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Card Campaign is about violence, Kunda

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Vice President George Kunda

Vice-President George Kunda described as “provocative and annoying” an anti-government red card campaign that is being spearheaded by Change Life Zambia executive director Father Frank Bwalya.

Mr Kunda told hundreds of Copperbelt residents that the red card campaign is about violence and that it is aimed at disrupting peace in the country.

“The red card campaign is provocative and annoying. It is aimed at diverting Government attention from attending to real issues affecting our people.

“I know most of our supporters are annoyed because the Copperbelt Province is a fertile ground for the MMD,” Mr Kunda said.

He said the MMD is gaining ground on the Copperbelt and that the opposition political parties, especially the PF-UPND pact, will be crushed in next year’s general elections.

Mr Kunda said he was encouraged that when he arrived at the meeting he found people waving white cards, which symbolise peace.

He warned that those that are promoting lawlessness and violence in various communities will be dealt with by the law.

“President Rupiah Banda stands for investment, development and progress. He is focused in his vision to develop the country. I have worked with President Banda, he works hard and he loves this country. Mr Michael Sata is a failure and Zambians have continued rejecting him.

“The miners that lost their jobs during the recession are being re-employed by various mining companies. Investment in the mining sector is still growing. Government is improving the lives of Zambians by creating jobs for them. Zambia is admired by foreigners because of the way the government is managing the affairs of the country,” he said.

Mr Kunda said investors from various parts of the world are investing in the country because of the good polices that the government is implementing.

[pullquote]“We are looking after your money very well. It takes time to develop the country. We also want councils to play their role in the development process of the country. They receive huge sums of money and they can use part of the funds they receive from mining companies to improve service delivery.[/pullquote]

He said the government is committed to developing the road infrastructure and that it had signed an agreement with the Japanese government to rehabilitate some roads in Ndola and Kitwe.

Mr Kunda said the government is taking development to all parts of the country, noting that hospitals, clinics and schools are being built in all the districts in Zambia.

He said people throughout the country are either joining or rejoining the MMD because they are happy with development projects taking place in various parts of the country.

He said Zambians wanted to associate themselves with political parties such as the ruling MMD because of its commitment to addressing the welfare of the people.

“We are looking after your money very well. It takes time to develop the country. We also want councils to play their role in the development process of the country. They receive huge sums of money and they can use part of the funds they receive from mining companies to improve service delivery.

[pullquote]

Mr Kunda said President Banda’s foreign trips are meant to attract investment and wondered why some Zambians are criticising these outings.

[/pullquote]

The agricultural sector is doing well. We have so much maize including other cash crops. We will be exporting some of these crops. We used to import maize when some opposition leaders were in government,” he said.

Mr Kunda also took a swipe at Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi for her continued attacks on the government, especially President Banda.

He charged that some FDD members have petitioned for the removal of Ms Nawakwi as FDD president.
“We want to give respect to our women in Zambia and we are committed to working with them in developing this country and they are useful partners in the development process of the country. But we are wondering what is giving Ms Nawakwi courage to insult government,” he said.

Mr Kunda said President Banda’s foreign trips are meant to attract investment and wondered why some Zambians are criticising these outings.
He maintained that there is confusion in the UPND and that the party will soon disintegrate.

He said the PF-UPND pact does not have any agenda for the development of the country and that he has been vindicated by Senior Chief Mushili’s son, Prince Robert’s resignation from the UPND.Mr Kunda donated K10 million to the MMD on the Copperbelt for party organisation.

He said Government has set aside about K15 billion for the empowerment of youths and women in the country.
.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

State acts to counter unplanned settlements

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Local government minister Eustackio Kazonga and his deputy Moses Muteteka during a press briefing in Lusaka
Local government minister Eustackio Kazonga and his deputy Moses Muteteka during a press briefing in Lusaka

GOVERNMENT is in the process of repealing the Town and Country Planning Act to address challenges faced in unplanned settlements in the country.

Minister of Local Government and Housing Eustackio Kazonga said yesterday that this is being done to deal with contradictions between the town and country planning Act and the Housing Act.

Dr Kazonga said this during a recording of the ‘Culture Remodelling’ television programme at the Ministry of Finance and National Planning under the theme Making it Happen: Local Government and Housing.
He said the contradiction has made it difficult for councils to provide services following the increase in unplanned settlements.

“In 2010 we have a number of programmes and if we start with physical planning, the first programme that we are embarking on is the repeal of the current Town and Country Planning Act. It has been overtaken by challenges that we are facing right now. We need to totally repeal that Act,” Dr Kazonga said.
He said work is going on to have the new act by the end of this year.

“When you look at the current Town and Planning Act and you look at the Housing Act, you will sometimes find some contradictions. Whereas something will be accepted as legal within the Housing Act, in the Town and Country Planning Act it will be illegal. So we need to harmonise these two pieces of legislation,” he said.

Dr Kazonga said Government has seen a number of challenges in unplanned settlements and that there is need to have specific clauses to tackle this aspect.

“The legal framework is part of what the physical planning is working on, but that is not all. We are also working on integrated development plans (IDPs) where we have a totality of these plans in terms of the scale, rate and quality of development put together in a consultative manner. These IDPs are being done for a number of towns in the country so that we have orderly development in the country. Development cannot just come up abruptly,” Dr Kazonga said.

He said currently Government is working on IDPs for Kapiri Mposhi, Lufwanyama, Samfya, Mazabuka, Choma, Luangwa, Mongu, Sesheke, Shangombo, Siavonga and Mambwe.

He said there is need to improve municipal infrastructure in the country, which he described as quite bad.

“Generally speaking, municipal infrastructure in the country is quite bad. Efforts are being made by Government to work on roads, markets and the drainage systems,” he said.

He said Government is also working on upgrading some unplanned settlements in the country.

“Government policy right now is that we do not want anymore of unplanned settlements. Let’s tackle the ones that are already in existence, no new ones. To upgrade settlements you are looking at the road network, the corresponding drainage systems, the water supply and sanitation facilities, street lighting and so on. All that is a totality of unplanned settlements upgrading,” he said.

Dr Kazonga said Government has made efforts to assist some councils to upgrade some of the unplanned settlements.

He said all local authorities were requested to submit to Government the list of unplanned settlements to determine which ones will be upgraded.

“But of course resources are not enough. What is important is to begin so that we can have specific compounds (townships) to be upgraded,” he said.
He said the current problem of floods in townships is a result of people building in areas not fit for human habitation.

He, however, said Government has scored some successes in water supply and sanitation within the Fifth National Development Plan.

He said 5,000 boreholes have been sunk in rural areas since 2006 and that Government is currently rehabilitating 400 boreholes.
He said this programme has increased access to clean water and sanitation in rural areas by about 1.3 million people.

He said the baseline in 2006 showed that only 37 percent of the population had access to clean water in rural areas compared to the current 50 percent.

“We are targeting that by 2015, 75 percent of the population will have access to clean water and sanitation. For sanitation in 2006 it was at 13 percent and we want to increase it to 60 percent under the Rural Water and Sanitation,” he said.

He said in urban areas Government has created 11 commercial water utilities to provide clean water to residents.

Dr Kazonga also said all councils in the country are up to date with statutory audits.
“All 72 councils have been audited for the year ended December 2008. People have the right to complain about audits in councils,” he said.

However, Dr Kazonga said Government has so far given the Local Authorities Superenuation Fund K37 billion to help in the payment of retirement packages for former employees in councils.

He also urged Zambians to internalise the ‘Make Zambia Clean’ campaign to reduce the prevalence of epidemics in the country.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Stakeholders cheer nickel mine re-opening

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President Rupiah Banda re-opening the Albidon Nickel Mine in MazabukaSEVERAL stakeholders have commended Government for facilitating the re-opening of the Munali nickel mine under a new investor, Jinchuan Limited.

These include the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ), the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and a local traditional leader.

The EAZ has said the re-opening of the mine is a good sign as it is an expression of confidence in the Zambian economy.

EAZ president Mwilola Imakando said in an interview yesterday that Zambians will benefit through jobs that will be created, while Government revenue will appreciate through tax collection.

“It is a good sign if a resource that was idling begins to contribute to the economic development of the country. The resource will create employment for the people, it will also make profits and in turn pay tax to the Government,” Dr Imakando said.

He said the investment into the Munali Nickel Mine by Jinchuan Limited sends a signal to would-be investors that Zambia has a positive investment climate where they can recoup their expenditure.

“As EAZ, we are happy when a resource that was idling begins to contribute to the economic development of Zambia,” he said.

President Banda re-opened the Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka on Friday, promising that Government will continue to encourage value addition to copper, cobalt and gemstone products to promote growth and diversification in the mining sector.

The MUZ has commended President Banda’s call and directive that each mining industry be monitored to ensure that respective local communities derive benefits arising from the investments.

MUZ general secretary Aswell Munyenyembe said in Ndola yesterday that President Banda’s statement is welcome.
“As a mine union we welcome President Banda’s pronouncement because this is what we have been advocating; to see that people benefit from the investments in various communities,” he said.

He said mining companies should demonstrate corporate responsibility by ploughing back some of their profits into communities they operate in.
Mr Munyenyembe said the benefits from the mining industry should benefit all stakeholders in the industry that include the employees, mine suppliers and contractors.

He said Government’s policies in the mining industry are still attractive to investors.
“Most of the mines that closed down have re-opened. This is as a result of good policies by Government in the industry,” he said.

He said, however, that the removal of windfall tax should be reconsidered, as the country will not benefit much from the mining industry.

He said copper prices on the international market are substantially increased to justify windfall tax.
“The proceeds would have been used for repairing roads that are being damaged by heavy trucks ferrying copper in and out of Zambia,” he said.

President Banda directed Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Maxwell Mwale to closely monitor the performance of each mining company so that local communities derive benefits from the investment in their areas.

Chief Mwanachingwala has said he is glad that the people of Mazabuka will benefit from the nickel mine through job opportunities and royalties that will accrue to the local community.

“We are happy because the country will benefit in terms of job opportunities and poverty reduction among our people,” Chief Mwanachingwala said in an interview.
The chief commended Government for its commitment to uplifting the standards of living of the people through job creation.

He pointed out that the Munali Nickle Mine is the second one being re-opened after Luanshya Copper Mines on the Copperbelt; both of which had been shut due to low metal prices during the global economic recession last year.

Chief Mwanachingwala attributed the re-opening of the mines to Government’s commitment to poverty reduction and making Zambia a preferred destination for investment.

“We would like to thank the President for wooing investors to come to Zambia. We hope that Government will attract more investment into the country so that Zambia can become self-sufficient,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.

He also commended President Banda for directing that the local communities should benefit through royalties from the mining company.
Chief Mwanachingwala hopes that this will translate into the construction of schools and an institution for tertiary education.

He urged the mining company to give preference to the locals when employing people for the mine.
He said, however, that this did not mean that people from outside the province should be excluded.
The Chinese company is considering upgrading production from 900,000 tonnes of ore to 1.2 million tonnes by 2012. This will in turn raise job opportunities from the current 345 to 450.
[Zambia Daily Mail]

Sata condemned for touching Senior Chief Sailunga’s head

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PF Leader Michael Sata

THE Lunda and Kaonde people are annoyed with Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata for going against tradition by touching the head of hospitalised Senior Chief Sailunga of the Lunda people of Mwinilunga.

Former national chairperson for the Lunda Cultural Association Newton Samakai said in a telephone interview from Lusaka that Lunda people throughout the country are upset by what Mr Sata did during his visit to the hospitalised chief.

And Solwezi District Nsakwa ya ba Kaonde cultural association vice-secretary Richard Mufwabule said in an interview in Solwezi on Friday that Kaonde-speaking people are unhappy with Mr Sata’s act.

They were reacting to a picture published in The Post newspaper on March 22, 2010 showing Mr Sata touching the head of Senior Chief Sailunga in bed at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

“As Kaonde people we have condemned the act by Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata for disrespectfully touching the head of the royal highness Senior Chief Sailunga, who is currently admitted to the UTH in Lusaka,” Mr Mufwabule said.

Mr Mufwabule said the condemned act is evident in the picture which shows Mr Sata unflinchingly and publicly touching the chief’s head.

He said although Mr Sata may want to portray himself as a good leader by visiting Senior Chief Sailunga, he was supposed to adhere to cultural norms.

“Mr Sata, like any other Zambian citizen, has the right to visit any hospitalised chief such as Senior Chief Sailunga but he must learn to value the type of behaviour and actions to apply when visiting dignified traditional leaders,” he said.

Mr Mufwabule said it was a well-known fact that it is taboo to touch the head of a chief of any tribe in the Bantu language fraternity.

“We urge all well-meaning Zambians and people of North-Western Province in particular to condemn Mr Sata’s behaviour as regards to Senior Chief Sailunga’s hospitalisation,” he said.

And Mr Samakai said it was also wrong for Mr Sata to visit the traditional leader tagging along a photographer to politicise and publicise the event.
“We thank him for visiting our chief but we are annoyed that he went to see a sick person carrying with him a cameraman to define his political mileage,” Mr Samakai said.

Mr Samakai said touching a chief’s head is taboo in the Lunda tradition.

“According to our Lunda culture, we don’t allow what Mr Sata did. In fact when a chief is sick only close relatives are aware of it and he must be kept outside the palace. It is just because of the modern situation that chiefs are taken to the hospital,” he said.

He said the Lunda Cultural Association committee chose to see Mr Sata before making a public reaction but the PF president is said to have told them to put their complaint in writing.

“Imagine the ache of the matter! For me that is unacceptable because he now wants the offended people to start dancing to his tune,” Mr Samakai said.

He advised all the annoyed Lunda people to remain calm as the cultural association is looking into the matter.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Be Still

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Be still, and know that I am God”
(Psalm 46:10, NIV))

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In this day and age, our culture has gotten used to having constant activity going on: computers, cell phones, television, email, video games. There’s nothing wrong with any of that stuff, but the Bible tells us that we need to stop and be still so we can focus on knowing God. I’ve found this to be true especially during the difficult times. When you are facing a challenge, it’s easy to want to run to a friend or talk about it with a co-worker, but at some point, you have to stop and say, “God, I rest in You. I know You have me in the palm of Your hand.”

Remember, our battles are spiritual battles. The people in your life aren’t the source of your problems, the forces of darkness are. When you choose to be still and know that the Greater One lives on the inside of you, you are putting yourself in a position of strength. So today, take time to be still before Him. Let His peace cover you. Let Him refresh you by His Spirit. Remember, the battles you face belong to the Lord. Be still before Him so you can see His hand of victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I humbly come before You. I choose to be still before You. Speak to my heart so I can know You more. Fill me with Your peace as I put my trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Parley adjourns sine die

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PARLIAMENT yesterday adjourned sine die after sitting for 19 days.

Moving the motion for the House to adjourn sine die, Vice President George Kunda said during the 19-day sitting, Parliament considered 215 questions, three private members motions, and one motion to adopt the Public Accounts Committee’s report on the outturn and appropriation accounts for the year ending December 31, 2007.

Mr Kunda said the House further considered two motions to adopt reports on Presidential appointments.
He said Parliament also considered 37 reports from government and quasi-government institutions.

“The House also passed 21 bills. The House has performed diligently and it is time to take a break,” Mr Kunda said.

He said the break will allow MPs to attend to other national duties outside Parliament.

The Vice President called on fellow MPs to go back and work with their electorates and monitor ongoing projects.

Mr Kunda said floods have affected some constituencies, thereby making it difficult for government to distribute relief food and drugs to flood victims.

“Some bridges have been washed away, some of our people have been rendered homeless, and it is important for MPs to assess the damage and help government work out with mitigating measures,” he said.

Contributing to debate, Bangweulu MP Joseph Kasongo appealed to all MPs to carry the message of peace to their electorate and not that of instability.

Mr Kasongo said Zambians can only address problems facing the nation in an atmosphere of peace and stability.

He observed that some politicians are desperate for power and can do anything just to get to State House.
“But they should wait because we only have 15 months to go…,” he said.

Mr Kasongo challenged clergymen who have political ambitions to come forward because doors of the National Assembly are open to anyone.

On the NCC, Mr Kasongo said some government critics should not dictate the pace of the constitution-making process because they refused to participate when the government invited them.

Mr Kasongo further castigated those accusing the government of paying lip service to the fight against corruption.

“The government is ahead and has presented bills that are aimed at enhancing the fight against corruption,” Mr Kasongo aid.

He said Zambia needs peace to prosper politically and economically.

“Economic development can only be there if there is peace. We won’t allow those who want to use shortcuts to go to State House,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Phase one of the computerisation of the Judicial Court System launched

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VICE President George Kunda yesterday launched phase one of the computerisation of the Judicial Court System.

And Mr Kunda said Zambia will be the first African country to employ the usage of computerised judicial system.

Mr Kunda said in Lusaka yesterday that phase one of the project will see the computerisation of the Supreme, High and Magistrate courts in Lusaka.

“There is no doubt in my mind that this launch marks the beginning of a new era for the administration of justice in this country,” Mr Kunda said.

He said this is an important move towards streaming the administration of justice through effective and efficient court management.

Mr Kunda said he is certain the faith and confidence reposed by the citizen of this country in the judiciary would be greatly strengthened by the modernisation project launched yesterday.

The project launched yesterday was made possible with a 75 percent grant of the total cost amounting to US$500,000 by the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) while the Government provided the rest.

“May I, therefore, take this opportunity to thank the Investment Climate for Africa for the support rendered to our Judiciary through the grant,” Mr Kunda said.

He said he is particularly happy that the grant was put to good use, resulting in the successful implementation of phase one .

“As Government, we are committed to ensuring that the Judiciary’s autonomy is protected and shall do all we can for the Judiciary to work effectively and efficiently.

“To this end, I pledge my Government’s support towards this project by providing the 25 percent counterpart funding on time,” Mr Kunda said.

Earlier, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala said Zambia Justice Information Management System (ZAJIS) appreciates the efforts Government attaches to the Judiciary.

Justice Sakala said the funding from both ICF for Africa and Government had been timely under the project.

[pullquote]“Firstly, it was felt that technology was going to be an important ingredient to the change we sought in our operations by improving the rate of disposal of our cases and also improve the quality of judgements by having accurate records for all proceedings and on time for all citizens,” Justice Sakala said.[/pullquote]

He said the gesture enables the management team to execute its mandate efficiently.

“My appeal to both ICF for Africa and Government is that this trend should continue in the next phase,” Justice Sakala said.

He said the vision of ZAJIS came about by way of an introduction by former Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Dipak Patel, who is now a member of ICF.

“Firstly, it was felt that technology was going to be an important ingredient to the change we sought in our operations by improving the rate of disposal of our cases and also improve the quality of judgements by having accurate records for all proceedings and on time for all citizens,” Justice Sakala said.

Meanwhile, ICF chief executive officer for Africa Mary Issa said the modernisation of the Judiciary falls under one of her organisation’s priority areas, property rights and contracts enforcements.

[Zambia Daily mail]

I am going to stand for the presidency in 2011-RB

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President Rupiah Banda

PRESIDENT Banda yesterday re-affirmed his decision to stand for the republican presidency in the 2011 general elections and has called on the people of Southern Province to work with the ruling MMD.

“I am going to stand for the presidency in 2011. I am going to fight and am going to ask the conscious of the people of Zambia to give me another mandate so that I can fulfil the development programme of the country,” he said.

Mr Banda was speaking on arrival at Mazabuka’s Munali Nickel Mine.

He said during the last presidential election, he came second from United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema while Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata was relegated to the bottom in all the constituencies in Southern Province.

Mr Banda wondered why the people of Southern Province have allowed themselves, through Mr Hichilema, to join hands with the PF in a pact when it offers nothing.

“In the last election, I was number two to UPND in the province, and I beat Mr Sata. Why should UPND go into a pact with Mr Sata, a person who was rejected?” he asked.

Mr Banda said Southern Province, like Central and Eastern provinces, should also one day work towards producing a president instead of being duped.

“You are being duped by Mr Sata to participate in blocking me from completing my tenure as President. Mr Sata is telling your president (Hakainde) to work with him, is that fair? No,” he said.

Mr Banda said it is unfortunate to see hatred and insults being introduced in the political arena.

The President took a swipe at Change Life Zambia executive director Frank Bwalya, whom he accused of abusing Radio Icengelo and advocating a red card to be flashed against him.

Mr Banda advised Fr Bwalya to flash the red card against people who have broken rules of politics and those who are fond of abusive language.

He said every game has rules to be followed, and anyone who breaks them should be shown a red card.

Mr Banda said he has not done anything wrong to warrant the raising of a red card against him.

The President said he understands the anger and frustration that is being exhibited by the two opposition leaders as it comes from their experience of having lost previous elections.

Mr Sata has lost elections in three previous presidential elections while Mr Hakainde has lost in two.

Mr Banda called on Zambians to reject any leader and politics of individual ambitions and bitterness as they are not productive to the nation.

He assured the people of Southern Province that from his recent trip to China, and the discussions he had with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, he is hopeful that Zambia will also develop.

[pullquote]

“This province has as many rich minerals as any other provinces in the country. My government will not rest until we re-open the Maamba Coal mine also.

I will come to commission it. Please, give us a chance; no-one can be a magician that they can do everything at once. They are busy telling lies that when they come to power they would bring development in 100 days, it is not true,” he said.

[/pullquote]

President Banda said there is need to explore the rich minerals in Southern Province to develop the industry for the benefit of the people.

Mr Banda said the re-opening of the Munali Nickle mine will provide employment for the people in the province, who had to travel all the way to the Copperbelt Province in search of employment.

“This province has as many rich minerals as any other provinces in the country. My government will not rest until we re-open the Maamba Coal mine also.

I will come to commission it. Please, give us a chance; no-one can be a magician that they can do everything at once. They are busy telling lies that when they come to power they would bring development in 100 days, it is not true,” he said.

He urged Zambians to commit themselves to hard work and emulate the Chinese.

“Please, work well with the Chinese investors. Welcome them with both hands. I know their dedication towards work. I was there recently and saw how serious they are at work,” he said.

Mr Banda criticised opposition political leaders who are fond of claiming that the Chinese are not good investors, saying great nations like Britain and the United States of America are all rushing to China to attract investment.

He said he attached great importance to national development, and urged the people to rally behind his administration.

“I am the kind of President who focuses on national development,” he said.

And Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe called on President Banda to speed up elections at all MMD party levels before the convention.

“You, as chairman of the MMD national executive committee, please, quicken the process of elections in the party because some people are scandalising others for nothing,” Mr Munkombwe said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Vatican backs Bishop Mpundu

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Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu

THE Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli says the entire congregation of the Catholic Church in Zambia is in full support of Lusaka Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu.

But concerned members of the Catholic Church have vowed to go ahead with their planned demonstrations at the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia’s residence to compel his office to remove Bishop Mpundu.

Apostolic Nunciature Archbishop Girasoli said the Catholic Church supports Bishop Mpundu contrary to some statements from some people he described as non-Catholics.

Some concerned Catholics have petitioned Pope Benedict XV1 to remove Bishop Mpundu as head of the Catholic Church in Zambia.

Archbishop Girasoli said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that the Catholic Church is a universal church with its own rules and norms based on more than 2,000 years of tradition, which are collected in the Code of Canon Law, which can only call for the removal of any Archbishop who violates it.

Archbishop Girasoli said the Catholic Church in Zambia will not support calls for the removal of Bishop Mpundu because any kind of genuine action or claim in the Catholic Church should be sustained by the procedures indicated in the Canon Law.

The Vatican Embassy in Zambia denied that the Apostolic Nuncio ever met anybody or a group of Catholics who petitioned the removal of Bishop Mpundu.
But the petitioners have vowed to go ahead with their demonstration at the Vatican Embassy in Lusaka.

Group Spokesperson Edmond Zulu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the concerned members of the Catholic Church will not relent until they ensure that Bishop Mpundu is removed as head of the Catholic Church in Zambia.

[pullquote]“I think the people who are saying that the petitioners are not members of the Catholic Church want to taste our wrath, let them see what will happen on Wednesday, and their statements will not intimidate us until Bishop Mpundu is removed from his position,” Mr Zulu said.[/pullquote]

“I think the people who are saying that the petitioners are not members of the Catholic Church want to taste our wrath, let them see what will happen on Wednesday, and their statements will not intimidate us until Bishop Mpundu is removed from his position,” Mr Zulu said.

He said all well-meaning Catholic Church members in Lusaka and other parts of the country have indicated their willingness to take part in the demonstrations to pressure for the quick removal of Bishop Mpundu.

“Let them know that we are not joking but that we are very serious. We have given the Pope a one-week ultimatum to act on our petition failure to which we will demonstrate in masses,” he said.

Last week, some concerned Catholic Church members petitioned the Pope to remove Bishop Mpundu as head of the Catholic Church in Zambia for allegedly tarnishing the image of the Church.

In a letter of petition presented to the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, the concerned Church members from Chainda and Kamanga Parish called for the immediate removal of Bishop Mpundu for allegedly issuing alarming statements in the press.

They also called on the Pope to issue a public apology on behalf of the Catholic Church over Bishop Mpundu’s stand towards Government.

The concerned Church members further asked the Vatican to restore the relationship that the Catholics and Government used to enjoy over the years to enhance development in the country.

[Zambia Daily mail]

RB re-opens Munali Nickel Mine

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President Rupiah Banda re-opening the Albidon Nickel Mine in Mazabuka
President Rupiah Banda re-opening the Albidon Nickel Mine in Mazabuka

President RUPIAH BANDA today officially re-opened the Munali nickel mine which was closed due to the global financial crisis.

Nickel mine has been acquired by a Chinese company JINCHUAN mining group who have invested about 37 million united states dollars in the Mine and will employ 350 workers.

Munali Nickel becomes the second mine to reopen after the Luanshya Copper Mines which closed at the peak of the global crisis and resumed operations last year.

And the Mine Union of Zambia has commended Government for ensuring that Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka is re-opened.

MUZ President Rayford Mbulu said the opening of the mine which has been under care and maintenance for close to a year is a relief to the Zambians especially the employees that were working at the mine.

Mr Mbulu said that his union will represent ex-workers and address fears and concerns the ex-employees have over the new owners.

He says MUZ will engage the new mine operators to ensure all ex-workers are taken back. Mr Mbulu told QFM in an interview that though the local Zambians did not take keen interest in the bidding for the takeover of the mine because of economical problems, the opening of the mine has brought a sense of comfort to the union.

He has urged the Government to ensure that indigenous Zambians benefit from the mining activities in that area.

The Munali Nickel Mine has been taken over by a Chinese firm.

QFM

Those were the days!

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Dear Bloggers,

Do you remember how much fun we had growing up? Remember how…

1. We ate fritters at the market and do you remember buying cooking oil from some fat woman in the market who had a big drum of it connected to a tap or hand pump (‘CI DUMBO MALIKETI KA POMPA SALADI’)

2. We went hunting in the bush with our dogs and did not fear snakes, deep holes and even quick sand.

3. We went into the compounds looking for a fight from the compound boys and quite often came back badly bruised and beaten.

4.We only watched English Soccer on Fridays and it was always sponsored by Barclays. Liverpool and Everton were the best teams in England and not Manchester United and Arsenal.

5. You could name the starting line up of Green Buffaloes, Mufulira Wanderers and Kabwe Warriors. When we played football we called ourselves Simutowe, Ucar, Tools, Chola, or one of the local stars and not some foreigner we only saw on TV.

6.We always put stones in the Coca Cola to make it fizz.

7. We always harassed soldiers for canned beef.

8. Remember the days when we would line up from 08 00 hrs -16 00 hrs waiting for Kaunda to pass in the streets just to wave at him.

9. We thought only KK was President. My cousin once asked me if I knew the Kaunda of Kenya.

10. Chloroquine worked as a treatment for Malaria. You knew because when you went to the village (every 2 or 3 years) you came back with it.

11. When you always came back from the village all your friends wanted some of the peanuts, maize, intoyo, millet, pumpkins, finkubala and all the village produce you came back with. You could keep the playground entertained for weeks afterwards with your stories from the village.

12. Remember when we would go to the streams to swim and we never used to get sick because of the bad water.

13. Remember when we used to glimpse through the neighbours windows, just to have a glimpse of a TV and remember how they used to make us sit on the floor when watching TV by the neighbours.

14.Remember how we used to go for school assembly every Monday and had a parade for exercise (up, sideways, forward and down, clap! clap!) the shortest person being in front and the tallest at the back.

15.Remember how we used to watch video shows on civilian day sitting on the floor in rows and how we used to cheer at kung-fu (uuuuwaaaaaaaaa! uuuuwaaaaaaaaa!)

16. We always tried to switch off the escalator (the only ones in Zambia) at Mwaiseni .

17. We wore pink shirts with big collars, platform shoes, crimplene trousers and shirts, bell bottom jeans with massive cowboy belts with brass buckles.

18. Remember DPB’s milk chocolate biscuits

19.We didn’t have Play stations, Nintendo 64, X boxes, video games, DSTV, VCR’s, surround sound, cellular phones, computers, online chartrooms, instead we would have tons of FRIENDS and played CHIDUNUUUH, GEMU & TOUCH… utubambo (slapping your friend with fingers then after that licking them), it was always zero kunja, one, two….

20. Four of us would share a drink, we would all drink from the same bottle and that wasn’t disgusting nor would anyone get sick.

21.- We would eat cake, bread and butter, drink sugary drinks, and we weren’t overweight nor worry about cholesterol or diets because we were always outside playing .

22.Riding on the back of a vanette was an adventure that we still remember!

23. Do you remember Tarino and a mabuyu! I remember how we would play until we heard mum’s hooter, then we would run (top speed) into the house and smear vaseline all over your face and change our dirty clothes before mommy got into the house. But we always forgot to clean our feet and mum always noticed and would always smack us.

RDA requires K3 trillion for road Maintenance- Mulongoti

Entertainment Editor
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7

Works and Supply minister Mike Mulongoti has disclosed that the Road Development Agency (RDA) needs about K3 trillion annually to keep the country’s core road network of approximately 67,000 Km in a maintainable condition.

Mr Mulongoti told parliament today in a ministerial statement on the operations of RDA that only K1.2 trillion per year has been approved by parliament in the past three years.

He said the implication of such low levels of funding has contributed to RDA’s reducing works on its core road network by half .
He said there is need to increase the funding levels to enable RDA fulfill its mandate since roads are a prime engine of national economic growth.

Mr Mulongoti noted that the need to double the funding levels for road infrastructure development cannot be overemphasized if the RDA is to achieve the objects of ROADSIP II by 2015.

The Minister added that one way to generate more funds for the sector is to introduce tollgates on some of the country’s roads.
He disclosed that government intends to do away with fuel levy once tollgate levy was introduced.

Meanwhile. Mr Mulongoti has said that Zambia’s cooperating partners should not expect any bombshell from the audit of the RDA.
He also called for the speedy closure of the protracted audit process of RDA so that the suspended financial cooperation by the cooperating partners could be resumed.
He said RDA has been in existence for a short period and it would not help for anyone to judge them harshly.

QFM

Pictures of the Week

editor
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51

1.

South African national defence force Chief Godfrey Ngwenya with Zambia Army Commander Isaac Chisuzi at Arackan Barracks in Lusaka

2.

An unideitified man carrying his furniture from a flooded house in Kanyama area

3.

4.

Women in business... Two women selling cooked and raw cassava along Kalambo road in Lusaka

5.

Local government deputy minister Moses Muteteka participates in the destruction of pirated DVDs in Lusaka.

6.

An unidentified man inspects a set of pirated DVDs in Lusaka.

7.

A fake fanta drink packaged in a bottle of Coca-cola was seized in Lusaka .

8.

AN unidentified job seeker displaying a placard along Church road in Lusaka

9.

Kitwe Town centre before independence

10.

Some residents of Kasama marching during World Tuberculosis Day commemoration at Mulanshi area in Kasama.

11.

KASAMA District Commissioner Felix (r) donates second hand clothes to Benard Mulenga (l) who received the bag on behalf of other Leprosy patients Kawama resettlement center

12.

Some residents of Kasama marching during World Tuberculosis Day commemoration at Mulanshi area in Kasama.

13.

Orphans at Luyando orphanage look into the camera inside the 'kitchen' at the transit home.

Pope given a 7 days ultimatum to respond to a Petition on Archbishop Mpundu

editor
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133
Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu addressing a press briefing

SOME members of the Catholic Church who petitioned Pope Benedict XVI to remove Lusaka Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu as head of the church in Zambia have given the Vatican a seven-day ultimatum to respond to their request.

Group spokesperson Edmond Zulu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that if the Pope fails to discipline Bishop Mpundu within seven days, they will then go ahead and demonstrate at the Vatican Embassy in Lusaka.

Mr Zulu said his group is still saddened and disappointed with Bishop Mpundu’s alleged misconduct.
He said the concerned Catholic Church members will not relent until the archbishop is removed from his position as head of the Catholic Church in Zambia.

“I spoke to the Apostolic Nuncio over the weekend and he assured me that the Pope has acknowledged receipt of our petition, but we have decided to give the Vatican one-week of which to act but failure to which we will go ahead and demonstrate at the Vatican Embassy in Zambia,” he said.

Mr Zulu said the concerned Catholic Church members are waiting to hear from the Vatican before deciding on the way forward.

“This time around we have decided to go and petition the Pope through his representative Apostolic Nuncio because we want to create sanity in our Church. All the parishes in Lusaka have indicated that they will take part in the demonstrations,” he said.

Last week, some concerned Catholic Church members petitioned the Pope to remove Bishop Mpundu as head of the Church in Zambia for allegedly tarnishing its image.

In a letter of petition presented to the Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, the concerned church members from Chainda and Kamanga parishes called for the immediate removal of Bishop Mpundu for allegedly issuing alarming statements in the press.

They also called on the Pope to issue a public apology on behalf of the Catholic Church over Archbishop Mpundu’s stand towards Government.

The concerned church members asked the Vatican to restore the relationship that the Catholics and Government used to enjoy over the years to enhance development in the country.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Vatican defends Pope’s handling of sex abuse cases

Guest Editor
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20
Pope Benedict XVI

Revelations that the Vatican halted the investigation of a Wisconsin priest accused of molesting some 200 deaf boys have eerie echoes in Italy, where 67 deaf men and women accused two dozen priests of raping and molesting children for years.

Only now — a year after the Italian case became public — is the Vatican directing the diocese to interview the victims to hear their testimony about the accusations, The Associated Press learned Thursday.

The two cases are the latest in a burgeoning abuse scandal on both sides of the Atlantic that now threatens to tarnish the papacy itself. The office charged with disciplining clergy was long led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, and a church prosecution in the Wisconsin case was stopped after an appeal to Ratzinger.

The Vatican strongly defended Benedict on Thursday and denounced what it said was a concerted campaign to smear him and his aides for a problem that Rome insists is not unique to the Catholic Church.

Benedict’s actions have been marked by “transparency, firmness and severity in shedding light on the various cases of sexual abuse committed by priests and clergymen,” the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said in a front-page article. It lashed out at what it said was a “prevailing trend in the media” to ignore facts and spread an image of the Catholic Church “as if it were the only one responsible for sexual abuses — an image that does not correspond to reality.”

The Vatican was responding to the release of documents, first reported by The New York Times, that showed how the pope’s former office told a Wisconsin bishop to shut down a church trial against the Rev. Lawrence Murphy, a Milwaukee priest accused of molesting some 200 deaf boys from 1950 to 1975.

Murphy died in 1998, two years after Ratzinger first learned of the accusations, and more than 20 years after they came to the attention of the Milwaukee diocese.

While the Vatican has not directly addressed the Italian abuse case, first reported as part of an AP investigation last September, it bears marked similarities to the allegations brought in Wisconsin. Both involve some of society’s most vulnerable: deaf children for whom the admonition “never tell” is easy to enforce because they have difficulty communicating. And in both, the major priority of church officials grappling with how or whether to discipline accused predators appeared to be protecting the church from scandal.

In a signed statement last year, the 67 former pupils at a school for the deaf in Verona described sexual abuse, pedophilia and corporal punishment from the 1950s to the 1980s. They named 24 priests, brothers and lay religious men at the Antonio Provolo Institute for the Deaf.

While not all acknowledged being victims, 14 of the 67 wrote sworn statements and made videotapes, detailing abuse, some for years, at the hands of priests and brothers of the Congregation for the Company of Mary. One victim, Alessandro Vantini, told the AP last year that priests sodomized him so relentlessly he came to feel “as if I were dead.”

“How could I tell my papa that a priest had sex with me?” Vantini, 59, said through a sign-language interpreter. “You couldn’t tell your parents because the priests would beat you.”
MSNBC

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