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The gathering listening to the message on the launch of Namafulo Border Post in Sinazongwe district at the border with ZimbabweThe long awaited project to build the Namafulo border Post to ease movement for Zambians crossing to Zimbabwe on Lake Kariba in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province has been launched.
Speaking at the launch of the project Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC ) Oliver Pelete said the border post would ease the problem of people who have been finding it difficult to obtain permits to cross to Zimbabwe on Lake Kariba.
Mr Pelete noted that the border post would open up business opportunities for people wanting to conduct cross border trade.
He said it would also provide employment to local residents at the time of construction and urged the Namafulo people to cooperate with the government workers who will be implementing the project.
He said government has released an initial amount of K800, 000,000 for the project to kick off.
The DC informed the audience that government has taken up the issue of land wrangles that erupted in Namafulo Village where Eddie Jordan wanted to obtain land without the consent of Senior Chief Mweemba, Headman Namafulo and the Sinazongwe district Council.
In the middle is Sinazongwe district Commissioner Oliver Pelete who is also putting on a hat after launching the Namafulo Border Post ProjectThe land that the white investor wanted to obtain included the area that government had reserved for construction of Namafulo border post.
Immigration Officer Willard Nakutonga said people in Sinazongwe had suffered for long time and government has seen it prudent to build a boarder post for them.
He said the boarder post would include immigration offices, Customs offices, Police, a clinic, a School, Market place, and a court.
Headman Namafulo thanked government for fulfilling its promise of building a border post in the area adding that its completion would bring development to the people in Sinazongwe district.
The building of the Namafulo border post was one of the projects that Sinazongwe district had planned to implement its five year development plan by 2010.
Across Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe there is Binga Township that is already developed and has a border post and most of its infrastructure is visible from the Zambian side.
President Rupiah Banda has transferred Minister of Agriculture and Former Agriculture minister Brian Chituwo driving one of the tractors donated by the Libyan governmentCooperatives Brian Chituwo to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocation Training.
Dr. Chituwo takes over from Gabriel Namulambe who was fired from his ministerial position yesterday.
President Banda has transferred Peter Daka from the Ministry of Lands to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Mr. Banda made these transfers in a mini reshuffle today.
This is according to the press statement released to ZANIS today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere.
President Banda will in due course announce the new minister of Lands.
He did this in exercising powers vested in him pursuant to the provisions of Article 44 (v) of the Constitution of Zambia.
Zambia’s special presidential envoy to the Great Lakes Region has described President Rupiah Banda as a strong minded leader who has a well-built background in peace building.
Special Presidential Envoy and National Coordinator for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Siteke Mwale said President Banda, who is one of the founding members of the liberation movement, has always advocated for peace and development in the country and region.[quote]
Dr. Mwale told ZANIS in Lusaka today that President Banda served in various government portfolios where he worked hard to ensure peace and development prevailed in the country.
He expressed confidence that Zambia would continue taking a leading role in championing peace and development in the Great Lakes Region.
He said Zambia is determined to increase her lead now that she is chairing the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) because of the strong foundation as a peace broker.
Dr. Mwale explained that the internal political squabbling going on currently as the country gears for the 2011 tripartite elections will not detract the peace and development that Zambia believes in.
He said Zambians will not be swayed by some political leaders that are creating misunderstandings in the country but would remain resilient to promoting peace.
Dr. Mwale explained that the region has agreed that peace and development are vital in the region.
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region-ICGLR Secretariat is working hand in hand with the Zambian government to establish a centre for democracy and good governance this month.
The recruitment of staff is expected to be conducted by the ICGLR secretariat soon.
Vice-President George KundaVice President George Kunda has reiterated government’s commitment to ensure that justice and the rule of law prevail in the country.
Speaking on arrival at Livingstone Airport this morning to officially open the 2010 high court session, Mr. Kunda said government will this year change the legal system to make Zambia a better destination for doing business.
He said the year 2010 should be a year of hard work from all Zambians in order to make the country better and prosperous economically.
He said government has done its best to change the budget cycle adding that there should be no excuses for not using the budget fully this year by those tasked to implement the developmental projects.
Mr. Kunda said business houses, individuals and other stakeholders should take advantage of the attractive business environment prevailing in the country and focus of effective service delivery.
He thanked people of Livingstone for their hard work in 2009.
Mr. Kunda is expected to address a rally in Kazungula district later in the day.
And Mr. Kunda, who is also Minister of Justice, said 2010 is a year of strengthening MMD party structures, rejuvenate and mobilize more people in readiness for the 2011 general elections.
Mr. Kunda is accompanied by Local Government Minister, Eustarckio Kazonga, Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo and Livestock and Fisheries Minister Bradford Machila.
On hand to receive the Vice President at was Southern Province Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Chairperson Solomon Muzyamba.
And Mr. Muzyamba commended President Rupiah Banda for performing well in the just ended 2009.
He said the party in the province would continue supporting President Banda’s leadership for continued economic development in the country.
On recent resignations of some members from MMD, Mr. Muzyamba said the party was not shaken at all.
He however said MMD will continue to mobilize people adding that those that resigned were rejects.
Mr. Muzyamba thanked the Vice President for visiting the people of Livingstone.
THE United National Independence Party (UNIP) has said Malimba Masheke is not a party member and should not pretend to speak for UNIP.
UNIP secretary general Jemima Banda said General Masheke was a Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) member and not a spokesperson for UNIP because he had never at one time told the nation that he had resigned from FDD.
“General Masheke is FDD national chairperson and he cannot turn around today and say he was UNIP revival chairperson because he has nothing to revive in the party,” Mrs Banda said.
Mrs Banda was reacting to a statement by UNIP Revival Forum chairperson Gen Masheke that Dr Kaunda had become an MMD cadre.
She said Gen Masheke was an FDD party member and was just a desperate individual who had always been aspiring for higher positions to no avail.
She said Dr Kaunda was UNIP and the father of the nation who should embrace every president of Zambia and should be accorded the respect that was due to him.
Dr Kaunda was an icon whose footsteps should be followed by every well meaning Zambians and called on Gen Masheke to stop using the former president’s name in his ill-motives to gain his sinking political image.
And UNIP Copperbelt provincial Information and publicity secretary Brian Chishimba said Dr Kaunda who is the founding president was playing a role above politics and deserved the respect of all.
Mr Chishimba said when Dr Kaunda advises politicians, people should not be quick to condemn former head of State.
Leadership in Development executive director Moses Kalonde has also condemned some people issuing disrespectful remarks against Dr Kaunda and President Rupiah Banda.
Mr Kalonde said in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Kaunda was the father of the nation and that there was nothing wrong for him to have said that President Banda should be respected.
Meanwhile, Dr Kaunda’s special assistant for Press and public relations, Sunday Musonda has described attacks on the former head of State as misguided and unjustified.
Mr Musonda said it was sad Dr Kaunda’s critics have decided to ignore the advice given on the need to respect the office of the former president but instead has chosen to accuse him of being MMD.
“It is unfair for some politicians to attack Dr Kaunda because there is nothing wrong for him to give advice to political leaders. If the office of the president is not respected what are we telling the world,” he asked.
Mr Musonda appealed people against Dr Kaunda’s advise to either take the advise or leave it and that involving the former Heads of State in squabbles is not necessary.
He said politicians with issues with the government should not use Dr Kaunda to discredit the Government.
[Times of Zambia]
President Rupiah Banda talks to workers at the Mobile Telecommunications mobile telephone assembly plant in Lusaka
By Kabukabu Kawanambulu Ikwueme
The rapid growth of the African telecom industry over the past few years, has remarkably transformed communication infrastructure on the continent. Just a decade ago, Africa’s telecom industry accounted for only 2% of the worlds phone lines. Fast forward to the 21st century and the continent is almost unrecognisable. Mobile phones are ubiquitous and if current trends are anything to go by, 2010 is the year in which the continent’s nascent but burgeoning mobile telecom industry receives a massive technological upgrade.
The coming world cup games in South Africa could give the industry a bigger boost as consumer demand rises further, with an increase in people accessing the internet via mobile phones. Recent figures show that the past five years has seen the use of mobile phones on the continent increase exponentially – the fastest in the world – with 38% growth in 2007, placing Africa ahead of the Middle-East which stands at 33%.
The launch of Africa’s first mobile phone assembly factory located in Lusaka – in August 2009 – is being viewed as a strategic move by entrepreneurs, to tap into the growing African telecom market . The establishment of M-Tech Mobile Telecommunications Limited in Zambia was hugely welcome and experts in the telecom industry predict that in 2010, we could see Middle-East and Indian-based telecommunications companies continue their penetration into Africa. Plans by the telecom company Zain Zambia, to spend more on upgrading existing equipment and introduce new technology in 2010, reflects a trend of continued growth and expansion in the telecoms industry.
As smart phones – using operating systems like Google’s Android – hit the shelves in the west, it is hoped that this technological platform will eventually become widely available in developing countries as well. With internet-enabled hand-sets already being used on the continent to access websites like Facebook and Flicker, people now feel more connected to the rest of the world. A study by Opera, a mobile software developer based in Norway, recently revealed that news sources such as CNN and BBC are among the most viewed sites in Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.
The success of the African telecom industry however, masks some disturbing realities about the living conditions most people have to endure. A study by the University of Sussex in England revealed recently that people in most developing countries were saving less because of high unemployment rates and are consequently living a hand to mouth existence. The poor state of both social and physical infrastructure in Africa continues to reduce productivity by at least 40%. There is growing sentiment that more needs to be done to enable the continent fully reap the benefits of technological advancements.
An entire generation has however, been transformed as technology slowly merges with culture. In Kenya for instance, a goat herder in a rural area can now negotiate the sale of his animals on a mobile phone. Continued technological development and the emergence of e-business could eventually decrease the importance of the size of an enterprise, as people promote and market their goods using e-business tools on mobile phones.
Africa does not have a Silicon Valley from which lots of companies are conquering the world with the latest software and hardware, but the increased use of mobile phones with their plethora of functions has empowered people and could close the digital divide between developed and developing countries.
Science and technology minister Gabriel NamulambePresident Rupiah Banda has fired Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Gabriel Namulambe as a Cabinet Minister with immediate effect.
President Banda said in exercise of the powers vested in him pursuant to the provisions of Article 44(5) of the Constitution of Zambia, he has terminated the Mr Namulambe’s appointment.
The President has thanked Mr. Namulambe on behalf of the Zambian people, for the services that he rendered to the nation during the period he served in various portfolios in Government.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere in Lusaka today.
Ruling MMD Acting spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti says the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will by next week hold a meeting to re-strategise the party in readiness for the 2011 tripartite elections.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS,Mulongoti said that the NEC meeting would table important issues affecting the ruling party.
He said the MMD secretariat has already sunctioned the meeting and would be held soon.
Mr. Mulongoti who could whoever not disclosed what would be on the agenda of the meeting said it will be during the same meeting that the date will be decided for the much anticipated MMD national convention .
He said the party would during the meeting review last year’s performance of the party and try to come up with the work plan for this year.
He has meanwhile said the party is encouraging the lower organs to start holding elections once they are ready and in preparations for the national convention and the 2011 elections.
Mr. Mulongoti who is also Works and Supply Minster said the party is not shaken by the recent resignation of some of its members in the party.
He said the resignation of the members is because they have failed to bring change in the party and they want to try other challenges elsewhere.
He said resignation are more common during elections time adding that there is a massive movement of people from one party to another when its near election time as seen from others also defecting to the position and joining the MMD.
Mr. Mulongoti said the MMD respects the views of the people that have resigned from either parties but urged them to move quietly without condemning the parties they have ditched.
Former State House Press Aide, Richard Sakala has castigated the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) for demanding the resignation of Director of Public Relations (DPP) Chalwe Muchenga.
Mr. Sakala said the demand by LAZ for the DPP to resign is not only illegal but and irregular but also shows the worst hypocrisy on the part of LAZ.
He has since accused the association of being politically inclined.
Mr. Sakala said this at press briefing in Lusaka today where he also launched his book “Mockery of Justice” experience with the criminal justice system (2001-2008)
The former State House Press Aide said he was disturbed that LAZ was becoming political instead of instead of defending the constitutions of Zambia .
He said he was jailed by the now disbanded Tasks Force on corruption which was an illegal entity but the LAZ failed to act on it despite him requesting its intervention.
He said LAZ appears to be very selective in the cause they champion accusing them of been silent and turning a blind eye to gross abuses.[quote]
Mr. Sakala has since called on LAZ to be fair in the dealing arguing them to uphold the constitution of Zambia.
“I was personally prosecuted and sent to prison by the task force on corruption which was totally an illegal and unconstitutional body.
” I wrote to LAZ for their intervention but my complaint has been left pending on their file. This is neither just, fair nor proper “he said.
Mr. Sakala has also called for the opening of investigations in the establishment of the task force on corruption where more than US$ 25 million was spend.
He charged that LAZ are now attempting to demonize and eliminate the Vice President as a way to divert attention from the gross financial and legal abuses by the Task force.
Mr. Sakala has also observed that unfair and unbalanced stance by LAZ and some section of the media have the potential to disrupt the peace and order the country has enjoyed since independence.
Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) cadres in Mazabuka yesterday stormed Mazabuka community radio station and ordered staff in the newsroom to immediately suspend a live phone in programme in which the station featured their provincial chairperson Opper Hamiyanze.
The cadres who were led by District chairperson, Nelson Simbule and Provincial youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa forced their way into the newsroom at 12:20 hours, directed reporters to stop the programme failure to which they would enter the studio to ‘ evict’ Mr Hamiyanze.
Reporters had to abandon the radio station for fear of possible harassment from the cadres since the suspension of the programme could only be sunctioned by Station manager who was at the time of the fracas out of the station.
PF cadres chanted anti- Hamiyanze slogans as they waited for their superiors to force Mr Hamiyanze from the studio though their demands could not be heeded too.
The cadres briefly turned the community radio station into a political battle field as they hurled insults and prepared themselves for a pysical fight with Mr. Hamiyanze.
However, the cadres fled in their hired car after word went round that Police were on their way to effect their arrest.
Police who arrived at the radio sation later found a skeleton of senior PF party officials under a mango tree waiting for Mr. Hamiyanze to finish the interview.
The police led by District Crimininal Investigation officer, Peter Chibanda and station inspector Mufaya only interviewed the reporters and left at 13:30 hours.
Provincial youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa told ZANIS in Mazabuka, the district and provincial party officials took such drastic action because Mr Hamiyanze had no moral right to discuss isssues involving the PF when he had resigned to join the political party linked to Luena Independent member of parliament, Charles Milupi.
He said the party officials were bitter with Mr Hamiyanze for masquerading as PF provincial chairperson when he did not hold any position.
Mr Mweetwa said the PF is fully aware of the activities of Mr Hamiyanze whom he accused of having been holding dark corner meetings to incite district and provincial party officials to defect from the PF.
He however said the PF leadership in the province is happy that all the district officials talked too by Mr Hamiyanze have refused to accept resign.
Mazabuka radion station manager, Belon Chintombwa said the bevaviour of the PF cadres was unacceptable as it is infringement of Mr Hamiyanze’s right to freedom of speech.
Mr Chintombwa said it was unfortunate that the cadres decided block the programme when Hamiyanze did not say anything bad about the PF leadership except to campaign for the forthcoming PF provincial elections.
During the interview, Opper Hamiyanze, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Southern Province chairperson, called on the PF national leadership to immediately announce the date for its convention.
Mr Hamiyanze warned that he will be forced to resign from the PF if the party does go the convention before the tripartite election next year.[quote]
He said that opposition political parties should learn to exercise the tenets of democracy which demand that all positions in the political structures should be challenged during party elections.
Mr Hamiyanze also condemned the violent behaviour by some cadres who stormed the newsroom at the community radio station.
He said the presenter of the programme dubbed Live Wire, Joe Pandwe had to consult him if he was comfortable with the noise by cadres who were demanding that the programme be suspended.
Mr Hamiyanze accused his opponent challenging him for the position of Provincial chairperson as being behind the fracas and hiring of cadres to denounce him.
He said his opponent allegedly hired call boys and bought beer for them to beat him up in a bid to frustrate him from defending his position.
Mr Hamiyanze has since challenged PF leader Micheal Sata to condemn the violence that erupted at the community radio station.
He also urged Zambians not to support political parties whose leaders preach violence because it has no place in a democratic society.
Meanwhile, Mr Hamiyanze has also denied claims by the district and Provincial leadership that he had resigned to join the party linked to Luena Independent member of parliament, Charles Milupi.
He said he is still a staunch PF member adding that no amount of intimidation would force out of the party.
But PF Provoncial youth chairperson, Brave Mweetwa told ZANIS the party has enough evidence to prove the allegations.
Police have recovered the bodies of two juveniles that drowned in lake Bangueulu as they were playing at Samfya beach.
And a third juvenile who was also injured by a suspected sharp object in the incident yesterday has been discharged from Hospital.
Both Samfya District Commisioner Cleophas Chimembe and Luapula Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensil Mbewe confirmed the developments to ZANIS in Samfya today.
Samfya Police retrieved the bodies of the victims Emmanuel Chomba Sichone 11 of Zesco Compound in Samfya district and Peter Kabamba 12 of Shindono village in chief Kasoma Bangueulu after they were reported missing around 16:30hours yesterday.
Initial reports from a named witness told ZANIS that the two juveniles went missing soon after an unkown person aboard a fun cruise speedboat was seen throwing money over water.
However the third Juvenile Chuba Chibale aged 13 of Mwamfuli village in Chief Kasoma Bangueulu area suffered an injuryaround the same time but was rescued and immedaitely rushed for medical treatment.
“…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”
(I Corinthians 2:9, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
What are the dreams and desires that you have for your future? Maybe you had some big dreams when you were younger, but things didn’t go the way you planned and so you put them aside and settled for status quo. We’ve all had disappointments, but we have to keep moving forward. Today is a new day, and we serve a God who makes all things new.
Let me challenge you to have a big dream for your life. I always say, when one dream dies, dream another dream. Don’t just settle for mediocrity, we serve a God who is above and beyond anything we can think of. There’s nothing you can dream of that God can’t do. Ask Him to bring you the right people, the right opportunities, and the right resources. As you follow His leading in your heart, I believe you’ll move forward and see every dream and desire come to pass in Jesus’ name!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father in heaven, thank You for a new day to praise Your name. I dedicate myself to You fresh and anew. Lead me in the ways of my heart and let everything I do bring glory to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka says he is not ready to meet Microbicide Development Programme (MDP) officials without an explanation on how the 46 women contracted HIV/AIDs during the failed clinical trials.
The Chief told MDP Community Liason Officer, Kennedy Mundia that he and his workmates should not expect to go unpunished after administering a Gel on selected women that has resulted in some contracting HIV.
He said he can only meet the officials after the organisation has met his conditions that include compensation of the affected victims.
The irate Chief Mwanachingwala who could not give time to Mundia to explain what transpired however said it was pointless for him to engage in dialogue with the organisation now because the organisation could not reverse their current status.[quote]
Chief Mwanchingwala charged that MDP allegedly recruited uneducated women who did not understand the nature of the clinical trials and its consequences.
But Mr Mundia pleaded with the chief to allow MDP officials visit him at the palace so that they could explain what transpired despite the chief maintains his stance.
No official date was fixed during the heated debate in which the chief among other things called for the prosecution of the initiators of the programme.
Chief Mwanachingwala has since called on the government to be careful in recommending organisations carrying out research on HIV to protect vulnerable women from contracting HIV and AIDs.
The Gel was administered on women an hour before any sexual encounter. This was done so as to determine the efficacy of the drug called PRO 2000.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Western Province has described the distribution of the 2009/2010 farmers input as a successful.
Senior Agro Business and Marketing Officer Mr Peter Zulu said that the ministry was happy with the distribution of the farmer input considering the number of irregularities compared to the last farming season.
Mr. Zulu said that the ministry played its role of monitoring and ensuring that the inputs allocated to the province reaches the designated depots and targeted farmers in a timely and transparent manner.
He was speaking In an interview with the National Agricultural Information Services(NAIS) in Mongu, yesterday.
Mr Zulu said the input distribution was smooth with very few irregularities compared to t last farming season.
He further said that 82 percent of the 4700mt of fertilizer and 2350mt of seed targeted at 23500 small scale farmers in the province has been distributed hoping that by the end of this week all the input will be exhausted.
He was however quick to mention that Mongu and Lukulu districts had exhausted all their allocation.
Munali Member of Parliament Mumbi Phiri has described the year 2009 as a challenging year for her constituency’s development.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, yesterday, Mrs. Phiri attributed this to the delayed release of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which she said contributed to the slow development of her constituency.
Mrs. Phiri said the delayed released of the CDF by government was a matter of concern which was highly debated on during the meeting for Committee ward members on Thursday 31 December 2009.
She said that the meeting also identified wards and roads that were not developed as at December 31ST, 2009 ,but were yet to be developed further.
These are the Chainda ward, the rehabilitation of the Kaunda Square stage one and Chamba valley road in Kaunda Square ward, and improving road net works in Mutendere Constituency.
She explained that with the coming on board of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA )on the committee, various development projects will in 2010 take place in four wards which include Lima, Chelston and Chakukula.
She said SIDA has released K 150 million for Chakukula ward to sink a borehole and a further K 650 million was given for developmental projects in the areas that have been identified.
Mrs. Phiri said Chainda is in urgent need for a maternity ward as pregnant women are experiencing a hard time as they have to go to far away clinics in order to give birth in a maternity ward.
She said a total of 790 million Kwacha is needed for the maternity ward project in Chainda to start and has reached a tender level.
She added that people in Chainda area will be very happy on the completion of the maternity ward as it has been long over due.
