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MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti has advised members of the ruling party aspiring for positions in the national executive committee to lobby for support in a decent manner.
Mr Mulongoti, who is MMD acting spokesperson, said although the ruling party’s constitution allows members to campaign ahead of the convention, this must be done in a decent manner.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that those vying for positions should not use corrupt means to woo voters at the convention.
This follows the announcement by MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande that the national executive committee will next month set dates for the ruling party’s convention.
Some MMD officials on the Copperbelt are alleged to have started campaigning to challenge President Banda at the convention.
Mr Mulongoti said contestants should not buy delegates to vote for them at the convention.
“You know Zambia is a big place, so you can’t stop people from campaigning. They are free to do so, but my appeal is for the campaigns to be done in a transparent and decent manner,” Mr Mulongoti said.
He said the party has a huge task to ensure resources for the convention are raised to conduct a successful convention.
Mr Mulongoti advised MMD members to be patient and remain united as the party goes to the convention.
He urged MMD members to desist from issuing unwarranted statements on the convention.
THE institution of chief is one, which has been there since time immemorial and commands respect by the greater majority of our people.
The evolution of chiefdoms is celebrated in traditional ceremonies to symbolise the country’s rich cultural diversity as a people and act as a constant reminder of the importance of tradition and culture.
To be a chief in Zambia, a traditional electoral college sits to elect a new chief at the passing of one. When the traditional establishment has accepted that new chief, the name is submitted to the Republican president through the Ministry of Local Government for presidential consent and approval. This process is called recognition.
Without recognition, the new chief is only a traditional figurehead devoid of all the trappings of pomp and authority, which nowadays include a 4×4 motor vehicle, monthly allowances, and representation in the district council and the House of Chiefs in Lusaka.
In recent times, we have read with sadness negative comments and utterances from Chief Bright Nalubamba of the Ila people in Southern Province attacking the Head of State. Chief Nalubamba’s record of issuing unpalatable and humiliating remarks against sitting presidents in the country is not new to those who follow media reports.
Going through a catalogue of his comments makes one wonder whether he is a politician or a traditional leader. Surely much as we can agree that he has the right to freedom of speech and indeed opinion, his utterances are dangerous and misleading to not only his subjects in Namwala but also the nation and indeed a disgrace to the position of chieftainship in our land.
Of late, Chief Nalubamba has taken a solid political position to support the United Party for National Development/Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) Pact while publicly denouncing and demeaning the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.
History has it that this same traditional leader lost parliamentary elections twice in Namwala Constituency while serving as chief in Mbeza.
He has now taken it upon himself to be the self appointed epitome of judgment of all heads of State starting from the first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda right through to the current president.
When it has been materially convenient Chief Nalubamba would praise a head of State and posture that presidency with a lot of accolades, and once he fails to have his material needs met, he fires all manner of invectives.
Zambians may recall that in June 1988, Chief Nalubamba complained of being neglected by the UNIP government, which he accused of not providing for his subjects with boreholes and of ignoring his request to turn his house into a palace.
A few years down the line, in October 1990, the same traditional leader while in a delegation of 15 other chiefs from the Southern Province pledged total support to Dr Kaunda.
When second Republican president Frederick Chiluba came into power, he became the darling of Chief Nalubamba, but shortly after Dr Chiluba left office, the Ila chief started calling him names. He even suggested to his successor the late president Levy Mwanawasa to defer Dr Chiluba’s benefits. (The Post April 2003).
Earlier in March, 2002, Chief Nalubamba was in the media again saying Zambians won’t be exposed to Chiluba’s ‘rubbish’.
As is characteristic of him, Chief Nalubamba praised Dr Mwanawasa who he said was an excellent legal practitioner and a good listener to the opposition.
As time went by, the chief launched his missile attacks at Dr Mwanawasa, in stories such as one where he called for the arrest of Dr Chiluba and Chief Justice Matthew Ngulube saying Levy’s Government risked being brought down if it failed to meet Zambians’ demands. (The Post Newspaper July 2004).
Later, Chief Nalubamba said Mwanawasa’s Government was dormant starting from State House to the district, saying Government structures had failed to alleviate the suffering among Zambians.
Yet the country knows too well that it was during the late president Mwanawasa’s rule, which Nalubamba called dormant that this country achieved enormous economic strides and brought the inflation rate to a single digit.
As if that was not all, this traditional leader was quoted as saying he doubted President Mwanawasa’s capacity to implement what he promised Zambians.
On Wednesday, August 17, 2005, Chief Nalubamba was again quoted in the media saying, Levy’s stance on new constitution spells disaster for the nation.
His inconsistencies have continued. He has been calling President Rupiah Banda names showing no respect for the presidency and a man he had earlier sworn he would abdicate his throne if he was not elected in the October 30, 2008 presidential elections. He has even resorted to attacking Mr Banda’s Cabinet ministers.
Chief Nalubamba has been on this public podium purportedly on behalf of all the traditional rulers in Southern Province.
On August 7, 2009, Chief Nalubamba said chiefs in the province regretted having supported Mr Banda in the 2008 presidential election, a position which was later denied by 15 chiefs from Gwembe valley.
Representing the group, Chief Sinazongwe said the statement reflected Chief Nalubamba’s personal opinion and advised him to resolve his differences with the Head of State if he had any.
Chief Macha of the Tonga people in Choma District who restated his unflinching support called upon the Government to come up with a deliberate policy to train chiefs in leadership, diplomacy and a code of conduct to avoid such embarrassing situations.
In the Sunday Post of August 9, 2009, Chief Nalubamba charged that he had no respect for presidents like Mr Banda who sang praises for people like former president Chiluba. Later, he even went to the extent of calling Mr Banda a liar in one of the private daily newspapers.
As MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga pointed out, it is disappointing that a senior chief could be issuing derogatory remarks against a popularly elected president.
Mr Mabenga noted in an interview with ZNBC news that such an attitude has a consequence of undermining integrity of traditional leaders and called on traditional rulers to desist from meddling in politics to preserve the respect accorded to them.
With such behaviour, a question of law is then raised. One further wonders what really should be the relationship between a traditional leader whose subjects may number between 10 to 20,000 people in some cases and a head of State who is elected by the whole country.
With respect to recognition of a chief, should a chief who has been recognised by the presidency, be discourteous to the president of the country which is responsible for his recognition. At which point would the recognising authority, the national president, withdraw the recognition of a defiant chief.
From his daily negative comments on the Republican president and other former heads of State, Chief Nalubamba is planting seeds of destruction for the nation, and teaching children not only in his chiefdom but the country as a whole not to respect heads of state. By his actions, and utterances, one wonders how young Zambians will judge us adults.
The colonial government, which in fact formed these chiefdoms, did not hesitate to de-register a truant chief or one who goes against outlined requirements. For example in Kabwe, Chief Chipepo, renowned for elephant poaching in the 1940s, was removed from Native Authority office in 1948.
Martin Siwale of Nakonde in Northern Province said it was clear Chief Nalubamba has no respect for any head of State, past or future and it is an open secret that the traditional leader has no regard for the chief justice.
“If Chief Nalubamba has no respect for President Banda, how does he expect his subjects or society to respect him. It is evident that this chief has shown total disregard for the Judiciary and the chief justice with regard to the decision of the Judiciary to acquit the former president Frederick Chiluba.
“If he has no respect for the president who is the chief executive officer of this country, and has no respect for the chief justice, it follows that he has no respect for the National Assembly which makes the laws which the Judiciary interpret in the courts of law. I pity the subjects of Mbeza in Namwala where this chief regards himself as the only most important person next to God in heaven,” Mr Siwale said.
This is the same man who in December 2004 urged politicians to stop trading insults.
Chief Nalubamba is on record saying it was unacceptable for president Mwanawasa, Dean Mung’omba and Mr Michael Sata to continue insulting each other adding that he took strong exception to Mr Sata’s remarks.
“I do not like leaders who insult the governed from whom they derive their power to govern. The Tonga proverb that states…’Lemeka kana akalo kakulemeke sums it all,” Chief Nalubamba said at that time.
But from the happenings in Mbeza and indeed from his utterances, the traditional leader has not practised what he preaches.
Firstly, he has been in conflict with his own subjects for constructively advising him over the Mbeza Irrigation project even though he himself advised Mr Banda to embrace criticism in September last year.
He said then that great and wise men and women world-over learnt their greatest lessons from mistakes they make or have made in their human endeavor.
While he has continued enjoying his position as chief even after insulting authorities who recognise his chieftainship, he himself exercised his powers arbitrarily by unlawfully stripping and expelling five headmen in his chiefdom in February 2003 for allegedly rejecting the Mbeza Irrigation project. More than 6, 855 people of Mbeza voted against his irrigation project.
The growing insults against the presidency have become a concern of different groups and individuals.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Housing should also wake up. It is not fair to leave the president of the Republic of Zambia to defend himself from wanton uncalled-for attacks from a wayward chief who is subject to his recognition. If the ministry does not take action on such a self centred politician, who is leading his subjects and even Zambians by bad example, then let the Republican president take action by deregistering this man who has embarrassed his fellow chiefs, to save the decency of the institution of chief in the country,” says Kenneth Shimbilo of Chibombo District.
Chief Mumena of Solwezi in North-Western Province said Mr Banda should be respected as Zambians had given him the mandate to govern the affairs of the nation.
Chief Mumena said those in leadership should provide guidance to their flock.
He said it was not right for people to degrade the office of the Head of State by name-calling and wondered how other people from outside the country could respect the president if the Zambians themselves were not.
Similarly, Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo said Mr Banda deserved respect and those who have ganged up to insult President Banda should not be respected in society. (Zambia Daily Mail November 30).
While it is evident that Chief Nalubamba is championing his personal cause by calling Mr Banda names, over the acquittal of Dr Chiluba, well meaning chiefs from the Luapula Royal Foundation (LRF) have pointed out that it is immoral to do so.
The spokesperson for the LRF who called on the people of Luapula to stand solidly behind President Banda said political manipulators should refrain from telling lies.
Chief Nalubamba should be cautious of his public utterances which if not halted could create anarchy and national unrest.
He too should know that as a traditional leader, he should promote peace and development instead of opposing the same government, which is working for the betterment of his people. Those he is supporting today should also be wary that they too would at a later day be his spitting platform. He cannot be trusted.
The Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) have declared a dispute with Konkola Coppers Mines (KCM) after the Mining Company offered a three percent salary increment to unionized workers.
Speaking at a joint Press briefing held at Katilungu House in Kitwe today MUZ President Rayford Mbulu said the two Mine Unions have failed to agree with KCM hence have decided to declare a dispute.
Mr. Mbulu said the Unions were looking for a twenty five percent salary increment following a boom in the price of Copper and other Metals but KCM has insisted on three percent which they described as a mockery.
He said the Unions were extremely worried with the rate at which the negotiations were going and expressed dismay that KCM could offer a three percent salary increment at a time when business was booming.
Mr. Mbula added that it was unfortunate that the Company which was just recovering from the industrial unrest could refuse to offer its workers a reasonable pay rise.
He further said that the Mining Company had failed to invest in the rehabilitation and procurement of new equipment and wondered how the Zambian people were going to benefit from the company if it was offering peanuts to its employees.
Mr. Mbulu said MUZ was going to follow and comply with all the conditions attached to the declaration of a dispute in the Industrial Act.
He appealed to workers at KCM to remain calm and continue with there normal duties as the Union embarked on this process.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter has condemned the move by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ban journalists from sharing the same hotels with the national teams during next month’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola
MISA Zambia Chapter Chairperson Henry Kabwe said the decision is meant to intimidate the journalism fraternity and is likely to make the work of journalists difficult as they will be separated from their sources.
Kabwe told ZANIS Sport in an interview in Lusaka today that the best way to resolve the impending crisis between the media and national team officials is to engage in dialogue.
He observed that most hotels in Angola are run by private individuals adding that anyone is at liberty to book wherever he wishes to be accommodated unless the hotel is full.
The MISA Chairperson noted that journalist have on many occasions been judged wrongly and therefore denied information which he said is a violation of the media’s freedom to access information.
Kabwe has since appealed to CAF to reconsider their decision saying the move will not only affect journalists but also societies who are the beneficiary of information from the media.
He called on soccer governing bodies not to resort to punish journalists involved in some scuffles before establishing the real cause of the problem.
Last month CAF resolved at a seminar held in Luanda that journalists should not be allowed to share the same hotels with the national teams during the Africa Cup of nations that kicks off next month.
The move is aimed at avoiding confrontations between journalists and national team officials as journalists will only be accorded time to interview coaches through the arrangements by media officers from various associations.
Lusaka Magistrate has today convicted a Lusaka resident for impersonating a Zambia Revenue Authority Officer and jailed him to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Justice Arida Chulu today jailed Owen Sinyamuki 31, of 1094 Kuomboka-Chawama Compound in Lusaka on two counts of obtaining money by false pretences and one count of impersonating a public officer.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Sinyamuki on June 4, 2008 for allegedly impersonating a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officer and subsequently obtaining money by false pretences.
In the first count, Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of impersonating a public officer contrary to section 102(b) of the penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that on June, 3, 2008 in Lusaka, Sinyamuki did falsely present himself to be a person employed in the public service namely a Zambia Revenue Authority Officer, Deputy Direct Taxes Inspector.
In the second count, Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 309 of the penal, code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that on June 3, 2008, with intent to defraud, Sinyamuki did obtain K350,000 money in cash from Muhammed Kayabwe by falsely pretending that he was a ZRA officer , when in fact not.
He is alleged to have impersonated himself as ZRA Deputy Direct Tax Inspector and solicited for five million Kwacha as inducement or reward for himself to waiver any tax obligations that Muhammed Kayabwe had with the ZRA.
In the third count Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 309 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that between May 1 and June 12, 2008 , in Lusaka with intent to defraud Sinyamuki did obtain K200, 000 money in cash from Sarah Nain by falsely pretending that he was a ZRA officer when in fact not.
He is alleged to have impersonated himself as ZRA Deputy direct Tax Inspector and solicited for K500, 000 to assist repair his car which had broken down on his way to inspect the business for Nain.
Magistrate Chulu jailed Sinyamuki fro six months with hard labour on each count and the sentence will run consecutively. This means that Sinyamuki will serve 18 months in prison with effect from 10th December, 2009.
The first train carrying ballast stones for the completion of the Chipata/Mchinji railway project arrived in Chipata today to the excitement of residents that gathered to witness the laying of the stones on the railway track.
The first locomotive train to move on the Chipata/Mchinji railway, which has been under construction for the past 27 years, arrived in Chipata this afternoon.
There was excitement and jubilation among people of Chipata who gathered six kilometers from Mwami boarder, to witness the first working train, when it finally arrived carrying ballast stones for the completion of the Chipata/Mchinji project at 13:00 hours this afternoon.
Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda, who was among the people who witness the first working train offload ballast stones said, once completed the Chipata/Mchinji railway line will uplift the socio-economic development of the country through enhanced trade between Zambia and Malawi.Mr Banda said this will be achieved through reduced transport costs.
He said the development will also contribute to government’s aspiration of wealth creation through sustained economic growth which he said is an important element in poverty reduction.
The Minister stated that this will further cement the already existing relationship between the two countries.
And speaking on behalf of Paramount chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people, Chief Mnukwa advised the people of Eastern Province to take advantage of the Chipata/Mchinji railway line to boost their businesses with the forth coming cheaper means of transportation.
Chief Mnukwa urged the people of both countries to ensure that once completed, the project is well managed and generate resources to sustain its operations.
He said it was gratifying to see the project reach an advanced stage adding that this could only be attributed to the efforts of President Rupiah Banda and his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wamutharika.
Meanwhile, chief Mnukwa has said there is need for Zambians to support each other in the spirit of oneness if the country is to develop.
The traditional leader castigated some politicians engaged in inciting citizens to destabilize the nation.
Chief Mnukwa said chiefs in the region will continue to support the government of the day, regardless of where the president hails from.
He stated that the founding father of the nation Dr Kenneth Kaunda championed the slogan of one Zambia one Nation to promote unity among people from all tribes.
He assured President Banda that chiefs in Eastern province will continue to support his government as he mobilizes resources to develop the country.
And Regional Marketing Manager for Central and East African railways, Leckson Kalanje said Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique will boost their economic activities with cheaper transportation through the Nacala corridor.
Mr. Kalanje also encouraged people in Zambia and Malawi to make use of the railway line to boost their businesses.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Chamber of Commerce has urged government to speed up the acquisition of land for a dry port.
ECCPI chairperson Timothy Nyirenda said there is urgent need to construct a dry port that will be used for storage and transportation of heavy duty goods.
Mr. Nyirenda said it is necessary to put up a road that would be ideal for heavy duty cargo because the current one passes through a compound and may not be able to contain heavy duty vehicles once the railway line becomes fully operational.
President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected to leave Lusaka for the Copperbelt province and participate in the 10th anniversary of the Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA).
President Banda will be accompanied by Local government and Housing Minister Dr. Eustarckio Kazonga and Labour and Social Security minister Austin Liato.
He is also expected to hold meetings with some government officials before joining the 10th anniversary celebrations for ZANAMA in Kitwe at the City Square where he will address the marketeers.
President Banda will return to Lusaka on the same day.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
Below are the video clips for the ZNBC news aired on Wednesday evening. We want to take the opportunity to address a two things;
First, the ZNBC news clips are still in trial mode and we shall be intermittent in bringing them because there are a numbers of issues we need to work around before we can consistently deliver this service. Bandwidth is still expensive and we are experimenting with various compression algorithms to try and reduce the size of videos while keep the quality reasonable. There is also ZESCO’s incompetence, oh sorry load shedding to contend with.
Secondly. we still need your nominations for 2009 LT Awards. Nominations close next week Wednesday so that we can move to voting. We have put the submission form below these videos. The Form is using AJAX technology. This simply means that you can submit the form while you are watching the videos and the whole page will not reload, disrupt your video watching or briefly go blank when you hit the submit button.
Below are the Latest nominations
Woman of the Year
1. Chansa Kabwela
2. Dambisa Moyo
3. Thandie Banda
Man of the Year
1. FTJ Chiluba
2. Rupiah Banda
3. M.Sata
Most disappointing personality of the Year
1. Rupiah Banda
2. VJ Mwaanga
3. Mpombo
Most unpopular blogger
1. Veteran
2. 1984
3. Akapondo
Zambia Under-20 hope to keep their nerve on Friday against Angola Under-20 to book their place in the last four of this years Cosafa Youth Championship in Johannesburg.
A draw is all Honor Janza’s side need to book their place into Sundays semifinal’s where, should they qualify, they will face Group B winner with either 2008 runners-up Mozambique and 2005 champions Madagascar in Sundays semifinals who are engaged in a tight finish for top spot in their pool.
Zambia, on three points, beat Angola 2-1 in the first leg played on Monday but had too rally after their opponents equalized to collect the three points. Group D has only two teams after Mauritius’ withdraw from the tournament forcing the organizers to schedule a two-leg semifinal playoff between Zambia and Angola.
Janza’s side has only one injury concern in Zesco United midfielder John Chingandu who has a cut lip but his condition is said not to be serious as Zambia seek to end a two-year semifinal draught.
Zambia have failed to reach the semifinals in their last two outings at the Cosafa Youth Championships since finishing runner-up in the 2006 edition after losing 2-1 to current champions South Africa.
PATROTIC Front Kanyama Member of Parliament Gerry Chanda
Kanyama Member of Parliament (MP) Gerry Chanda says he is ready to be dragged to court by the former UNZASU Secretary General Stanford Kabwata, who quarried him on why he refused to represent his constituency on the National Constitutional Commission (NCC).
Colonel Chanda said he would not hesitate to respond should the former University of Zambia Students Union official proceeds with his plan to petition him through the National Assembly for not representing him at the NCC.
He told ZANIS in Lusaka today that he could not participate in the NCC because he did not want to go against his party rules and campaign promises.
He stressed that he belong to a political party that has rules and regulations to follow saying attending the NCC will be a violation of the party rules.
Colonel Chanda said he will as at now not respond to the letter from Mr. Kabwata, which is asking him to explain why he has chosen not to represent him at the NCC.
He said he was too busy with addressing problems in his constituency and he would therefore not respond to Mr. Kabwata’s query.
The MP noted that people in his area elected him because he promised to concentrate on developmental issues saying aligning himself with the NCC would be a betrayal to his electorates.
He has since advised Mr. Kabwata to proceed with his plans to petition him through the National Assembly or take him to court.
On Wednesday, two former UNZASU officials gave Colonel Chanda and his Munali counterpart Mumbi Phiri a three day ultimatum in which to explain to them why the duo chose not to represent them at the NCC.
Antonio Mwanza, a former UNZASU President and his former Secretary General Stanford Kabwata wrote to the two MPs demanding for a legal explanation saying the move by the MPs is an infringement of their rights and contrary to article 133 (b) of the Zambian constitution.
Efforts to get Munali MP Mrs. Phiri proved futile by press time.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon, Kachimba
Government has held a tripartite meeting with the Zambia Federation of Employers and other stakeholders to discuss the revision of the current K268, 000 (USD $53) minimum wage per month for employees in the country.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon, Kachimba said his ministry the tripartite meeting was successful.
Mr. Kachimba said all stakeholders in the issue of minimum wage will soon hold a technical meeting to address other issues related to minimum wage.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today it was important that the minimum wage is revised soon.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kachimba has assured the labour force in the country that government would do what it can to better the lives of workers in the country.
He said government was concerned with the human resource, noting that workers were a means to boosting the economy of the country.[quote]
He said the role of government in the labour force was to level the playing field between the employers and the employees in the country.
Mr. Kachimba said government will continue to harmonize the employers and the human resource of any institution to ensure all players in the economy were treated well and respected.
He has also urged employers to adhere to the labour laws in the country, which he said were clear on how workers are supposed to be treated.
Mr. Kachimba said when workers are laid down they are back on the streets and later become the burden of the government.
He said government recognizes the fact that the human resources played an important role in the development of the economy.
Many employees in the country have bemoaned the low minimum wage which currently stands at K268, 000 (USD $53) per month.
President Rupiah Banda and South African President Dr. Jacob Zuma have directed Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Co-operations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to convene an inaugural session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC) early next year.
The two Heads of State noted that the JPCC which was signed in 2005 has not been inaugurated.
President Banda and Zuma acknowledged that the long standing support for liberation in South Africa has led to the establishment of deep mutual bonds for the benefit of the peoples in the two countries.
This is according to a joint communiqué issued by President Banda and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma and read by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and South Africa’s Minister for International Relations and Co-operations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
The communiqué stated that the two presidents held official talks during which they reviewed a wide range of bilateral regional and international issues reiterating the need to collaborate in the fight against poverty, under-development and HIV/AIDS.
On regional issues, the two leaders expressed views on the prevailing political, economic and security situations in the region.
President Zuma commended President Banda for the role Zambia plays as Deputy Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Co-operation in the Southern Africa Development Community, SADC.
The communiqué said President Banda, similarly commended President Zuma for the role South Africa was playing in her facilitating peace in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Banda further commended South Africa for being the first African country to host the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. Both leaders wished the participating team’s success in the tournament slated for January next year.
The two leaders committed themselves to working together in pipit of the SADC Agenda, African Union and integration within the framework of the consultative act of the AU.
Mr. Pande said the two leaders welcomed the international efforts that seek to address the global financial crisis which has negatively affected especially the developing countries.
He said President Banda has accepted the invitation by President Zuma to visit South Africa for a State visit to be announced later through diplomatic channels.
Mr. Pande said President Zuma , at the end of his state visit expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to President Banda, the government of Zambia and its people for the warm hospitality and fraternal reception accorded to him and his delegation.
The state visit afforded the Zambian and South African governments an opportunity to sign two agreements and four memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing bilateral co-operation in sectors of energy, mining, diplomatic consultations, trade and cooperation, health and agriculture.
Meanwhile, President Zuma has since returned to his home country.
Dr. Zuma was accompanied by the First Lady Nompumelelo Ntuli, eight minister and more than 60 South African businessmen and women.
He was seen off at the Lusaka International airport by President Banda, First lady Thandiwe, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja, cabinet ministers, defense chiefs, MMD party and senior government officials from Zambia and South Africa.
Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane (r) and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin during the signing of the deal on Luanshya mine
THE China Non-Ferrous Metal Company/Luanshya Copper Mine (CLM) is set to inject an additional fresh investment of more than US$150 million in the rehabilitation of Luanshya Mine, which commences production on December 14.
And Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale said the Government was impressed with the manner in which CLM had introduced the new mining technology replacing the 1930’s technology.
Mr Mwale said replacing the 1930 technology would lead to a situation where the mine would now start rocovering 93 per cent of copper which was being lost under the old copper ore processing method.
Meanwhile, Labour and Social Security Minister, Austin Liato said he was impressed that the CLM management and the unions had signed the recognition agreement and were now chatting the way forward in signing the collective agreement.
CLM chief executive officer, Luo Xingeng said in Luanshya yesterday that so far, his company had spent over $30 million in the rehabilitation of the mine and replacement of equipment and by the end of the year, $42 million would have been used on the development of the mine prior to the commencement of production.
Mr Luo said although the mine had not started actual production of copper, it had recruited over 2,250 employees despite the company having earlier projected that it would recruit 1,700 employees. The lowest paid worker at CLM gets a monthly salary of K1, 224,000.[quote]
Speaking when Mr Mwale, Mr Liato and Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima toured the mine’s concentrator and the Muliashi Mine project sites yesterday, Mr Luo said the CLM management and Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) were coordinating well.
Mr Luo said although the mine had engaged more than 37 local and foreign contractors, most of the qualified personnel working for most of the former contractors had been re-engaged by the mine.
He said the CLM had over the past six months been undertaking the rebuilding and rehabilitation works of Baluba Mine.
“Already we have done the necessary preparations of viability of the conditions needed for production. We are scheduled to do the first blasting of the copper pre-underground on December 14,” he said.
Mr Luo said the mine’s concentrator was undergoing a complete overhaul with all the five crushers being replaced by modern ones and so far, three out of five had been replaced while two new crushers were still in transit.
He said the hard work being exhibited by the Zambian workers was helping in enhancing production at CLM.
CLM deputy chief executive officer in charge of technical services, Robert Kamanga said all was set to ensure that the Muliashi Open Pit Mine project and seven oxide camps were made operational next year.
Mr Mwale said the Government was impressed with the manner in which a lot of work had been done at the mine within a short period of time.
He said the rate at which the mine was being developed had left those doubting about the viability of Chinese investment with no option but to join those who wanted to allow the Chinese to work with the Zambian people as partners in development.
The minister said there was need for all those working on the mines to ensure that the Zambian and Chinese cultures converged to all the people from the two countries.
Mr Mbulakulima said construction of a 7.6-kilometre-long tarred road from the mine’s offices to the Muliashi mining site at a cost of K8.2 billion, which was being incurred by the mine even before the commencement of production, was a clear testimony of how serious CLM was as an investor in the mining sector.
HUNDREDS of people have escaped unhurt at Ngwenya market in Mpulungu District when a makeshift stand containing drums of petrol caught fire.
A check at the market a few minutes after the fire engulfed the makeshift stand found marketers and traders making frantic efforts to salvage their merchandise and wares from their stalls.
Other people were seen scampering in different directions for safety while others simply run away from the market, fearing for their lives.
The fire was ignited by a cigarette in one of the stores where petrol was being poured.
In an interview later, Ngwenya market committee chairman Maybin Mwansa expressed shock and regret at the incident, saying that it was the third fire incident at the market involving fuel in a short period of time.
Mwansa who was flanked by his vice secretary chewe chilufya accused some government officials of favouring the fuel dealers situated within the market.
He said several appeals have been made to remove the illegal fuel dealers on the black market but the appeals have fallen on ‘deaf ears’.
Mwansa warned that a life would one day be lost if the if fuels are allowed to continue being sold in the market.
He said even the fire fighters from council were not at hand to help put out the fire despite emergency calls being made to them a few seconds after the disaster happened.
Mr. Mwansa complained that this attitude had angered many marketers as they now deem the fire licenses they have been made to pay for, were useless.
He said marketers and traders are now wondering why council charges them fire fees if no help comes from there.
Mr. Mwansa appealed to police to intensify their inspection of stalls and makeshift stands to ensure no fuels are sold in the market because they could one day lead to a serious fire disaster.
[ZANIS]
The British High Commission Department for International Development has announced a commitment of 5.7 million pounds for a new anti-corruption programme.
According to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today the programme Against Corruption Together (ACT) will support the implementation of the government of Zambia’s national Anti Corruption policy and its goal to achieve a nation and its people that are zero tolerant to corruption.
The statement says the DFID support will help Zambian institutions including the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate and prosecute corruption more effectively.
Support will be given to parliamentarians so they can act more effectively in the fight against corruption.
The statement further says the programme will also help civil society organisations to have more Zambians involved in anti corruption initiatives.
The United Kingdom has been a supporter of the government of Zambia’s fight against corruption and since the 2000, DFID has provided 8.4 million pounds to the Anti Corruption Commission and the Task Force through the Anti Corruption Commission Enhancement Support (ACCES) project which ended early this year.
