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George Kunda is mentally unstable and a danger to society-UPND presidential spokesperson

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Vice president, George Kunda

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has demanded that vice president, George Kunda steps down on medical grounds, alleging that he is suffering from a panic mental disorder that has led to his biomedical insanity state.

Reacting to Mr Kunda’s statement yesterday that UPND Members of Parliament want to expel their president Hakainde Hichilema for failing the party and replace him with Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo, with his Siavonga counterpart , Douglas Siakalima as his deputy, Mr Siakalima alleged that Mr. Kunda has lately been suffering from an obsessive disorder which makes him very unfit to ran the nation in the absence of president Rupiah Banda who left the country for China yesterday.

He has since appealed to president Banda to remove Mr. Kunda from his position as vice president alleging that he is mentally unstable and a danger to society. Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr Siakalima said the vice president has lately been making a number of unwarranted statements against the UPND because the ruling MMD is stiff scared of the UPND and the pact as a whole.

Meanwhile Mr. Siakalima who is the UPND presidential spokesperson says UPND leader, Hikainde Hichilema is unstoppable and that no war, law or man ill stop him. He said Mr. Hichilema is well prepared to take on any challenge that might come his way because he is properly advised and surrounded by people who are confident in his works.

And speaking at the same briefing, Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo said the vice president is bringing the nation into ridicule by failing to comply with the standards of his dignified office. He describes Mr Kunda as a liar and a man who has sown a seed of discontentment in the UPND, but assures him that seed will not grow because the party is cemented on its own values and principles.

Mr Kunda yesterday said some UPND MPs are discontented that Mr Hichilema has offloaded the party to the Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata where Mr Hichilema has been sidelined. Mr Kunda said the UPND members of Parliament are allegedly preparing to hound out Mr Hichilema and replace him with Mazabuka Central MP Gary Nkombo while Siavonga MP Douglas Siakalima will assume the position of deputy president.

Mr Kunda made the revelations to some MMD cadres and Government officials after his arrival at the Livingstone International Airport.

QFM

Hichilema not safe – Kunda

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VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has revealed that some United Party for National Development (UPND) members want to expel their president Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly failing the party.

And Mr Kunda has said Government is disappointed with the Livingstone City councillors for their involvement in alleged immoral scandals which led to the suspension of the council.

Mr Kunda said the UPND members of Parliament are allegedly preparing to hound out Mr Hichilema and replace him with Mazabuka Central MP Gary Nkombo while Siavonga MP Douglas Siakalima will assume the position of deputy president.

Mr Kunda said some UPND MPs are discontented that Mr Hichilema has offloaded the party to the Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata where Mr Hichilema has been sidelined.

Mr Kunda made the revelations to some MMD cadres and Government officials who braved a rare downpour after his arrival at the Livingstone International Airport yesterday.

“The opposition like the UPND has serious internal problems. Mr Hakainde Hichilema will soon be expelled from his party by his members of Parliament. Mr Gary Nkombo will be appointed the president of the UPND while Mr Douglas Siakalima is going to be the deputy.

There are also problems in the PF-UPND pact where there are two leaders both aspiring to be adopted as presidential candidates for the 2011 elections. MMD has one leader and let us move as one,” he said.

But Mr Nkombo has denied that he will take over the UPND presidency.

Mr Nkombo, who was monitored on Radio Phoenix last evening, said he was loyal to the party and president Hichilema.

He said there was no way he could take over the party presidency.

Mr Kunda said the MMD should take advantage of the imminent cracks in the UPND and the PF/UPND alliance to embark on a massive recruitment exercise of members.

He reiterated Government’s commitment to developing the country by focusing on economic growth despite the persistent attacks and criticism from the opposition.

Mr Kunda said the opposition have run out of serious matters to criticise Government on and have resorted to malice and innuendoes.

He said the opposition have even extended their verbal tirade to former President Frederick Chiluba who has thrown his support behind President Banda.
Mr Kunda said the opposition have no alternative economic policies and that Zambians should not vote for them in the 2011 elections.

“The government will continue concentrating on matters of economic growth and expansion and its stability. The opposition have nothing to offer in terms of alternative economic policies.

Their concentration now is on insulting traditional leaders and they have now extended their verbal attacks to our former President Dr Chiluba,” he said.

Mr Kunda commended the cadres and Government officials who for over an hour stood in the rains to welcome him and listen to what he had to say.

And Mr Kunda has expressed disappointment at the calibre of councillors at the Livingstone City Council.

He said it is strange that instead of concentrating on development, councillors seem pre-occupied with bickering.

Mr Kunda said councillors in the tourist city should be above mediocrity.

He said Government is looking forward to having councillors who can understand their roles in service delivery.

Mr Kunda said councillors at the Livingstone City Council should devote their energies to developing the tourism sector and avoid moral scandals and pettiness.

He said Livingstone is important not only to the tourism sector but also to the country as a whole as it has been significantly contributing to the overall growth of the economy.

“Of course, we are disappointed with the suspension of the Livingstone City Council on grounds of getting involved in scandals. Livingstone is a tourist city and it should be a model.

We want serious minded councillors and we cannot afford to have civic leaders engaging in scandals and squabbles at the expense of service delivery,” the Vice-President said.

Mr Kunda said Government is looking for civic leaders who have a vision of developing infrastructure and promoting the ideals of the government.

He was accompanied to Livingstone by Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Development Bradford Machila, Minister of Lands Gladys Lundwe and Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Gaston Sichilima.

He was met at the Livngstone International Airport by Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning Chileshe Kapwepwe, former Southern Province permanent secretary Darius Hakayobe and Southern Province deputy permanent secretary Manuel Nchima and other senior Government officials.

Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has warned the MMD leadership in the province to refrain from gossip. He said the tittle-tattle among the MMD leadership in Southern Province has the potential of destroying the party.

Mr Munkombwe said the formation of the pact has been a blessing in disguise for the ruling party and that the MMD will smoothly win the elections in 2011.

“You do not grow the party by gossiping. Stop peddling lies about the MMD leadership and concentrate on building the party. The premature formation of the PF-UPND pact is a blessing in disguise for the MMD because the opposition has now been weakened,” Mr Munkombwe said.

Zambia Daily Mail

Local Councils’ audit starts

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Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Managing Director George Ndongwe explains the water purification process to Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarkio Kazonga during a tour of the water works in Kafue

GOVERNMENT has constituted a four-man team to audit the Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe city councils.The audit will cover revenues, utilisation of rates, levies and Government grants for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009.

This follows President Banda’s directive to audit Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe city councils to establish how the councils utilised public funds.

According to a letter obtained by the Zambia Daily Mail in Ndola yesterday, Minister of Local Government and Housing, Eustarckio Kazonga said the audit team will prepare an audit report and recommend its findings to his office.

He said the findings will be copied to the Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe city councils and relevant provincial local government officers.

Mr Kazonga said the terms of reference for the audit team include verification of approved budget provisions for rates and levies in the three councils for the 2008/2009 financial year.

He said the team will also verify the actual billing of rates to residential, commercial and industrial property owners.

Mr Kazonga also said the audit team will collect schedules for the various grants from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing which Government disbursed to the councils.

Mr Kazonga further said the audit team will conduct physical verification of sites to check on whether service delivery, infrastructure development and maintenance financed from rates and levies are benefiting residents.

He said the team will capture payments made from rates and levies which are contrary to provisions of the local authorities regulations number 125 of 1992.

And Copperbelt Province local government officer Solomon Sakala said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that auditing of the councils will start on Friday.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Jacob Mwanza tipped to succeed Mahtani

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Former Bank of Zambia Governor Jacob Mwanza looks in the horizon after teeing off in the Planet Memorial Golf Club official opening tournament in Lusaka.
THE Finance Bank Zambia board has proposed former Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Jacob Mwanza as a replacement for Rajan Mahtani who resigned as chairperson on Saturday.

And the Bank of Zambia has said it is convinced Dr Mwanza would continue to contribute to the growth of the financial sector and help consolidate the progress that Finance Bank had made so far.

The Finance Bank board has also resolved to reduce the Finsbury Investment shares in Finance Bank from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.

Finance Bank executive director- corporate banking and marketing Noel Nkoma confirmed this in a statement in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Nkoma said the board made the proposal for Dr Mwanza, who is University of Zambia chancellor to succeed Dr Mahtani, at its extra-ordinary board meeting on Saturday.

Dr Mahtani tendered his resignation to the bank’s board on Saturday which the board accepted during the subsequent extra-ordinary board meeting held on the same day.

Commenting on the changes, BoZ head of public relations Kanguya Mayondi said the Central Bank had taken note of the stepping down of Dr Mahtani and welcomed the proposed appointment of Dr Mwanza.

“Dr Mwanza has served the private and public sectors in Zambia in various capacities. in the financial sector. Dr Mwanza is the immediate past governor of the Bank of Zambia, having served from 1995 to 2002,” he said.

He said the BoZ was optimistic that Dr Mwanza would be able to steer the bank to greater heights and build on what had been done in terms of the expansion programme.

[Times of Zambia]

Nine dead in Zambia landslide

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Nine people died in northern Zambia after a cliff on the Lake Tanganyika coast collapsed and buried their fishing camps, the local member of parliament said Monday.

Lameck Chibombamilimo, who represents Mpulungu district near the Tanzanian border, said seven bodies have been retrieved but two were believed still buried in the debris after landslide.

“Nine people have died and 30 families have been left homeless after the mountain collapsed on them because of the heavy rains experienced in the area,” Chibombamilimo said.

Chibombamilimo said he has donated 30 bags of maize meal, the staple grain, to the affected families but appealed to government to send relief food to the affected areas.

Zambia has seen unusually heavy rains this year, with some parts of the capital Lusaka flooded.

[timeslive.co.za]

Gemfields discovers 6,225-carat ‘elephant’ emerald in Zambia

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The emerald was recovered during normal mining operations on February 5, the company said in a statement, and is being examined by Gemfields’ experts to establish a clearer understanding of its value and significance.

The emerald has been named 'Insofu', which means 'elephant' in the language of the Bemba people indigenous to the region
The emerald has been named “Insofu” (which means “elephant” in the language of the Bemba people indigenous to the region) due to its size and in honour of the World Land Trust’s “Wild Lands Elephant Corridor Project”, of which Gemfields is a participant.

Gemfields said its experts “will continue to evaluate the gem before any final decision is taken in terms of its future”.

Ian Harebottle, chief executive of Gemfields, said: “This is a unique find. The Insofu displays wonderful colour and good translucency. Its sheer size, rich colour and fine protective biotite shell make it difficult to see deep into the gem. However, all indications suggest that the core of the emerald is competent and that it should yield a number of cut gems of significant size.”

The largest uncut emerald believed to have been found was in Carnaiba, Brazil in 1974. It was an incredible 86,136-carat natural beryl crystal. The stone was eventually valued at $1,120,080. The largest emerald crystal ever discovered was 7,025 carats and was found in a mine in Colombia.

[Telegraph Media Group]

RB appoints New Attorney General, reshuffles Government

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President Rupiah Banda
President Rupiah Banda has appointed Solicitor General Abyudi Shonga as new Attorney General subject to parliamentary ratification.

The President has also retired, in national interest, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe and replaced him with Gladys Kristafor who was until this appointment Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources.

In a mini reshuffle announced in a statement by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, President Banda has also recalled Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, Lucy Mung’omba and appointed her Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, replacing Ambassador Tiens Kapoma who has been transferred to the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in the same capacity.

For administrative convenience, the President has also appointed Mr. Alfred Chunda to act as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the return of Ambassador Mung’omba to take up her appointment.

Other appointments are those of Mr. Andrew Phiri as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education to replace Ms. Lillian Kapulu who has been transferred to the Ministry of Tourism.

President Banda has also appointed Davison Mendamenda, who was until this appointment Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services as new Deputy Auditor-General responsible for administration in the Office of the Auditor-General.

Mr Mendamenda has replaced Mr. Mulenga who has been deployed to Foreign Service.

ZANIS

The Week/end in Pictures

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1.

M-Net Face of Africa winner Lukando Nalungwe with MultiChoice Zambia public relations manager Marlon Kananda when she arrived from Nigeria where she won the pageant

2.

The Stanbic Marketing Manager (Ireen Musonda) offered to Lukando , the Zambian winner of MNET Face Of Africa, a US$1,500 and a Private Account on her arrival in Lusaka. Photo by J. Mandela

3.

M-Net Face of Africa winner Lukando Nalungwe with President Banda and First Lady Thandiwe before a luncheon at State House

4.

Western province permanent secretary Ikanuke Noyoo receives a gift from Professional Insurance Corporation of Zambia general manager George Imbuwa in Mongu recently

5.

Zambia Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso inspects recovered household items at Lusaka central police station

6.

Lusaka district police commanding officer Greenwell Nguni wears a recovered mask and holds a rifle recovered from criminals during a public display of the goods at Lusaka central police station.

7.

Chiefs Mumena (l) and Mujimansovu with the proprietor of Kansanshi hotel after the official opening in Solwezi

8.

North western province minister Daniel Kalenga inspects the new Kansanshi hotel in Solwezi

9.

Education minister Dora Siliya interacts with pupils in Lusaka

10.

Football association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya arrives late for a press briefing at Football House in Lusaka

11.

Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya unveils the new national soccer teams jerseys at Football House in Lusaka

12.

Province Permanent Secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe addressing Agriculture Camp Officers in Nakonde recently

13.

some women arrive for the launch of 'Zambia We Want' by Women for Change at the Mulungushi international conference centre in Lusaka.

14.

Dr Chiluba greets MMD cadres before addressing a press briefing

15.

Dr Chiluba's Chrysler parked at his residence

16.

Former Nchanga MP Charles Chimumbwa dances with a MMD cadre at Dr Chiluba's residence

17.

Flooded houses that are almost submerged in water in Mambwe district

18.

Former Patrotic Front secretary general Edward Mumbi arrives for Dr Chiluba's press briefing

19.

Part of the Chipata-Mfuwe road that has been affected by floods in eastern province

We wanted to attend RB’s meeting – UPND Councilors

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Some opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Councilors in Mazabuka district are angry with their National Management Committee (NMC) for stopping them from attending President Rupiah Banda’s meeting when he visited the district last week.

The Councilors complained to ZANIS in Mazabuka today that it was sad to note that the NMC of the UPND decided to stop them from welcoming President Banda when he had traveled for a developmental meeting. The civic leaders, who did not want to be named for fear of victimization, urged their party authorities to differentiate between politics and development.

They charged that they were threatened with expulsion from the party if they disobeyed the party directives.
They wondered how they would now explain issues such as the construction of a high school in Magoye constituency and the upgrading of the Mazabuka District Hospital into a general hospital to their wards.

But UPND Mazabuka District chairperson, Lloyd Buumba told ZANIS in Mazabuka that there was nothing he could do because the instructions came from the supreme organ of the party.

Mr Buumba however argued that the meeting which President Banda addressed was political because it took place at Chief Mwanachingwala’s palace.

During the visit to Chief Mwanachingwala’s palace, President Banda announced that his government would this year construct a new high school in Magoye constituency and upgrade Mazabuka district hospital into a general hospital.

He also assured Chief Mwanachingwala that boreholes would be sunk in areas that are faced with serious water problems.

ZANIS

DEC nabs 62 peasant farmers in one week

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cannabis

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested 62 peasant farmers countrywide and seized over 10 tonnes of cannabis in the last seven days.

DEC public relations officer John Nyawali disclosed this during a media briefing in Kitwe today. Mr Nyawali said the latest arrest was made yesterday when the Commission arrested two peasant farmers of Kasata farming block in Chingola district who were found with 2.8 tonnes of cannabis field.

The two farmers, Kelvin Kabimbi and Tandeo Mwena, both aged 25 years, were cornered in an operation conducted by the DEC officers. Mr Nyawali said the seizure in Chingola was the largest on the Copperbelt in the last five years.

He said the commission has also arrested 60 people country wide in the last one week after an operation in which 7.3 tonnes of various psychotropic substances were confiscated.

He said among the people arrested was one inmate of Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe, who was found with 19 balls of cannabis, and a grade 10 pupil of Imbolela high school in Serenje district, who was also found with 10 rolls of the banned drug.

Mr. Nyawali said the cultivation of cannabis in the country has reached alarming levels. He has since appealed to farmers in the country to concentrate on growing cash crops which would sustain their food security and not engage in growing illegal drugs.
ZANIS

Continued Floods in Lusaka

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Houses flooded with rain water in Misisi township

By Wesley Ngwenya
I am writing this from a guest house somewhere in woodlands–one of the neighborhoods in Lusaka. This is my temporal shelter for the weekend maybe more as my house in Kabwata is completely submerged in water—every room. I have, therefore, abandoned my property which is all floating in about 12 inches high water. [quote]

This should not be a big deal because I chose to go and live in Kabwata. No one forced me to move into that neighborhood. Kabwata site and service is a neighborhood just south east of Lusaka. This means that the houses in this neighborhood have been built by the residents. The City Council provided the land to build the houses. Therefore, the neighborhood has a variety of houses from nicely fenced and fancy houses to poorly built ones.

This neighborhood has been in existence since the early eights but it has no proper drainage systems or paved roads. Therefore, when it rains especially the way it has been in the last three weeks, there are a lot of floods all over. Many people in Kabwata are living with pools of water outside or inside their houses. They do not have the privilege of sneaking to some guesthouse or a relative with better accommodation. They have to continue staying in the same conditions during this period.

Kabwata is considered middle class and is in such terrible state. I hate to think of the situation in Misisi, Kanyama, and Chipata Compounds where I hear people are reported to have died as a result of the floods. What is the local or state government doing about this? What has taken them long to provide these much needed services in these areas? What has been happening to the land rates and other taxes that we pay?

This past week for the first time, the local government decided to send contractors to work on the drainage in Kabwata. What work can be done at this time of the year when there is so much water? Where have they been all this time? Where was the money sitting all this time? Why do we always have to react to problems instead of tackling issues before they become problems? These are frustrating questions to even think of when there are people employed to do these things.

Lusaka City needs a complete makeover underground. Downtown Lusaka (or the city center) is a terrible mess when it rains. Each time it rains in the city the water doesn’t seem to know where to go. It is never guided and usually will flow with the gradient of the ground. Look at those bus stations in the city. Despite that they are used by millions of passengers every year, they continue to be flooded sometimes to knee-high when it rains. Year after year it is the same problems, same places and same consequences- accidents, diseases, and even deaths.

I would go on and on but I will stop here. I have already provided solutions in my previous article on floods. Besides, Rupiah is in a party mood right now and won’t listen. He is busy celebrating his birthday. He is never too old to party. Anyway, as soon as the partying is over we can come back to the table and talk about the floods. By the way, I am working on another love letter for you and your government. Until next time happy birthday Mr President.

Michael Sata instructs his lawyers to commence legal proceedings against Chiluba

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Mr Sata sandwiched by two police officers

Opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata has instructed his lawyers to commence legal proceedings against Second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba over the allegations he made against him during a press briefing yesterday.

Mr Sata Confirmed to QFM this morning that he has written to his lawyers instructing them to commence legal proceeding against the former head of State.

He said Dr Chiluba has no immunity and that his desire to please president Rupiah Banda will land him in problems. He further stated that the attacks by Dr Chiluba against him are tricks by the former president to divert attention from real issues. Mr Sata said Dr Chiluba wants to wage a verbal war against him so that President Banda’s alleged efficiencies cannot be highlighted by the opposition.

Mr. Sata said the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development will remain focused to ensure that Zambians are liberated from the suffering which the MMD has subjected them to.

And Second Republican President, Dr. Fredrick Chiluba has challenged opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata to respond to the issues raised against him during yesterday’s press conference instead of dodging them by insulting and making derogatory statements against him.

Dr. Chiluba through his spokesperson, Emmanuel Mwamba questioned Mr. Sata’s morality for persistently insulting him. Mr. Mwamba explained that Dr. Chiluba is not interested in petty and dirty politics which the PF leaders is perpetrating and forcing him into.

Mr. Mwamba said Mr. Sata has constantly insulted Dr.Chiluba by questioning his life style, spiritual, social and political life, for a very long time. He has since challenge the PF leader to answer the questions raised by the former during his press conference yesterday and stop indulging in politics of insults.

QFM

Stop criticizing NCC, blame yourself, Machungwa tells Sata

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Old pals but political rivals...PF leader Michael Sata and All People's Congress president Ken Ngondo

Patriotic Front (PF) Luapula Member of Parliament, Peter Machungwa says opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader, Michael Sata should stop criticizing the work of the National Constitution Conference (NCC).

Dr. Machungwa, who himself belongs to the PF, said Mr. Sata should instead blame himself for barring his Members of Parliament from participating in the NCC.

He said in Mazabuka yesterday that it is sad and strange to hear Mr Sata crying foul over the same process he has been opposing since its inception.

Dr. Machungwa said this when he featured on a live phone in programme dubbed ‘Live Wire’ at Mazabuka Community Radio Station.

He said Mr Sata has lost an opportunity to contribute to the constitutional making process by boycotting the process.

He charged that Mr Sata was not sincere because of his inconsistence on several issues affecting the nation especially after he supported the formation of the NCC during a meeting of all political parties with the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Dr Machungwa observed that it was ironical for Mr Sata to complain about the adoption of certain clauses by NCC when his party boycotted the constitution making process.

He complained that Mr Sata has continued hurling insults and calling the 18 PF Members of Parliaments attending the NCC as rebels when they did not commit any offence.

Dr Machungwa however regretted that only 18 PF MPs are attending the NCC after 12 withdrew due to threats from the party authorities.

He urged Mr Sata to instead call the MPs, who have decided to boycott the process as rebels, because they have disobeyed the law requiring them to represent their members.

Meanwhile, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) on Friday suspended sittings until April this year in order to facilitate for the resumption of sittings of the National Assembly.

Closing the 84th meeting of the conference, NCC Chairman Chifumu Banda thanked the delegates for their dedication and hard work they showed during the sessions.

Mr. Banda said while the conference has not concluded adopting all committee reports, a lot of work has been accomplished.

He stated that a number of reports have so far been concluded and adopted during the period of the conference.
He said some of the reports that have been adopted during the sitting are from the legislative committee and the democratic governance committee among many other committee reports.

Mr. Banda said the conference has made a lot of progress in adopting the human rights reports.

ZANIS

Investigate private schools’ poor G12 results – SESTUZ

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The Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has expressed disappointment at the poor results recorded during the 2009 grade 12 examinations.

And the union has asked government to conduct investigations to determine why some private schools in Lusaka have performed so badly when they are charging exorbitant fees to pupils.

SESTUZ Deputy General Secretary, Emmanuel Zulu said the poor results and the downward trend in number of candidates who sat for the examinations is a source of worry to the country as it may produce half baked citizens who will fail to contribute effectively to the socio-economic development of the country.

Mr. Zulu was reacting to the announcement that over 33,000 out of the 55,000 pupils who sat for Grade 12 examinations last year obtained school certificate.

He added that the union has established that the poor results and the decrease in number of candidates was due to pupils’ withdrawal from schools by pregnancies and parents’ inability to pay school fees. He said this should be quickly addressed to avoid a situation where those who fail to proceed to pursue their tertiary education end up being on the streets as prostitutes, beggars or thieves.

Mr. Zulu has also called on government to investigate why some privately owned schools in Lusaka have recorded a low passing rate despite them promising to deliver the best education to pupils. He said this is unexpected especially that they charge a lot of money.

He said most private schools have employed unqualified staff and do not have proper facilities to conduct experiments adding that government should start supervising them to ensure they meet all the standards.

Mr. Zulu has meanwhile commended government for releasing K21.5 billion towards the payment of the final fixed band housing allowance arrears.He said the payment is a step in the right direction especially that it has been outstanding for over seven years.

Mr. Zulu has however asked government to come up with more progressive staff motivation strategies and conditions of service to motivate the teachers.

ZANIS

Chirundu border leads in arrivals into Zambia

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The one stop border post in Chirundu

CHIRUNDU border post is the dominant port of entry in Zambia accounting for 16.9 percent arrivals followed by Lusaka International Airport which accounts for 16.8 percent while Kasumbalesa’s arrivals stand at 11.2 percent.

This is contained in the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources brief analysis for 2008.

Other entry border points are Nakonde (12.8 percent), Victoria Falls (12.4 percent), Kazungula (8.6 percent), Livingstone International Airport (8.1 percent), Katimamulilo (4.1 percent), Ndola International Airport (3.9 percent), Kariba North (3.8 percent), and Mwami (2.0 percent).

Mfuwe Airport is the least busy port of entry accounting for a marginal 0.1 percent of the total arrivals.

The report further states that the majority of arrivals prefer lodges (25.6 percent) while guesthouses, hotels, other, and friends account for 23.6 percent, 18.6 percent, 18.1 percent and 11.7 percent respectively.

The campsites are the least used mode of accommodation with statistics standing at 2.3 percent.
The tourism sector, however, recorded a decrease in arrivals with the number standing at 811,775 in 2008 compared with 897,413 in 2007.

The report states that an analysis of the 2008 data indicates a total of 472,224 arrivals being males while 339,551 were females.

It also states that business was the dominant purpose of the visits accounting for 34.4 percent.

However, this represents an 8.0 percent decrease in business-oriented tourists compared to 2007 figures.

Holiday was second reason for entry accounting for 22.7 percent. Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) accounted for 16.4 percent of the total arrivals.

Conferences and study accounted for 7.4 percent and 2.2 percent respectively.

Visits from other African countries contributed 74.7 percent to the total arrivals while the second largest contributor were arrivals from Europe who contributed 13.4 percent.

The Americans contributed 5.8 percent of the total arrivals while tourists from Australia contributed a marginal 2.2 percent with Asia contributing 3.8 percent arrivals

[Zambia Daily Mail]