Energy and Water development Deputy Minister Hastings Imasiku has appealed to residents in Mongu and Kalabo districts to remain calm as government and ZESCO are doing their best to restore power in the two Districts.

Mr. Imasiki said ZESCO is currently working on moving a bigger transformer from Sesheke to Mongu and another one from Lusaka to Sesheke.

He told ZAINS in an interview that ZESCO is working around the clock and that power will be restored by Tuesday next week.

And Mr. Imasiku has said a back up system would be connected to the water and sewerage company to supply water to the residents.

ZESCO Mongu main transformer was damaged by lighting on Wednesday this week leaving residents in Mongu and Kalabo districts in a power blackout.

The power blackout that began on Wednesday afternoon has affected Mongu, Kalabo, Senanga and Kaoma, also resulting in erratic water supply in the affected towns.

[ZANIS]

The Chinese government has conferred a Sino-African Friendship award on first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.

The award follows Dr Kaunda’s successful trip to China where he was voted as one of the five Africans who moved the entire Chinese people the most.

The award is voted by the informed Chinese general public on the internet across all China, and proves Dr Kaunda’s lasting popularity since he had been heard by the Chinese people about 42 years ago.

Speaking at a breakfast reception in Lusaka today, to celebrate the successful conclusion of the 4th Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) and Dr Kaunda’s trip back from China where he went to receive the award today, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said the Chinese people cherish the sincere friendship that exists between Zambia and the Chinese people.

Mr Qiangmin said China’s support to Africa’s development would remain concrete and tangible, adding that whatever changes that mighty take place in the world, China’s policy of supporting Africa’s economic and social development will never change.

He disclosed that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed eight new policy measures during his keynote address to the conference that the Chinese government aimed at strengthening the Sino-Africa cooperation in the next three years from 2010 to 2012.

The Chinese Ambassador said based on the concerns raised by African countries on the implementation of the last eight measures, China decided to customize the new eight measures stressing more on helping Africa to overcome the financial crisis and improve African people’s living standards.

He said as the first of the eight new measures, China has proposed to establish a China- Africa partnership in addressing climate change where china would build 100 clean energy projects for Africa covering solar power, bio-gas and small hydro power stations.

“China will enhance cooperation with Africa in Science and technology. China would carry out 100 joint demonstration projects with Africa and receive 100 African postdoctoral fellows to conduct research in China. Third china will help Africa build up financial capacity”, he said.

Mr. Qiangmin revealed that Chiana would also provide US$10 billion in concessional loans to African countries, and support Chinese financial institutions in setting up a special loan of $1 billion for small and medium-size African businesses.

The other new measures include the opening up of the Chinese market to African products, enhance further cooperation in agriculture, their deepening of cooperation in medical care and health, and enhance cooperation in human resources development and education in addition to the expansion of people to people cultural exchange.

And speaking at the same function, Dr Kaunda said the relationship between China and Zambia was based on strong human relationships that have existed for a long time now.

Dr Kaunda said the Chinese people have looked beyond the issue of race and color which had been the source of many divisions in the world and has partnered with their African bothers and sisters for their betterment.

He said the old generation of Chinese and African people worked hard to build the relationship that exist between the two continents, saying the task is now on the new generation to continue fostering the relationship.

Dr Kaunda has since urged the new generation of Chinese and Zambian people to continue helping to carry on the honorable relationship between China and Zambia.

[ZANIS]

President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Western Province on a two-day working visit.

Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere told ZANIS in statement today that the President will during his visit to the province visit Kalabo district where he will inspect development projects including schools and road infrastructure.

Mr. Jere said the President will also meet some government officials in the District.

The President will be accompanied by Finance and National Planning Minster Situmbeko Musokotwane, Tourism and Natural Resources Minster Catherine Namugala, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and other government officials.

Mr. Banda is expected back to Lusaka on Monday.

ZANIS

Government has described Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’ s media statement that President Rupiah Banda is about to hike fuel prices to subsidize ‘thieves’ involved in fuel procurement as misleading, irresponsible and provocative.

Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says Government is saddened by Mr. Sata’s allegations.

Lt. Gen Shikapwasha said in a statement to ZANIS last evening that the statement by the opposition leader only reflects his poor understanding of running of government and his propensity to tell lies.

He said government is deeply concerned that Mr. Sata was deliberately misleading the nation into believing that prices of fuel were determined by the President.

Gen Shikapwasha stated that it was only the Energy Regulation Board which has the mandate to determine the prices of fuel and that the criterion had nothing to do with government.

He explained that local fuel prices are determined by the cost of supplies from the source and transportation among other market forces.

Gen. Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said contrary to Mr. Sata’s assertions, all these factors are not determined by the President.

He dismissed Mr. Sata’s allegations as regrettable and uncalled for.

Gen Shikapwasha said Mr. Sata’ s allegations against President Banda were only a reflection of the kind of leadership that Zambians should expect if he was given an opportunity to lead the nation.

He said it was clear from the statement that the opposition leader’s governance style would also involve fixing fuel prices from State House just to appease suppliers.

Gen. Shikapwasha added, “ As for the thieves that Mr. Sata is referring to in the procurement of fuel, we can only say, it takes a thief to know a thief.”

Mr. Sata is quoted in one of the daily newspapers as having said President Rupiah Banda wants to hike fuel prices to subsidize thieves involved in the procurement of fuel.

ZANIS