Speaker of the national Assembly Amusa Mwanamwambwa has directed Information Minister Mike Mulongoti to deliver a ministerial statement tomorrow on the failure by the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) to air live the Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Speaker said the general public expects a great deal from the national broadcaster because of the K3,000 licence fees it was collecting from the people.

He said the country being a footballing nation would like to watch and see what was happening in Ghana.

The speaker was making a ruling following a point of order by Mfuwe Member of Parliament M Malama who wanted to know why Mr. Mulongoti, as minister of Information and Broadcasting has not made an official statement on the matter.

However, the Zambia National broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) board chairperson Augustine Seyuba said it will be irresponsible on its part to ask government for money to enable it air the 2008 Ghana MTN Africa cup of nations due to the on going flood situation in the country.

ZANIS sports reports that Seyuba said in a statement today that the corporation recognizes the challenge government has at the moment due to floods that have affected many people in the country, who have been left homeless.

Seyuba explained that ZNBC could not bring any more partners on board to raise the required K5 billion in three days.

He said the corporation has been planning to beam the tournament live.

He said the national broadcaster recognizes that most Zambians have a great passion for football adding that it is regrettable that the corporation will not broadcast the event.

The board Chairman said neighboring Malawi and Zimbabwe and Nigeria in West Africa are among countries that will not televise the matches saying this was an indicator on how unreasonable the vendor has been in their pricing for the tournament.

Chililabombwe Municipal Council Unionized employees have locked out the Mayor and Acting Town Clerk’s offices in protest over management’s refusal to sign a collective agreement that would have resulted in a five percent salary increment.

And Police in riot gear kept vigil of the council premises to prevent an eruption of violent protests by the incensed workers.

The workers who had gathered at the council works yard for the signing ceremony were incensed after management postponed the event despite having sent invitation letters and prepared the forms.

They later matched to the local authority’s main offices where they forced the Mayor Wilson Ponga and the Acting Town Clerk Baldwin Chinoya to leave the offices, which they later locked.

Zambia United Local Authority Worker’s Union (ZULAWU) Chililabombwe Branch Chairperson Henry Chabanya, who was at the scene of the proceedings, told ZANIS that the workers did not want the two senior staff due to their style of management.

Mr Chabanya said the council management had been postponing the signing of the collective agreement for the new conditions of service despite having taken one year to conclude negotiations.

The ZULAWU Branch Chairperson, who displayed the invitation letters for the signing ceremony and the collective agreement forms, said the workers felt cheated after having assembled to witness the signing ceremony which was postponed indefinitely.

He alleged that management had declined to sign the collective agreement after the 15 percent salary increments they had awarded themselves were quashed by the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) for not following the right procedure.

Mr Chabanya, who was flanked by other ZULAWU branch executive members, said the workers did not want the services of the Mayor and Acting Town Clerk because suspended Town Clerk Musonda Mumpa understood their grievances.

Efforts to get the Town Clerk and Public Relations Officer by Press time proved futile as they had all vacated their offices.

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has advised political parties to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct (ECC) in the forthcoming Kanyama parliamentary by election.

AVAP Executive Director Bonny Tembo says failure by political parties to adhere to the ECC would attract punishment by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Mr. Tembo observed that political parties have a tendency of breaching the ECC such as the use of Government vehicles coupled with rampant distribution of wrappers and misuse of public resources and campaigning on the actual voting day, saying this was against the code of conduct.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Tembo said his organisation has since embarked on a vigorous voter education campaign to sensitise the electorate on the voting process.

And Mr. Tembo has cautioned political parties to desist from imposing candidates on the electorate.

The AVAP Chief said imposition of candidates in the by election in the by election will cause voter apathy.

Mr. Tembo explained that those imposed on the electorate were not likely to deliver on their promises.

He stressed the need for the Kanyama electorate to choose a credible candidate who would be able to effectively represent them at National Assembly.

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set February 21, 2008 as the date of the Kanyama by election. The seat fell vacant after the death of Patriotic Front MP Henry Mtonga.

United Party for National Development (UPND), United Liberal Progressive Party, Patriotic Front, Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) and All People’s Congress Party are fielding candidates in the Kanyama by election.

A four year-old boy in Masansa area in Mkushi survived death on Sunday, when passersby retrieved him alive from a well he had accidentally fallen into.

An eye witness, Clarence Siamate, told ZANIS this morning that Bright Tembo dropped in a well at the back of the house during accidentally.

Siamate said the boy who was earlier seen playing near the well, suddenly dissapeared and a few people that had seen him plalying near the well suspected that he may have falled in it.

She added that the passersby heard a cry from below the hole and upon realizing that a boy had fallen into it a man identified as Mutale volunteered to go down the well and rescue the boy.

Mutale who was immediately tied to a rope went down the well and successfully saved the boy’s life.

And Bright’s mother, Angela Kanjebe, thanked Mutale for saving her little boy from the death trap and advised fellow residents to always keep a close watch over their children, especially toddlers.

Ms Kanjebe also advised parents and guardians to ensure that all wells, whether disused or active, were tightly closed to avoid a similar incident.

Senior Chief Kanongesha of the Lunda people in Mwinilunga district in North Western province says he is ready to support the candidature of the First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa if she is adopted as a presidential candidate.

Speaking to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in an interview today Senior Chief Kanongesha said the First Lady has all the qualities to lead the nation.

“I am ready to support the First Lady if she is going to be floated as the presidential candidate because of the qualities she possess,” Chief Kanongesha said.

The traditional ruler noted that the First Lady had proved to the nation that she was capable of leading the nation from the manner she has handled local and international matters.

“She has proved to the nation that she is a capable leader to lead this nation from the manner she has handled International matters pertaining to the welfare of the Zambian people,” he said.

Senior Chief Kanongesha said Mrs Mwanawasa has always put the nation first each time she travels abroad by ensuring that investment is attracted into the country.

“Truly she needs to be given a chance to lead this nation from the qualities and personality that she has displayed,” Senior Chief Kanongesha said.

The traditional leader told ZANIS that Mrs Mwanawasa was not just a First Lady but a leader who has proved herself in the manner she has managed the Maureen Mwanawasa community Initiative.

Meanwhile, senior Chief Kanongesha has called on government to consider looking into the plight of the chief returners countrywide.

Senior Chief Kanongesha said he has made an observation on the condition of the chief returners adding that there is need to improve their welfare and condition of living.

He noted that most of the government workers have their condition of services improved while forgetting the chief returners.

Senior Chief Kanongesha suggested that an office should be created at national level which while address the plight of the chief returners countrywide.

The Zambia Police Service says it is prepared to deal with any possible demonstrations by members of the public over the continued ZESCO power outages the country has been experiencing.

Police Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso told ZANIS in an interview today that Police officers are on alert and taking all necessary measures to ensure that peace is maintained.

He appealed to members of the public to be patient and allow necessary authorities to amicably solve the problem of power failures.

Mr. Kapeso added that resorting to violence would not be in the best interest of public security saying riotous behaviour would compel police officers to react in a way that befits the situation.

And Mr. Kapeso said no arrests were made when Lusaka’s John Laing residents staged a demonstration at ZESCO headquarters this morning to register their anger over continued power failures.

The country has for the past three days been beset with prolonged blackouts raising fears of imminent demonstrations in some parts of the country.

And in Chongwe residents have expressed disappointment at the continued power outage in the district and the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) failure to rectify the problem.

A check by ZANIS in some parts of Chongwe revealed that the district has continued experiencing a power black out and frequent electricity disruptions in the past few days.

Some residents talked to accused ZESCO management of being adamant about their situation.

One of the residents and local business man Albert Simukwaya said the power disruption has resulted in loss of business saying fresh foods like milk and meat products have gone stale.

He said the district has since yesterday experienced a shortage of fresh milk compelling a number of residents to be buying powdered and long life sterilised milk.

Mr. Simukwaya said residents in Chongwe were unable to watch the on going Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations due to the power crisis that has hit the country over the past few days.

He charged that ZESCO should stop giving what he described as cheap and lame explanations but instead quickly rectify the fault.

Mr Simukwaya has since appealed to Government to quickly intervene in the matter before huge business losses are incurred.

In Mazabuka, residents have called for the resignation of ZESCO top management for plunging the country into total darkness for two days.

The residents who stormed ZANIS offices in Mazabuka today charged that the current ZESCO management has proved to the nation that it is incapable of running the company.

Spokesperson for the group, James Zulu told ZANIS that the darkness that plunged the district last night from 19:28 to 01:00 is a threat to national security.

Mr Zulu said the situation at the district hospital and town centre clinic was threatening because operations were completely paralysed.

The residents have also called on government to seriously intervene and protect people’s lives.

In Mufulira, the standby generator at Ronald Ross General Hospital last night malfunctioned and failed to work after supply to the institution was disrupted following a Zesco power outage that lasted for hours.

Mufulira District Commissioner (DC) Dyford Muulwa has disclosed that this put the lives of 6 newly born babies at risk who were at the time of the black out in incubators.

Mr. Muulwa told ZANIS in an interview at his office today that technicians at the hospital worked through the night until they managed to repair the generator.

He said fortunately enough, no lives were lost at the institution despite the hospital not having power.

Electricity to the border area was only restored this morning at around 03:00am.

In Luanshya residents are up in arms against Zambia Electricity Supply Cooperation (ZESCO) over power outages with some residents calling for the resignation of ZESCO managing director Rhodine Sisala.

In a random survey conducted by ZANIS in most of townships in Luanshya, residents expressed sadness with the current situation were electricity supply goes for over 12 hours without any warning.
A resident of roan township, James N’gwandwe said the power outages were too much adding that people have not experienced this before.

N’gwandwe said ZESCO management should be taken to task for alleged incompetence because the situation is getting out of hand.
Joseph Ponde of Mikomfwa complained that the power outage in the area went around 15:00hours and was only restored this morning after 03 00hours.

He said this resulted in missing the MTN Africa cup of nations that started on Sunday in Ghana.
He said this is also becoming a security risk as theives take advantage of the darkness to break in other people’s homes.
And a Kamirenda township resident, Tobias Mwanza said most of the electrical appliances were at risk with the continuous power outages.

Mwanza appealed to ZESCO management to find a lasting solution to the problem immediately.
Luanshya was also affected on Sunday and yesterday’s black outs when most parts of the country plunged into darkness.