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The Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has expressed concern and disappointment over the delay in the payment of December 2009 salaries and other related allowances to its members.
SESTUZ Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Zulu says his members have gone through hard times during the festive period because they had no money.
Mr. Zulu said in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that it was discouraging to wish teachers a happy festive season when they did not have money.[quote]
“Teachers have passed through the festive period of Christmas and New Year on very empty stomachs considering that their meager pay ran out many weeks ago and wishing them a merry a Christmas and a happy New Year has being a mockery”, he said.
He said teachers, who stay in rented houses, are already being harassed by their landlords because they have not yet paid their rentals.
Mr. Zulu said the absence of any timely explanation for the delay by government makes teachers feel extremely neglected.
He urged government to expedite the payment of salaries and related allowances to all teachers in order to avoid poor preparations for the first term of the 2010 school calendar.
Police in Mazabuka have picked up five senior PF officials in connection with the harrasment of Journalist at Mazabuka community radio station last weekend.
The five include Provincial PF youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa, District chairperson, Nelson Simbule and losing Mazabuka Central Parliamentary candidate, Donald Zulu.
Lawyer representing the five, Joseph Akafumba confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka.
Meanwhile, the Media Liason committee has commended President Rupiah Banda for condenming violence against journalists.
Committee Chairman, Henry Kabwe, says the media bodies will not tolerate any violence against Journalists.
Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Florence Mumba
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it has the capacity to conduct a comprehensive voter registration exercise in good time for the 2011 tripartite elections.
Chairperson, Florence Mumba, says the next voter registration will be announced as soon as logistics are put in place.
Justice Mumba says the commission is currently making final touches before announcing the programme for the voter registration exercise.
She told ZNBC in an interview that additional staff will be employed on temporary basis to beef up the country wide exercise.
Justice Mumba also said the ECZ has received overwhelming cooperation on the matter from political parties and the civil society.
And President Rupiah Banda has urged all eligible Zambians to register as voters ahead of the 2011 general elections.
The President has also asked opposition leaders to ensure that their supporters register as voters in the run-up to next year’s tripartite elections.
Mr. Banda was speaking at State House in Lusaka when he swore in former High Court Judge, Essau Chulu, as Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The President said he is confident that Judge Chulu will add value to the electoral process.
And speaking when he swore in Zambia’s new Ambassador to Sweden, Anne Mutambo, President Banda urged the new envoy to strengthen co-operation between the two countries.
Mr. Banda said this is because Sweden is an important coorperating Partner, which continues to support Zambia’s development programmes.
Mrs. Mutambo was until her appointment Director of International Coorperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga has said it is unfortunate that the MMD party convention ignited a lot of debate at the beginning of last year but that the party will go by its constitution which gives the leadership elected at the convention a five year term of office.
Mr Mabenga also said during the Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme monitored in Ndola yesterday that the party had not lost president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy and continued to implement the MMD manifesto of 2006 to 2011.
He appeared on the radio show together with deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande.
He said the MMD which held the convention in July 2005 would only be going for the convention in July this year or even slightly after that, depending on the guidance from the national executive committee (NEC).
“For me the convention is not cardinal. What is important is keeping the party together but once NEC decides, our members will be informed. We need to also involve the grassroots in whatever the party is doing,” he said.
Asked to comment on the fears that the party’s top leadership may hijack the whole process, especially that people like Mr Mabenga allegedly did not want the convention to go ahead, Mr Kaande chipped in and said the issue was neither here nor there because it was the leadership, including the grassroots level, that consented by making the decision.
“The leadership in MMD has not said there will be no convention. What happened was that the provincial leaderships were the ones that started petitioning to waive the convention and endorsed President Rupiah Banda as a sole candidate so that money can be saved for 2011 campaigns. It was difficult for us to refuse that,” Mr Kaande said.[quote]
He said it was, however, the duty of the NEC to guide on that matter as all the petitions would still be tabled before the NEC.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD would not intimidate anyone trying to challenge President Banda at the convention.
He refuted claims that the MMD had lost the vision of which it was formed, saying the party had carried on with the vision of transforming the national economy.
On the continuation of Dr Mwanawasa’s legacy, Mr Kaande said the legacy was intact, especially that President Banda had carried on with the same 2006 to 2011 MMD manifesto left by the late president.
Asked by moderator Kenneth Maduma as to whether the recent defections by the likes of former Gender minister Patricia Mulasikwanda and others was a sign of a sinking Titanic, Mr Kaande said such people were political tourists who left the party after failing to get what they wanted.
Mr Mabenga said the MMD was not worried by individual defections.
He said President Banda did not at any time during the 2008 presidential by-election campaigns promise that he would choose a vice-president from Western Province.
On the relationship between the MMD and the Lamba chiefs, Mr Mabenga said like chiefs from any other provinces, the party’s relationship with Lambas, including former Science and Technology minister Gabriel Namulambe, was intact and it was the responsibility of the party to embrace everybody in the country.
NDOLA businessman Terence Findlay yesterday reported former Minister of Defence George Mpombo to Ndola Central police station for issuing a cheque worth K10 million which could not be honoured at the bank.
Police Service spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Kapeso said the police opened the docket after Mr Findlay presented his case to the police.
“Yes, I can confirm that we opened the docket for Mr Mpombo after we received a complaint from the affected person,” Mr Kapeso said.
Earlier, police sources said Mr Mpombo issued a cheque on December 18, 2009 to Colwyn Limited of Ndola.
However, the cheque drawn on a bank in Lusaka could not be honoured.
Colwyn Limited’s chief accountant reported the matter to the police yesterday after Mr Mpombo allegedly failed to pay back the K10 million he borrowed from Mr Findlay.
But when contacted for a comment, Mr Mpombo confirmed having borrowed K10 million from Mr Findlay for repairing two of his tractors.
He said he was supposed to pay back Mr Findlay after a week but failed because people who bought domesticated animals from his farm did not pay him cash.
Mr Mpombo said he was surprised that Mr Findlay reported him to the police for issuing a cheque which had not been honoured.
He said he had promised to pay back the money as agreed with Mr Findlay, but experienced some hitches in his bank account.
“First of all, I am surprised that a person I have known for some time can do that to me. I did not refuse to pay the money. I borrowed the money to repair my two tractors. It’s only that I had a bit of a problem in my account,” Mr Mpombo said.
He said he had taken long to pay the K10 million because the people who bought his animals only paid him on Monday afternoon.
“I tried to call Mr Findlay this morning (Tuesday) but I was told that the matter was at the police and I immediately instructed my farm manager to withdraw K10 million and pay Mr Findlay,” Mr Mpombo said.
Mr Kapeso confirmed the case was withdrawn after Mr Mpombo paid Mr Findlay the K10 million.
Last week, I happen to go on a working trip to Livingstone. The purpose of the trip was to bring awareness of the new product we were launching at work as well as solicit business in the Southern Province. I stayed at a fairly nice lodge within the downtown area of the city. The lodge is a very quite place surrounded by a beautiful forest making it look very natural.
Tourism in Zambia continues to grow substantially and is a major contributor to our national GDP. One can see from the endless hotel structures being erected all over Livingstone. I asked one hotel owner how they are able to stay in business with such competition emerging every day. He clearly stated that business was becoming cutthroat and not very easy.
During my working trip, last week, my target market was specifically the hospitality industry. I talked with hotel owners as well as managers working the industry. What shocked me is how these businesspeople were not putting the Zambian people in the equation. They were talking about advertising in South Africa, their rates were in dollars, and were quick to jump to their feet at the sight of a white face.
There is no doubt that the many foreigners, who visit the country, bring some substantial revenue to the tourism industry and the country at large. However, I find it rather appalling that the industry has overlooked the spending power of Zambians. Zambia has a growing middle class that is earning anywhere between $1,500 to $3,000 a month. This group can potentially spend a good portion of their income on a good local holiday. Unfortunately, I know many friends and family members who are right now on holiday in Cape Town, Australia or the United Kingdom. Why can’t these people spend a good vacation in Livingstone? Because the industry has completely ignored them.
What Livingstone and the tourism industry need to do is design local vacation packages that are Zambian tailored. Packages that specifically target the local market. There is plenty of money within Zambia that could be spent within the borders. A business that will stand out and target this group, in the next few years, will certainly have a first-mover advantage. Its revenue will increase and it can cut its advertising costs by placing local ads instead of using foreign media. In fact, here in Zambia, the advertising medium is plenty and very cheap.
Zambians also need to start looking and exploring the various vacation destinations within the country. Even Rupiah needs to stop going to Mfuwe and look at checking out places like Mongu, Mwinilunga or Kasaba Bay for a holiday. Let him lead by example. Spending holidays in Zambia does not only help our economy but it is also cheap and less headache.
Supporting industries such as airlines also need to target the Zambian middle class in order to support the industry. It will be great if in the next twelve months we see the airwaves showing adverts of a Zambian family taking a vacation in Livingstone, doing Banji Jumping, taking a helicopter ride above the falls or rafting the rough waters. What a perfect Zambia that would be.
Police in Serenje have apprehended a 65 year old man for allegedly defiling his 14 year old granddaughter.
Serenje District Police officer commanding Daniel Mseteka confirmed the incident to ZANIS.
Mr. Mseteka said the man was caught defiling his granddaughter in the house by his wife.
He said the girl was found with injuries on her private parts and is undergoing intensive medical check up.
Mr. Mseteka said it is suspected that the man started having sex with the girl long before being caught red handed. The man will appeal in court soon.
And District Commissioner Stanley Chibwana has expressed sadness over the incident noting that people should stop abusing young children especially the old who are supposed to be role models.
Mr. Chibwana noted that only a mad person could defile a young girl of such an age.
He said the law should take its course and deal with perpetrators with severe punishment in accordance with the law.
“It is a very, very sad situation to see that defilement cases are going up because it shows deteriorating morals in the community and national at large.” He said.
A Chongwe magistrate has committed to the Lusaka High Court for sentencing two men of Chikwela village in the district for stealing two goats valued at K240, 000.
Magistrate Moses Phiri committed Gift Mumba 27 and Given Lupenga 26 to the High Court after convicting them of the offence of stock theft.
Magistrate Phiri told the duo that he was referring them to the high court for sentencing because stock theft attracts a minimum sentence of 5 years which his court can not give.
Facts before the court were that on December 15 last year the duo jointly stole two male goats belonging to a Mr. Bernard Kolala of the same village which were later recovered by Chongwe police.
Earlier, the same court slapped two 12 months sentences on the duo to run consecutively for two counts of burglary and theft with effect from December 16 last year when they were arrested.
The court established that on December 2 and 5 last year, the duo jointly broke into two taverns belonging to Ernest Tembo and Chrispin Njovu of Chikwela village.
From Tembo’s tavern, the duo stole an umbrella and a home theatre valued at K1.2 million while from Njovu’s tavern the duo stole 30 packets of Shake Shake beer and a refrigerator worth K1.4 million.
In mitigation the duo pleaded for lenience form the Court stressing that they have orphans to look after.
Magistrate Phiri, however, said he was sending them to jail because of the gravity of the offences they committed and to deter would-be offenders.
Vice President George Kunda says the Indian Government has been very supportive to Zambia through technical assistance in various fields that have benefited the country.
Mr. Kunda said that India has been helpful to Zambia in many areas including the provision of flood relief and food aid, irrigation schemes for the development of small scale farms, scholarships and training in various fields among others.
He was happy to note that there are still many other opportunities that the Indian government has offered to participating African counties under the India-Africa partnership forum for Zambia to tap into.
The Vice President said this in Lusaka this evening at the Intercontinental Hotel during a dinner hosted in honour of visiting Indian Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari.
Mr. Ansari is in Zambia for a two day visit. He ‘s accompanied by his wife Salma and at the same time heading a 50 man delegation comprising business persons and Parliamentarians.
Mr Kunda said that the Zambian Government will remain an active participant of India- Africa forum to strengthen the Zambian economy.
” May I commended the Indian government for partnering with African countries under the landmark initiative of the Africa-India partnership forum,” he said.
The Vice President further noted that India, which is an emerging super power, has proved itself worth emulating in many areas due to its economic growth and technological progress.
He prticulary said India’s innovations and ingenuity especially in the information communications and technology (ICT) sector have been outstanding and rewarding.
He said at political level, India has been a beacon of democracy as it is a thriving multi-party system which allows political parties to compete favourably.
Mr Kunda said Zambia is proud to be associated with India which he said has achieved so much over the years and earned herself a well deserved title of the largest democracy in the world.
He noted that the two countries have maintained close relations over the years that are underpinned by both countries’ Commonwealth ties and shared membership.
He said the two countries have maintained joint cooperation under the Zambia/India joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPC) in a number of mutually agreed areas including transport, agriculture, infrastructure development and many more.
The Zambian Vice President further noted that it was impressive that the Indian businesses continue to find Zambia an attractive and viable destination for their investment owing to the large number of Indian investors in the country.
Meanwhile, Indian Vice President Mr Ansari says his government has great admiration for Zambia for being the leading example of how people can live in peace and harmony.
He noted that India and Zambia have for a long time been strong allies in the fight colonialism and other social – economic vices including current concerns of climate change.
Mr Ansari noted that bilateral relations between his country and Zambia have continued to develop in economy, technology adding that there is need to develop the cooperation even further in power, medium and small industries including education and telecommunication.
He pledged that his government would continue to extend its lines of cooperation investment covering many sectors in need.
The Indian Vice President who arrived in the country today , accompanied by his wife and other government officials, will be in the country until Thursday and will among other things hold discussions and loan signing agreements before departure.
During his two day visit, the Indian vice president will also call on president Banda as well as hold discussions with his Zambian counterpart on bilateral, international and issues of Mutual interest.
He will lead a 55 strong delegation which will include Members of Parliament and Business personal.
A fourth year female student at the University of Zambia has been arrested for trafficking in 129 sachets of pure grade cocaine.
Twenty -six year old, Theresa Luhila, a development studies student was arrested by the DEC at Lusaka’s Down Town shopping mall when she attempted to sale the drug to some people.
DEC Public Relations Manager, John Nyawali, says Theresa was arrested together with two members of one family Orient and Harriet Chikaina.
He told ZNBC that the three are in police custody and will appear in court soon.
Mr. Nyawali also said 52 people have been arrested countrywide in the past six days for trafficking in various quantities of cannabis.
Zambia police commissioner Graphael Musamba and spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso addressing journalists on the arrests the ministry of health
The Police Service says it has not received any complaint to start investigations into the harassment of Journalists by suspected PF cadres at Mazabuka radio station.
Spokesperson, Bonny Kapeso, told ZNBC that there has been no formal complaint against the cadres so far.
He however said police can only open an inquiry file to find out what really transpired at the radio station.
On Saturday, PF cadres stormed Mazabuka community radio station and ordered staff in the newsroom to immediately suspend a live phone in programme.
The programme featured Opper Hamiyanze, who claims to be Southern Province PF chairperson.
On the live programme, Mr Hamiyanze called for a PF national convension before the 2011 general elections, but this angered party cadres in the area.
Media Bodies have called on the police to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the violence against journalists at Mazabuka radio station last Saturday.
A man in his 40s was on Monday morning found electrocuted to death at the Zesco transformer after attempting to steal oil from the device near the Kalomo Food Reserve Agency sheds in Kalomo.
Police sources in Kalomo confirmed the incident to ZANIS, but said the deceased, whose body is now lying in the district hospital mortuary, has not been yet identified.
The sources, however, suspect that the deceased was an ex-convict from Choma who also attempted to climb on a speeding vehicle along the great north road and sustained severe body injuries after crashing on the tarmac on the New Year eve.
After sustaining the injuries, the man was admitted to Kalomo District Hospital but later in the week escaped from the ward after several attempts by police to get his details and the motive against his attempt to climb on a speeding vehicle proved futile.
The deceased was found dead at the Zesco transformer with burns and the same injuries on Monday morning by security guards manning the sheds who later informed police over the incident.
Angola 2010 AFCONSoccer fever has gripped the African continent, as participating teams in the 2010 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) have started to arrive at their respective host cities in Angola for the continental soccer showpiece.
The AFCON 2010 is scheduled to kick off on Sunday in the Angolan capital, Luanda, with host Angola, affectionately known as ” Palancas Negras “, taking on Mali at Luanda’s 50,000 capacity stadium.
The opening and the closing ceremonies of the AFCON will also be hosted at the Luanda stadium that is situated in Camama, 17 kilometres from the capital and 10 km from Luanda Sul on a new dual carriage way.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) reported on its web site Sunday that Burkina Faso was the first nation to reach its venue in Cabinda since 31 December.
The hosting side “Palancas Negras” left Lisbon, Portugal on Sunday, following a five-week training camp there.
The next team expected in Angola on Wednesday is Nigeria’s “Super Eagles”, flying from South Africa where they have been camping at the coastal town of Durban that will also be their host during the 2010 World Cup billed for later this year.
The flights carrying the national teams from Ghana and Algeria will land on Thursday respectively from South Africa and Marseilles in France, the continental soccer body web site said.
The last confirmed arrival on 11 January is that of Cameroun’s ‘Indomitable Lions’, coming from a training camp in Nairobi, Kenya.
India's Vice President Mohammad Hamid AnsariIndian Vice President Hamid Ansari has finally arrived in Zambia.
The plane carrying the Indian vice President touched down at Lusaka international Air port at exactly 16:30 Hours .
Vice President Goerge Kunda was at Hand to receive his Indian counterpart. Others included Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chelishe Kapwepwe and other senior government officials.
During his visit, the Indian vice president will also call on president Banda and hold discussions with his Zambian counterpart George Kunda on bilateral, international and issues of Mutual interest.
Vice president George Kunda will this evening host an official Dinner in honour of Mr Ansari.
According to the programme obtained by ZANIS , Mr. Ansari, who will be accompanied by his wife Salma, will also pay a courtesy call on President Rupiah Banda.
He will lead a 55 strong delegation which will include Members of Parliament and Business personal.
Local Government and Housing Minister Estarckio Kazonga (far L)
Government has released over K3 trillion budgetary allocation to 67 city and district councils in the country for their 2010 budget expenditure.
Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarckio Kazonga disclosed at a press briefing in Lusaka today that five councils will not benefit because they failed to submit their 2009 budget expenditure reports to the ministry.
Dr. Kazonga named the five district councils as Livingstone, Sinazongwe, Mungwi, Mansa and Mwense district councils respectively.
He urged the councils that have not submitted their 2009 expenditure to do so before the end of March 2010 to enable the ministry evaluate their spending.
And Dr Kazonga has announced an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K600 million to K666 million per constituency.
He said his ministry has finalized the process of transferring CDF and grants which include recurrent and restructuring to constituencies and councils’ bank accounts.
Dr Kazonga has since directed all town clerks and council secretaries for city, municipal and district councils to check for the funds in their accounts in various commercial banks countrywide.
He said the funds should be utilized for the intended purposes and applied to the deserving projects, programmes and activities in compliance with the local authorities’ regulations.
The Minister further warned that government will not condone misuse of these funds saying the law will visit anyone found wanting.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kazonga revealed that government also released the remaining K110 billion that was approved by parliament in the 2009 national budget for grants to councils from his ministry.
He said the disbursement of government grants to councils, statutory and other institutions under his ministry increased significantly in 2009 as compared to previous years.
He said this was the first time all the approved budgeted grants to councils have been released in full by government through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to his ministry.
Dr. Kazonga said it was encouraging that this was done despite the global meltdown which did not spare the country.
He explained that government’s support to councils is meant to strengthening their capacities to provide services to local communities and to supplement their locally generated incomes in meeting their recurrent operational costs.
He further said government would soon release an additional K21.4 billion to 18 selected councils in the country as capital grants.
