.
[ QFM ]

Zambia recognises VCT Day

Zambia yesterday joined the rest of the international community in commemorating the International Voluntary Counselling and Testing Day with activities in various parts of the country.

In Kitwe, Mayor Steven Chipungu praised various stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS for their support and care towards the people living with the virus.

Mr Chipungu said this in a speech read for him by his deputy Chileshe Bweupe during the commemoration of the National Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) at Kitwe City Square yesterday.

He said VCT Day was important for the country as it continued to work towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by the year 2015.

Mr Chipungu said the involvement of various stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS was an encouraging development, but that more needed to be done to win the fight considering the high prevalence.

Kitwe District HIV/AIDS Taskforce (DATF) chairperson Chikafuna Banda encouraged people to come out in numbers and get tested.

Dr Banda said it was important that they got tested so they could be able to receive care and support from both government and other stakeholders in the city.

In Chingola, acting district commissioner Philip Simbule urged married couples to go for voluntary HIV testing because 60 per cent of HIV transmission happened in marriages.

Mr Simbule said the percentage was an indication that the epidemic was not only among the high risk groups hence the need for couples to go for VCT.

He said if people were encouraged to go for VCT they would be equipped with knowledge either to protect themselves from the infection or live positively and access treatment.

He said despite the enhanced sensitisation and awareness campaign about the need to go for VCT, only 15 per cent of Zambians had gone for VCT.

“The overall prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Zambia stands at 14.3 per cent and on the Copperbelt at 17 per cent and Chingola at 16 per cent.

He said the fight against HIV had some setbacks such as lack of trained personnel in VCT, low numbers of VCT centres which were geographically apart, especially in rural areas.

Other challenges he cited were inadequate information reaching the general public on availability of VCT services in Zambia and inadequate physical infrastructure in most VCT centres resulting in limited counselling space.

And Chingola DATF chairperson Aaron Kantumoya said the commemoration of the VCT Day came against the background of Zambia being one of the countries seriously ravaged by the effects of HIV/AIDS.

In Livingstone, DATF is facing a great challenge of having only one CD4 count machine despite the city having one of the highest HIV/Aids prevalence rates in the country.

DATF chairperson Eugene Kamuti said the district only had one CD4 count machine at the Government hospital.

Mr Kamuti was speaking at the commemoration of the national VCT Day held at Livingstone’s Mukuni Park yesterday.

Mr Kamuti has appealed to Government and the cooperating partners to assist purchase other CD4 count machines in the district.

“Government and partners should assist procure for us more CD4 count machines as the uptake for VCT increases in the district,” Mr Kamuti said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

International trade fair opens

The Zambia International Trade Fair yesterday opened its gates to the public with calls from the chairperson Phesto Musonda to the 618 official exhibitors and show-goers to make sure that they maximise the benefits at the country’s premier annual business event.

Mr Musonda said in an interview at the trade fair grounds the ZIFT management was impressed with the overwhelming response from both local and international investors.

He said most of the exhibitors’ stands and halls were filled and ready to be used by the exhibitors to host the show-goers.
[pullquote]“This year we have experienced a 20 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors participating at the show. The number of local exhibitors participating has increased from 400 last year to 519 this year while the number of foreign companies exhibiting is 99 while 82 companies showed up last year,” he said.
[/pullquote]
The show opened yesterday for the business days, which will end on Friday in readiness for the official opening by President Rupiah Banda.

“This year we have experienced a 20 per cent increase in the number of exhibitors participating at the show. The number of local exhibitors participating has increased from 400 last year to 519 this year while the number of foreign companies exhibiting is 99 while 82 companies showed up last year,” he said.

Mr Musonda said local and foreign exhibitors and show-goers involved in various trade and tourism promotion activities were using the trade fair business days to enter into partnership and exchange business information.

“The business show which has started today will end on Friday with a special trade fair business seminar at the Presidential Pavilion.

“The seminar will deal with economic, policies and investment climate in Zambia at which Government organs such as the Bank of Zambia, Zambia Development Agency and Zambia Revenue Authority will make key note presentations,” he said.

The ZITF chairperson assured both the exhibitors and public that the show organisers would ensure there was security.

He said a number of leading local musicians and other entertainers from different parts of the country have been engaged to entertain show-goers.

[ Times of Zambia ]