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Court clears Magande of graft charges

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maga.jpgThe Lusaka High Court on Monday cleared Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande of corruption charges levelled against him by two losing candidates in last year’s parliamentary elections.

Magande was facing 62 charges of graft which Priscilla Kamanga of the chief opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party and Cosmos Moono of the United Party for National Development (UPND) brought before the court in Zambia’s most contentious and highly publicised parliamentary petition.

Economic analysts had feared a serious economic management backlash if Magande had lost the case.

He is credited with the fiscal discipline which has seen a turnaround in Zambia’s economic performance, with GDP growth averaging 5 percent in the last five years in Zambia, where mining is the economic lifeblood.

High Court Judge Marvin Mwanamwambwa threw out all 62 allegations that Magande and his election agents bribed voters to win the vote in an opposition stronghold. The court said he was duly elected as a legislator.

“I have found that there was no bribery and corruption as defined by the Electoral Act,” Mwanamwambwa said in his ruling.

He said the few irregularities which had been proven did not warrant the nullification of Magande’s election victory.

“In my view honourable Magande won the election because the opposition (candidates) split the vote among themselves. He did not win because of (allegations of) rampant corruption and bribery,” Mwanamwambwa said.

Magande said Zambia should put the elections behind it and focus on serious challenges.

“We can now forget about the elections and this will help me to focus on making sure we work hard to address the most pressing issues of poverty alleviation and finding improving the economic environment,” he told Reuters after the ruling.

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Levy directs Masebo to exempt church from paying rates

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President Levy Mwanawasa has directed Local Government and Housing Minister, Sylvia Masebo, to exempt the church, schools and clinics from paying rates in appreciation of the great contribution the church is making in augmenting government effortf of improving the economic welfare of the people.

President Mwanawasa has further directed, Ms Masebo to favourably consider the
church’s request for rate exemption for specific educational youths skills
institutions and other social institutions because the church was serving people on
behalf of government.

He said without the church’s valuable contribution, government alone would not have
achieved as much as it has done, citing health institutions run by the church among
them; St Francis and Mumbezhi in Solwezi, Chinyingi in Zambezi and Ntambu in
Mwinilunga which, he said are because they are located in places where government
health institutions were not easily accessible.

Mr Mwanawasa commended the church for its efforts in fighting and mitigating the
effects of HIV/AIDS through home based care and the orphans and vulnerable children
programmes that have provided love, care and support.
       
He said without such interventions many children would have dropped out of school,
hence urged the church and government to continue working together for the benefit
of people of Zambia.
       
President Mwanawasa said this in Solwezi today during the consecration and
installation of Reverend Fr. Alick Banda as new Bishop of Solwezi Diocese by
Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia and Malawi to  succeed
Bishop Noel Charles O’Regan who was transferred to Ndola Diocese in September 2004.
        
Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa said government was worried at the high levels of
illiteracy in North-Western Province and as such it did not hesitate to surrender St
Francis in Solwezi, St Kizito in Mwinilunga, Chiwezi in Kabompo and Chinyingi basic
schools in Zambezi to the church when it requested.
       
He also said while government has taken note of the position of the church in the
constitution making, it was committed to ensure that the people of Zambia are given
a people-driven constitution that will stand the test of time.

He said government’s role was to give advice and direction on the process and its
logistics which he said required proper planning and careful attention to deal in
order to avoid costly mistakes.
      
Mr Mwanawasa further, reiterated government’s commitment to have all districts in
the province connected to the national grid, saying currently government was looking
at the possibility of working together with missionaries at Kaleni so that
Mwinilunga district could benefit from the Zengamina hydro-power station
commissioned two weeks ago at Kaleni in Mwinilunga.
      
Speaking at the same occasion, Zambia Episcopal Conference Chairperson, Arch Bishop
Telesphore Mpundu commended President Mwanawasa for expressing government’s
commitment in Working with the church in building peace and unity in the country.
       
And Archbishop Nicola Girasoli urged newly installed Bishop of Solwezi Diocese,
Alick Banda to promote unity among the clergy and others through reconciliation and
dialogue.

MMCI embarks on youth empowerment programme–Mrs Mwanawasa

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 First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, says the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initative, MMCI, with support from cooperating partners is working a robust programme meant to engage the youth in economic programmes in the country.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said the MMCI is aware that over 68 per cent of the Zambian
population comprise the youth that require income generating ventures for them to
cope with economic challenges.

She observed that government has embarked on developmental projects that encompass youth programmes aimed at alleviating poverty among the people.

The first lady was responding to questions raised by some youths inb Nakonde who
wanted to know whether the MMCI would render financial assistance to youth skills
training centres in the area.

Speaking on behalf of the youths, Yande Nakazwe, said youths in Nakonde lack
recreation and skills training facilities.

She said the district, being a border town and with increased unemployment levels,
has seen a sharp increase in youths neing vulnerable to anti social vices.

She said youths are indulging in illicit sex, drug abuse and other vices that
subject them the risk of contracting the HIV/AIDS.

She implored other organisations and cooperating institutions in the district such
as Talent Development Programme, World Vision Zambia and Single Parent Association
of Zambia to increasde focus on helping providing skills and income generating
ventures to the youth.

She stressed that youth empowerment is a very critical issue because it provides a
foundation for the future leadership of the country.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mwanawasa has implored women in Nakonde district to take advantage of the policy that allows government to allocate 30 per cent of land to women.

She observed that women should acquire and use the land acquired as collateral when
accessing finances from the banks.

She employed women in the rural areas to form cooperatives for them to have ease
access to farming inputs through the Fertilizer Support Programme.

She was speaking when she addressed women from various clubs and organisations in
Nakonde today.

And speaking on behalf of the women, Elizabeth Musani, said called for the
incorporation of women in the developmental projects that government is implementing
.

She said Nakonde district is lagging behind in terms of development because wome,
who are the major partners, have been sidelined on the development process.

Nakonde District Commissioner, Edwin Sinyinza, said the district has a mammoth task
of uplift the living standards of the people.

Chikankata high school pupils riot

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Pupils at Chikankata Mission High school in Mazabuka last night rioted and destroyed school property before setting a teacher’s house on fire.

School headteacher, Oscar Mwanza, who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka today, said several classrooms had their window panes destroyed although he could not give the cost of the damage caused.

Mr Mwanza said the teacher’s house has been extensively damaged by angry pupils who
turned violent at 21 hours yesterday.

He, however, said the teacher and his family survived the wrath of the pupils
following a rescue operation mounted by his administration before the house was set
ablaze.

Mr Mwanza said management has since instituted investigations to determine the cause
of the riotous behavior by the pupils.

He also said Police from Mazabuka station who arrived 3 hours after the riot will
continue keeping vigil at the learning institution until the situation normalises.

But sources at the school told ZANIS, the pupils ran riot following suspicion of
witchcraft by a named teacher.

The sources said the riot was sparked by revelations by one of the pupils admitted
to Chikankata hospital who alleged that he was seeing a human face in his sleep
giving him flesh meat to eat.

Meanwhile, Chikankata member of parliament, Munji Habeenzu has condemned the riotous behaviour by the pupils.

Mr Habeenzu said rioting is not the best solution in addressing their grievances.

Mulongoti welcomes KK’s silence

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Chief Government Spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, is happy that  First Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda, has not reacted sharply to the story published in one of the daily tabloids that alleged that President Levy Mwanawasa issued disparaging remarks against him.

Mr Mulongoti said Dr Kaunda’s decision to remain mute over the issue despite the
running public comments on the matter clearly demonstrates that he is true
statesmanship.

He said this in Kitwe yesterday when he addressed journalists after touring the
Zambia News and Information Services Offices (ZANIS).

He said Government was grateful that the Dr Kaunda had not responded to the story as
a true Statesman.

The minister said there was need for some members of the opposition Political
Parties and other stakeholders to allow the former President to concentrate on his
HIV AIDS crusade and not cheap politics.

Mr Mulongoti also regretted that some people that where celebrating at the time Dr
Kaunda was incarcerated in Kabwe some years back were now talking of respecting him
and shedding crocodile tears over his problems.

He added that it was also disappointing to note that people, who were supposed to
accord President Mwanawasa a benefit of doubt when such matters arise, where in the
fore front to create tension between him and the former Head of State.

He challenged all those people that were condemning President Mwanawasa over the
issue to gather courage and withdraw their statements against him now that the truth
had come out.

President Mwanawasa has since expressed dismay with the reports in the media where
he is quoted as having attacked first Republican President saying the Article was
based on hear say.

He indicated that the report by the post was also unethical as the meeting quoted
was a closed door party executive meeting and the Post Journalist wrote the article
based on hear-say because no journalists attended the meeting.

Chinese coal mine to open new washing plant

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By Tovin Ngombe
The Chinese Collum Coal mine has completed building the coal washing plant which is expected to start working on 15 August in Sinazongwe district this year.

Collum mine Director Zian Rui Xu for shaft two told ZANIS in an interview at the mine that the completion of the washing plant would increase production from the current 1000 tones per month to 4000 tones per month.

Mr. Xu said the washing plant would operate 24 hours service and the coal quality would be improved because it would reduce the ash content to less than 15 percent.

He said the washing plant has been made in such way that it would be environmentally friendly since the affluent from coal would be sipped under ground rather than most mining plants that discharged water into streams or rivers.
The director explained that he would invite Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) to conduct an environmental assessment.
Mr. Xu disclosed that Collum mine would open another shaft three in three months and all the preparations for opening the new shaft was completed.

He said he was only waiting for Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to complete the installation a transformer at the new shaft

XU said Shaft three was expected to employ 200 hundred Zambian workers and 15 Chinese experts.

A Check by ZANIS at shaft three site found the offices and the underground work has already been completed.
Xu noted that the company was also supplying free piped water to the surrounding village as its social responsibility.
The Chinese Collum mine has three shafts, the two are currently producing coal and the new one that would be opened.

Levy vows to remain focused in developing Zambia

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President Levy Mwanawasa says he will not be deterred in his development vision by people bent to criticise developmental programmes being implemented by his administration.

The president said the development of north western in particular, would remain
priority on the national development agenda due to the value derived from the area
in developing the overall national economy.

Mr. Mwanawasa said in line with the development agenda, government has focused
resource allocation towards the improvement of the road network, as a measure of
facilitating the smooth implementation of developmental projects, in north western
province.

The president was speaking in a speech read for him by Transport and Communications
Minister Sara Saifwanda at the Ukupupa traditional ceremony of the Lamba people.

Mr. Mwanawasa disclosed that government has released K43.8 billion for the
rehabilitation of the 120 kilometre stretch of the Solwezi/Kipushi Road an
additional K31 billion for the Solwezi/Chingola Road.

He further indicated that US$180,000 has been disbursed towards the rehabilitation
of the Solwezi Mwinilunga Raods.

The president further disclosed that government has released K30 million for the
drilling of boleholes at Senior Chief Kalilele and Lwamakanda and an additional K200
million for the construction of the Lamba High school in Solwezi district.

Speaking at the same occassion, Ukupupa Organising Committee Chairperson, Kilinima
appealed to president Mwanawasa to consider giving Mushindamo a district status due
to its rapid economical growth.

And in passing a vote of thanks, Chief Mukumbi of the Kaonde people called on
government to put to an end casualisation of labour at Kansanshi and other mining
firms in the province.

Govt sets aside K7.7 billion for repair of Isoka-Muyombe Road

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Government has allocated about K7.7 billion kwacha for the rehabilitation of the Isoka/Muyombe Road.

Isoka East Member of Parliament, Catherine Namugala, said the money is meant for the
tarring of 176 kilometer Isoka-Muyombe stretch, which is currently in bad state.

Ms. Namugala, who disclosed the development when she addressed residents of Isoka
east constituency yesterday, said government was determined to address concerns
raised by the local people regarding the poor state of the road.

And Ms. Namugala also revealed that government has increased the Constituency
Development Fund, CDF, allocation from K90 million to K200 million to Isoka East
constituency this year.

She advised women organisations in the area to take advantage of the available funds
to submit project proposals for them to access the funds.

Ms. Namugala, earlier, called on the Food Reserve Agency, FRA, to purchase maize
from the local farmers quickly to enable them mobilise funds for the purchase of
farming inputs for the 2007/08 farming season.

Meanwhile, Ms. Namugala has bemoaned the low staffing levels at Muyombe rural health Centre.

She observed that the few health personnel at the Centre are overwhelmed with
demands for better service from the local people, whose population has significantly
increased in recent years.

She was speaking when First Lady, Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa donated medical supplies on behalf of the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative, MMCI, to the health centre.

Speaking earlier, Muyombe clinic Officer In-Charge, Danny Sinkamba, said government
should consider providing transport logistics to the centre to enable it improve its
service delivery to the people in the area.

Mr. Sinkamba regretted that the lack of trasport at the centre was making it
difficult for the centre to reffer emergency cases to Isoka General Hospital.

First Lady, Mrs Mwanawasa said MMCI, through its programme on health, is determined to supplement government efforts in the provision of better service to the
community.

Installation of new Chieftainess Mwenda set for August 31

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Government has set August 31, 2007 as date for the installation of newly elected Chieftainess Mwenda of the Tonga people of Mazabuka district.

Mazabuka Town Clerk, Ekan Chingangu, said the fixing of the date follows the Lusaka
High Court decision to dismiss petitions made by two losing candidates against the
election results.

Mr Chingangu said Southern province Minister, Joseph Mulyata, will grace the
installation ceremony which will be held in Mapangazya area at Chikankata school
football ground.

He has since urged the subjects of Chieftainess Mwenda to turn up in large numbers
and support their new chief.

The Mwenda chiefdom has been rocked with succession wrangleslong before the death of
the former chief.

First Lady says lack of technology hinders women entrepreneurs ability to produce

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First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa says lack of appropriate technology in rural areas is a major impediment to women entrepreneurs’ ability to add value to goods and services they produce.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said women have continued to rely on traditional methods of producing goods and services due to limited knowledge on the application of conventional
methods.

Mrs .Mwanwasa was speaking when she addressed women from various organisations and clubs in Muyombe, Isoka on yesterday.

She said there was need for the creation of synergies between organisations with
records of better performance with those that are lagging behind, in the interest of
enhancing women’s contribution to national economic development.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said women in rural areas should be economically empowered to enable them participate in efforts of eradicating poverty.

She emphasized the need for stakeholders to increase their focus on finding
solutions to challenges affecting women in rural areas.

she said her organisation last year was able to organise function in lusaka during
which women were able to market there products and also acquire some better skills
on who to improve goods.

And Mrs Mwanawasa has advised the people of Muyombe not to forget their morals in
order to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.

She advised people not to take advantage of government’s provision of free
Antiretroviral drugs, to engage in irresponsible sexual behaviour.

She said the MMCI, through its health programme, has put in place a Voluntary
Counseling and Testing, VCT, meant to encourage people to know their HIV status.

Veep regrets failure by investors to help communities

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Vice President, Rupiah Banda, is disappointed at the failure by some investors to assist communities in which they operate.

Mr. Banda regretted that despite making huge profits, most local and foreign
companies,  profits were not supplementing government efforts in assisting
vulnerable communities particularly in the area of education.

The vice president was speaking at Mushindike Basic School in Mwansabombwe today
when he received a donation from Celtel of 40 school desks worth K20 million.

The donation by Celtel  is part of the company’s ‘build the nation’ project launched
two years ago.

Mr. Banda urged other business houses to emulate Celtel and assist the vulnerable
communities around the country.

And Celtel Marketing Manager for Services, Kennedy Mambwe, said the company will
remain a partner to government in its quest to provide quality education for all
throughout the country.

Mr. Mambwe said universal education for all requires the effort of a stakeholders
not only to ensure access to education but also achieving a good learning
environment.

Celtel has so far spent over K400 million in assisting schools in various
communities around the country through the donation of books, desks and
infrastructure rehabilitation.

FAZ PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK 20 WRAP-UP

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Zesco United return from the three-week mid-season break to open up a 6-point lead at the summit of the Faz Premier League table after beating Roan United 2-0 away in a Week 20 match played at Kafubu stadium this afternoon.

The Ndola sides’ two goals came either side of the 45 minutes through Yonah Mwango and Allen Chibwe to see Zesco open up a six point on 43 points from twenty games played so far this season.

Zesco’s win ended Roan’s nine-match unbeaten run in the top-flight that stretched back to May 1.

Buffaloes stay second on 37 points after squandering a 1-0 first half lead to finish 1-1 away at 4th placed Lusaka Dynamos in a modest game played at Queensmead stadium in Lusaka.

Reuben Phiri put Buffaloes ahead in the 27th minute before second half substitute Isaac Mutantabowa equalized in the 71st minute to see the two sides share the points.

Kabwe Warriors stayed 3rd after beating Zamtel 1-0 at Musa Kasonka in Ndola with Henry Banda there supplying the all important goal in the 42nd minute.

Zanaco failed to make any ground up the log when they were held to a scoreless draw away at Nchanga Rangers in Chingola while Young Arrows won 1-0 away at bottom placed Nakambala Leopards.

Konkola Blades stuttering run this season continued when they lost 1-0 away to National Assembly after Simon Sakala’s goal made the difference between the two sides at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, they were scoreless draws in the other remaining matches involving Power Dynamos-City of Lusaka and Red Arrows-Forest Rangers.

Faz Premier League roars back to life after three-week break

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The Faz Premier League resumes this weekend after a three-week midseason break with leaders Zesco United taking the short trip up to Luanshya to face Roan United at Kafubu stadium.

Zesco enjoy a slender 4-point lead coming back from the break on 40 points with Green Buffaloes second on 36.

Meanwhile, Zesco return to action without inspirational midfielder and this season’s top scorer Rainford Kalaba who is currently attending trials at French Ligue 2 club Chateauroux where he has been for the last month.

Kalaba has been key in Zesco’s push in pursuit of its first ever top-flight title during the first half of the season with 11 out of the 14 goals he has scored this season recorded in the green and yellow of the Ndola club.

Zesco Coach Wedson Nyirenda will be hoping striker Enoch Sakala could carry the burden in Kalaba’s absence and also help lead the team to a second successive league win over Roan.

Sakala was key in Zesco’s victory in the first leg that the leaders won 3-0 in Ndola on April 14 when he scored the games opening goal.

Meanwhile, Roan will be hoping their top striker Ben Mwanza will be recharged from the break and fired-up to help “Stylish” maintain its nine-match-league unbeaten run.

Mwanza has during that good run found the target three-times out of his total of five goals this season.

In the weekends other major match, Buffaloes take the short trip across town to face Lusaka Dynamos who are three points behind them and trailing by as many points.

Buffaloes crashed Dynamos 4-0 and the army team will be hoping for more of the same against a handicapped looking Dynamos

The rest of Saturdays Week 20 fixtures will see third placed Kabwe Warriors face Zamtel in Ndola; defending champions Zanaco are away to Nchanga Rangers while National Assembly hosts Konkola Blades.

Young Arrows are away to Nakambala Leopards, Power Dynamos host City of Lusaka and Red Arrows await fellow strugglers Forest Rangers at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

German company introduces energy-saving stove to Levy

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 A German company, PT Climate Projects today introduced an energy saving cooker to President Levy Mwanawasa at State House.

After the demonstration of how the “Save 80” cooker works, Minister of Energy and
Water Development, Kenneth Konga, said the concept was encouraging as it was
environmentally friendly.

Mr. Konga said government, through line ministries, would consider allowing a pilot
project to be introduced before it was widely circulated around the country.

He said the project may help government make a lot of savings in terms of firewood
energy.

And PT Climate Project Chief Executive Officer, Klaus Trifellner said the “Save 80”
cooker technology was environmentally friendly as it emits minimal carbon gasses and
uses twigs to heat up the pots.

Mr. Trifellner said his company was contemplating introducing the “save 80” cooker
as a pilot project in the country.

Fuel situation normalises in Monze

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 The fuel crisis that hit Monze  has slightly normalised  with some fuel stocks at Kobil Service Station in Chisekese.

The situation has worsened at BP with neither petrol nor diesel available at the
filling station.

A check by ZANIS at Kobil this morning revealed that they had received the commodity
yesterday and business was going on as usual while a check at BP, found that both
diesel and petrol had completely ran out.

A fuel attendant talked to said the fuel stocks had run out almost two weeks ago,
but was however quick to note that he had received information that both diesel and
petrol would be available this afternoon.

He said the fuel shortage has negatively affected business, saying that they were
forced to refer motorists to either Mazabuka or Choma.

Meanwhile, fuel vendors have continued to exploit  members of the public  by selling
fuel at exorbitant prices.

And some of the motorist talked to said they were left with no option but to
purchase the commodity from vendors, despite risks of buying fuel that is reportedly
mixed with other substances such as paraffin, and other lubricants.

However, a fuel vendor Charles Mudenda, dismissed reports of fuel being mixed with
other substances, saying they do their best to offer customers best services.

Meanwhile, most motorists from Gwembe, Chisekese, and Gwembe, have opted to purchase their fuel from Kobil Service Station, while some motorists, especially taxi drivers were found buying the commodity in large quantities  fearing it would ran out.
 

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