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Maamba Hospital Confusion continues

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By Tovin Ngombe
The Provincial Health Director for Southern province has failed to contain confusions that has rocked Maamba Hospital for two months says Sinazongwe Movement for Mult-party Democracy Constituency (MMD)Chairperson.

Simon Chali said Maamba Hospital Administrator Cosmas Michelo, the alleged creator of the confusion was sent on 21 days forced leave for his frustrating health workers and threatening the life of Sinazongwe health Director, Dr Kebby Musokotwane.

Chali said Michelo who also beat up a guard on duty before he went on forced leave grabbed, Philip Botha the acting Hospital Administrator in the shirts to force him out of the office when bounced back at the hospital on Friday.

The Constituency Chairperson narrated that when Mr Michelo reported for work on Monday he has been standing outside the Maamba Hospital Administration offices for three days and yesterday he entered into his former office force Mr. Botha out of it

He said the Provincial Health Director Dr Alisheke who spent the whole day at Maamba hospital from 09:00 hours to 19:00 hours last Month failed to find a lasting solution.

“ The province should sort out this mess before the community react to it, Michelo beat the security guard, now he want to beat the Acting Hospital Administrator, we can’t have an individual brewing anarchy at the hospital ,” Chali said.

He said such conduct should not be tolerated and if the provincial health team thinks he was the best manager they should transfer him else where as community do not need his services anymore.
Chali noted that such people where undermining government efforts of improving health delivery to the people.
“We can not have one man fighting everybody at the hospital,” Chali noted.

However, at the time Dr Alisheke held a meeting with Mr. Michelo and Dr Kebby Musokotwane for the whole day he refused to talk to ZANIS about the decision he had made in the meeting and referred all queries to Ministry of health Spokesperson.

“I can not tell you the outcome of our meeting, if you want information talk to our Spokesperson, I can not disclose anything to you,” Dr Alisheke said while holding his hand in the pocket and looked irritated by the presence of the reporter.

Chali noted that after 21 days the health provincial office should have notified Dr Musokotwane on what to do when Michelo reported back but they decided to keep quiet when the issue was sensitive to many health workers.

Grandstand

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Zambia Under 20 are out, but three players for me made the mark in Canada that culminated in that 2-1 defeat against The Flying Eagles Nigeria in their last 16 match played on Thursday in Ottawa.

Nigeria played with some pragmatic passion, power and sheer technique that I yearn to see but is void in all four classes of Chipolopolo.

Against Nigeria, Zambia were out-passed, out-ball-controlled, out-possessed, out-gunned and out-run. To put it mildly, we were outclassed.

And if it wasn’t for Clifford Mulenga I swear we would have literally been run-off the park by Nigeria.

No one should kid themselves; yes we made it to the last 16 but only three Zambian players in Canada came close to making the class of 2010.

I have never been a great fan of one Clifford Mulenga and his manager would testify to that fact after “rubbing him the wrong way” on a number of occasions with some poor ratings on the youngman I’ve made in previous postings of the player over the years.

We certainly will be seeing more of the Pretoria University FC striker for the next decade and hopefully after Canada this will be Mulenga’s big break after botched deals in Sweden, Belgium and France.

Edusport and Ex-National Assembly Striker Rogers Kola too gets my nod for his great industry and his two goals at the tournament put some gloss on his CV.

I have been a great admirer of the giant striker since I first saw him in action last season for Assembly.

Kola has great potential but needs to work harder on his anticipation of the ball on the last mile and I give him a C-minus for his aerial ability.

His heading is still as awful as it was in the league last season.

Third and final on my list is the Kabwe Warriors prodigy Emmanuel Mayuka.

Mayuka was a late inclusion in the team after making an impressive league debut with the railwaymen this season with an impressive personal haul of 8 competitive goals to date this season.

Mayuka acquainted himself well in Canada after being with the team for less than four months.

He might just make the Euro-grade on the agent’s books this summer and looks like he has a great future ahead should he not follow the route of well documented fairytales-turned-into-nightmares.

Many of our players didn’t realize the significance of Thursday’s game.

Any African team playing The Flying Eagles Nigeria on a roll at this level must realize that this is a big benchmark.

Kola, Mulenga and Mayuka proved they punched above their weight against The Flying Eagles.

If you can’t rock or score against bunch of coveted talents like the 2005 Fifa Under 20 World Cup runners-up are then you have no chance.

Uruguay, Spain games do count too but the hungry vultures are always on the lookout  for the next big thing out of Africa and Nigeria are always top billing.

Meanwhile, the quality exists in Zambia but our local coaches are very prejudicial in their criteria to select players on their technical merit.

Power, speed and size laced with good ball technique are all key attributes of the modern game but our coaches prefer journeymen midgets with flair and almost aimless pace.

The team meanwhile returns home this Sunday, July 15 and land at Lusaka International Airport at 10:00 hrs local time.

Levy meets Catholic bishops

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PRESIDENT Mwanawasa was last night expected to meet Catholic bishops to discuss various issues with the controversy surrounding the Constitution-making process topping the agenda.
Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson, Paul Samasumo, and State House special assistant for Press and public relations, John Musukuma, confirmed separately yesterday.
Father Samasumo said many issues were tabled for discussion during the meeting but the Constitution was top of the agenda.
He said there was nothing strange about them paying a courtesy call or meeting the President to discuss issues concerning the nation, especially that this was not the first time they were meeting him.
Mr Musukuma said the meeting was set for State House and was closed to the media but promised that a joint statement would be issued later.
Last month, Mr Mwanawasa appealed to Zambians to trust the proposed Constitution Conference, saying citizens should remain engaged in the Constitution-making process.
Meanwhile, Mr Mwanawasa arrives in Solwezi today for a two-day tour of the North-Western Province that will see him commission Zengamina mini hydro power station in Mwinilunga.
According to the programme released by North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkolola Hazemba, the President is expected at Solwezi airport around 09:15 hours.
After briefings at the presidential guesthouse, the President will depart around 10:00 hours for Lumwana where he will meet three local chiefs before being briefed by Lumwana Mining Company management.
In the afternoon, he will tour the mine, which on completion next year would become Africa’s largest single copper mine.
After a three-hour tour, he will leave for Solwezi where he will spend a night. Tomorrow, the President will depart Solwezi for Kaleni in Mwinilunga at about 09:00 hours.

 He will commission the Zengamina mini hydro power station at around 10:30 hours and later meet local chiefs.
After lunch, the President will fly back to Solwezi before connecting to Lusaka.

Till children do us part ?

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Children are surely a blessing from God but rarely do people think about how their relationship may change after the birth of a baby.
Researchers have identified the transition to parenthood as one of the most challenging milestones in a relationship. The birth of a child can bring couples together or push them apart.
Some couples in distress believe that having a baby may bring them closer and help them resolve differences. That is a big mistake – and mainly because the relationship may not be able to withstand the stress that comes with a new baby. Although couples who start off on shaky ground are more at risk for drifting apart after the birth of a child, couples who start off in a secure relationship, may also falter under the tremendous stress of parenthood. Becoming parents as well as partners will make a difference to your relationship. Couples who adjust to parenthood find their relationship is enriched and a great source of strength and support for the demands of parenthood.

Ideally a couple should develop effective communication patterns before they decide to parent. Discuss what traditions and values are important for you and your baby. Define your roles in the house. Who is going to help the kids with homework? Is dad going to help bathe the kids or put the kids to bed for instance.

If your relationship is on the rocks try these tips:

1. Write down a list of all the reasons you chose your partner.

2. Tell your partner why you appreciate him or her.

3. Don’t watch TV on selected evenings and turn off the computer.

4. Ask your partner for help and be specific.

5. Each write down a list of little practical things that would make you feel loved.

6. Hold hands while you resolve a conflict.!

    Measles campaign on course in Chingola

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    Chingola district director of health Dr. Solomon Musonda has said the measles campaign is progressing well in the district.

    Speaking to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in his office, Dr, Musonda
    said at Chawama clinic alone, more than 900 children were vaccinated on the first
    day of the exercise.

    Dr Musonda said he expected the number to continue rising district-wide.

    He said a total of 40,000 children are expected to be vaccinated in Chingola by the
    end of the exercise this weekend.

    Dr Musonda said they decided to start with the hard to reach areas of the district
    like Mutenda Swamp, Chansobe, Kambenja, Kamiteta, Kandumba and Mwambashi.

    Market construction in Chelston progresses

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    Construction of a modern market in Lusaka’s Chelston residential area has reached an advanced stage.

    An  on the spot check at the site by ZANIS found Met-Weld construction company
    workers putting up final touches on some parts of the structures.
     
    Government in partnership with the European Union funded the project which according to sources is expected to be complete by next year.

    Some traders talked to in a random interview expressed delight at the rate the
    market is being constructed and commended Government and its partners for the
    gesture.

    However, the traders have also expressed concern at the poor road network and
    sanitary conditions at the market.

    Mrs. Matilda Njapeni, a trader at Chelston market asked Government to consider
    funding the tarring of the road linking the market to palm drive and the Great East
    Roads.

    She also expressed concern at the congestion, taxi drivers cause adding that the
    illegal taxi rank at the trading area deters potential customers as they are left
    with no parking space.

    Another trader, Pastor Peter Chanda urged the Lusaka City Council to be consistent
    with garbage collection as this would be in line with the “Keep Zambia Clean Campaign”.

    He bemoaned the sudden increase of uncollected garbage in the market area and the
    recent trend of selling meat products in the open place which some residents
    described as salaula meat.

    In a separate interviews, Christine Chisenga and Mrs Chirwa both traders at the
    market commended Government putting up a modern market in the area but reiterated the call to have a garbage free environment.

    Zambia Motor Sports Association raises K 55 million for 2007 International Motor rally.

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    The Zambia  motor Sport  Association (ZMSA) says it has so far raised K 55 million for this year’s International Motor rally. Briefing the press in Lusaka , ZMSA President Derek Conroy said the international motor rally would also include the Zim -Zam championship billed for 17th to 19th August 2007.

    Conroy said a total of  K 55 million has been provided towards the event this year to facililtate for the on the scrutineering of the kafue road which was presented to the club .

     He said a motor company, Auto World was among the major sponsorers of the tournament while others like Total Zambia , Madison Insurance, Holiday Inn  and othercooperating partners have confirmed their willingness to sponsor the event.

     The ZMSA President said scrutineey of participants would take place mid next month at Holiday Inn  followed  by a  Super special stage at Lusaka Motor sport club.

    Speaking ealier,  Auto World  Chairman Noble Findlay said this year’s rally will have the best facilities  ever held in Zambia Findlay said his company has advanced construction of another new Fitment centre  at Downtown Shopping mall on kafue road before the event.

    He said his company would contiune  sponsoring motorsport.

    PF’s behaviour over Constitution process irks UPND

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    The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has expressed disappointment at what it termed as a confrontational and antagonistic behaviour by the Patriotic Front over the constitutional making process.

    UPND Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Charles Kakoma said today that his
    party was not happy with the PF vice president, Guy Scott’s remarks on the UPND’s
    stance over the Constitution Conference.

    In yesterday’s post newspaper, Dr. Scott is said to have insinuated that the UPND
    has committed itself to the issue of the Consitution Conference without comprehensively studying it.

    Mr. Kakoma said in a statement to ZANIS that the UPND was not supporting the
    Constitutional Conference blindly.

    “While we do not want to engage in unnecessary confrontations with the PF, we find
    the outbursts attributed to the PF vice president, Guy Scott in the Post Newspaper
    of July 11, 2007 on UPND and the constitution rather unfortunate. To suggest that
    the UPND is blindly supporting the Constitutional Conference is wide off the mark,”
    he said.

    He alleged that the PF now wanted to be seen as one which was championing the
    Constitution making process when it had condemned the UPND for demonstrating
    demanding that the Constitution be enacted before 2006.

    He said his party did not see any difference between the Constituent Assembly and
    the Constitution Conference, adding that what was of interest to UPND was not the
    semantics but the process, inclusiveness, objectives and the contents of the bill
    itself.

    Mr. Kakoma pointed out that the presentation of the Constitution Conference Bill to
    Parliament would help speed up the Constitution making process because Parliament
    would then have the given powers to the body adopt the Constitution. 

    “It is therefore sad that PF have engaged in some unnecessary confrontation. For us
    as a party, we shall ensure that Zambians have a constitution that will stand the
    test of time, a Constitution that will be adopted through a popular mode,” he
    explained.

    Mpulungu pastor arrested for defiling his stepdaughter

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    A 52 year old Mpulungu pastor has been arrested by police for allegedly defiling his 12 year old step-daughter.

    Police confirmed today that Joseph Sinyangwe of Musende village who is a pastor with
    one of the local churches in Mpulungu, was arrested recently after committing the
    alleged offence.

    Police said Sinyangwe who was left alone at home with his step-daughter took
    advantage of the absence of her mother and dragged the girl in his house and forced
    himself on her.

    Police said a medical report showed  that the 12-year-old girl  was defiled.

    She is currently undergoing medication.

    ZDH blood sample collectors expelled from Sinazongwe

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    By Tovin Ngombe:-

    A team of Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDH) that was collecting blood samples, testing for HIV/AIDS and Sexual Transmitted disease have been ejected from the area they were to carry out the exercise in Sinazongwe district.

    Sinazongwe District Health Director Dr Kebby Musokotwane confirmed the development.
    Dr Musokotwane said two of the ZDH blood collectors were manhandled and the community refused to donate their blood.

    But before the exercise begun Sinazongwe district health workers and ZANIS conducted a series of meetings with the village headmen, the Church, Non-governmental organization and the Councilor for Siamukululu area.

    The response from the community was overwhelming and accepted the exercise to be carried out in their area.

    Dr Musokotwane said misunderstanding could have arisen from the ZDH team’s failure to move to the area on time after the sensitisation campaign was done.

    The ZDH team decided to come three months after the sensitisation campaign was done and when people had forgotten about the exercise.

    The team also went straight into the area to conduct the exercise and refused to go with any of the Sinazongwe health workers who know the people they were to collect blood from and to test them for HIV/AIDS.

    However, many people had predicated failure for the exercise because only K2.5 million was allocated for entire exercise in each district.

    For Sinazongwe district the survey was actually in Choma area though the people in Siamukululu area access their health service in Sinazongwe district.

    Staff shortages mar Sinazongwe district measles campaign
    By Tovin Ngombe
    The Measles campaign in Sinazongwe district has faced a serious shortage of trained personnel as some health posts that have been mounted were being manned by unqualified personnel proving doom to the success of the exercise.

    The unqualified personnel were only trained in giving out Vitamina A supplementation and de-worming tablets.
    A Check by ZANIS at Nangombe health post found that there were only four community workers were manning it when the initial plan was to have two trained health workers at each health post.
    The community health volunteer Enerst Siakajika told ZANIS that a trained nurse would visit the centre on Friday to immunize the children.

    At Munyati health post in Chief Sinazongwe area there was no trained nurse and the community workers had worked for two days without getting their lunch allowances.

    Amos Malenga complained of being dumped in the area without any food while they were only administering Vitamin A and de-worming tablets.

    Women who had traveled long distances with their children on the back were waiting for the nurse who had promised to pass through the centre to immunize their children in the late afternoon.

    The community health workers at Munyati and several health posts were running out of the Vitamin A supplementation and the de-worming tablets and the cards to give mothers whose children were immunized were also running out.

    In Makonkonto area most women talked to said they did know about the measles campaign.
    A check at Sialwela clinic had only two people manning the station, Mupepula Mutanga who is an Environmental Health Technologist said some health post had not been opened because of the staff shortage and they had no transport to go round the community.

    At Siansowa rural health Clinic there was only one trained health personnel attending to women who had lined up in long queues to have their children immunized.

    On Monday when the exercise begun, there was no health post at Namafulu middle basic School which shares boundaries with Zimbabwe.

    The teacher found at the School Ms Moono palata said some health officials promised to mount it on Tuesday.
    Sinazongwe Health Director Dr Kebby Musokotwane confirmed that there has been a serious shortage of health personnel to cater for the entire district.

    Dr Musokotwane has said the sitautiuon has led to shifting of staff from one health post to another and closing some health posts.
    He said there was short supply of Vitamin A supplementation adding that orders were made from Choma district to contain the situation.

    Zesco United resigned to losing Kalaba

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    ZESCO United say they have ample cover in midfield should influential
    playmaker Rainford Kalaba clinch prospective move to French Ligue two
    team Chateauroux where he is on trials.

    “We have enough players to replace Rainford (Kabala) in that position
    at the club,” Zesco club secretary Justin Mumba said.

    Mumba said Zesco could turn to Donwell Yobe, Allan Kombe or Crispin
    Mwaba to take over should Kalaba clinch a contract with Chateauroux.

    Kalaba has been influential in league leaders Zesco’s push at the top
    of the KCM/FAZ Super League table this year scoring 11 competitive
    goals for the club out of his total of 14 this season.

    Mumba also praised Kalaba’ contribution to Zesco’s progress so far
    this season adding that the club could not stand in a players way of
    securing a contract abroad.

    “Rainford has helped the club a lot and as a club we looking forward
    he makes it with his trials in Europe,” Mumba said.

    “When a young player like Rainford reaches his peak, it the right time
    for him to go to Europe.”

    Kalaba has been on loan to Zesco since July, 2006 after joining the
    Ndola team from division one north club Afrisports.

    The midfielder had prior to joining Zesco spent six-months with French
    Ligue one club Nice.

    Kalaba on Wednesday played his first training game for Chateauroux in
    a match the French Ligue 2 team beat 3rd division club Sannois St
    Gratien 3-0.

    His ex-Afrisports team mate Jacob Mulenga who has been at the club for
    the last 3 seasons and the Zambia national team striker scored a brace
    in that match.

    Meanwhile, Kalaba is also expected to feature in Saturdays friendly
    against Ligue 1 club Auxerre.

    With that development, Kalaba could now certainly to miss the Zambia
    Under 23 teams remaining Group B matches at the All Africa Games
    against Egypt tomorrow Friday and Algeria on Monday.

    All Africa Games Football Tournament Fixtures and Results.

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    ALGERIA 2007 ALL AFRICA GAMES FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT.

    Group A:

    Cameroon-Tunisia

    Ghana-South Africa

    Group B:

    Zambia -Egypt

    Guinea -Algeria

    RESULTS

    Group A

    10/07/2007

    Boumerdes.

    Ghana 0 – Cameroon 1(Christian Bekamenga 65″).

    Ghana: Ernest Sowah, Sampson Cudjoe(Michael Akuffo), Daniel Addo, Maxwell Mensah, Bawa Mumuni, Stephen Ofei, Emmanuel Allen, Kojo Asamoah, James Boadu(Francis Bossman), Obed Ansah, Prince Tagoe

    Rouiba.

    South Africa 1 (George Maluleke)- Tunis 2 (Youssef Mouihbi et Hamza Younes).

    Group B

    10/072007

    Kolea

    Guinea 1(Ak Bangoura 59″)- Zambia 1 (Given Singuluma 75″)

    Blida

    Algeria 2( Hadj Bougueche 66″,Sofiane Younes 82″) – Egypt 1 (Amr Halawani 69″)

    Levy counsels Sata

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    Presidient  Mwanawasa has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) to make meaningful contributions to Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) discussions on the Constitution review process and not cause confusion.
    Mr Mwanawasa said that while he welcomed the return of PF to ZCID, he hoped the party would not cause confusion but instead make progressive contributions.
    “We welcome them to make meaningful contributions, but if it is just to bring confusion, I will suggest they go back to the Oasis Forum,” he said.
    Mr Mwanawasa said at Livingstone Airport yesterday that he was happy political parties had agreed on empowering the Constitutional Conference to adopt the Constitution.
    He urged people to pray to God to give wisdom to the stakeholders for them to do the right thing.
    Mr Mwanawasa said the PF had earlier denounced the Netherlands Movement for Inter-Party Dialogue, but later embraced it to get computers from the institute, which he said demonstrated that the party was just interested in getting benefits from the institute.
    On Mr Sata, the President said “after the summit of presidents, we took a group photo. On that picture their leader (Sata) was pictured sitting next to me like God with his son, but he denounced what he had agreed to in the meeting.”
    On the Civil Society, Mr Mwanawasa said he preferred political parties to discuss the Constitutional review process as opposed to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) because their mission was poverty reduction.
    The President said NGOs’ involvement in political matters was tantamount to a breach of the law because their objectives did not include politics, and advised them to leave the issues to political parties.
    “NGO means non-governmental organisation, so why should they be involved in Government issues? They are formed to serve the poor people, not politics. It is a breach of the law for them to do so because their objectives don not include politics,” he said.
    The President had met many NGOs who accepted his proposals during meetings but thereafter branded him a trickstar and manipulator.
    Mr Mwanawasa said some NGOs were masquerading as civic organisations when they were in fact competing to become pseudo political parties.
    Mr Mwanawasa was reacting to Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Gabriel Namulambe’s threats that his ministry would deal with NGOs that were donor-aided to champion the cause of youths but were abusing the children.
    Mr Mwanawasa said that most of the NGOs were established for good purposes, but unfortunately they were now competing to become pseudo political parties.
    “If they can’t perform their duties as NGOs, then we welcome them on the political arena as political parties but those who are set to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people should do exactly that,” Mr Mwanawasa said.
    Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa yesterday paid tribute to Livingstone member of Parliament (MP), Sakwiba Sikota, for being among scores of people that welcomed him at the airport.
    The President said he had reconciled with Mr Sikota and was grateful that the MP was supporting his proposals over the Constitution review process.
    He said the important thing was to improve people’s living conditions, and added that ignoring Mr Sikota would not be fair to the people of Livingstone who elected him as their representative.
    Southern Province Minister, Joseph Mulyata said the party was reconciling and recruiting new members and all Government programmes were on course.
    He said the damaged Maamba road was being repaired and that Livingstone road repairs would start next week.
    The minister said dams and other infrastructure were also being repaired and restocked with fish.
    “As you know your Excellency, Tongas and fish, it’s a big problem. We are trying to teach them that even fish is good food for them,’’ Mr Mulyata said as he joked with his traditional cousins.
    Acting Southern Province MMD chairman, Solomon Muzyamba said the party was intact and supported the Government’s stance to empower the Constitutional Conference to adopt the new Constitution, and urged those who wanted to cause chaos to stop.
    Mr Mwanawasa, accompanied by Tourism Minister, Kabinga Pande, is in Livingstone to break the ground for the construction of the SOS Village on the entrance to Livingstone.

    ZESCO rations power to keep the mines going

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    ZESCO said on Wednesday it had begun rationing electricity to cope with a shortage prompted by rising demand from the mining sector, the economic lifeblood of Zambia.

    The state owned utility said it had started rationing electricity to domestic and other commercial users to ensure adequate power supply to the mining sector, which includes copper and cobalt operations.

    “We have a deficit of (up to) 250 megawatts and this has caused the current load-shedding (rationing) due to rising demand of power from the copper mines,” Christopher Nthala, Zesco’s director for generation and transmission, told a news conference.

    Spurred by the opening of new copper mines and upgrading of others, demand for power in the sector reached 600 megawatts in 2006, about double what it had been in previous years. “The power demand is driven by the increase in copper production which is due to higher (global metals) prices,” Nthala added.

    The problem has worsened during the winter months, when demand traditionally peaks. Most residential areas in Lusaka and other major cities have been experiencing daily power cuts that last between three and five hours.

    Obsolete equipment and a lack of new investment in power generation since Zambia’s independence from Britain in 1964 are among the factors hampering Zesco’s efforts to meet its full power capacity of 1,670 mw, according to officials.

    It has been meeting the shortfall by importing power from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo as well as South Africa, but the DRC has stopped its exports to Zambia after vandals destroyed transmission lines.

    Zambia has agreed with India’s Tata Group to accelerate construction of the 120 mw Intezhi-Tezhi power station at a cost of $150 million to help it generate more, said Musonda Chibulu, Zesco’s director of power rehabilitation and generation projects.

    Extensions to the Kariba North Bank power station also are being fast-tracked to increase capacity in partnership with China’s Sinohydro at a cost of $320 million, with 85 percent of the funds to be provided by China’s Exim Bank, Chibulu added.

    “Another new project is the Kafue Gorge Lower, which will have a capacity of 750 megawatts and will cost $750 million. We are now sourcing capital for the projects to accelerate its implementation,” Chibulu said.

    The World Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Development Bank of South Africa and the Norwegian funding arm Norad have agreed to provide $210 million in funding to help with the upgrades, he added.

    Zambia, however, is not alone in facing a worsening energy crunch. Industry experts have projected a major power deficit across southern Africa starting in 2008 due to rising industrial development and lack of fresh investments in power generation

    Parley debates temporarily halted due technical fault

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    Business was temporarily suspended in parliament today because of a technical fault in the public address system in the chamber.

    Speaker of the National Assembly, Amusaa Mwanamwambwa suspended business at 15:15 hours, saying he had been informed that the proceedings in the House were not being recorded and were not been transmitted by parliament radio.

    Mr. Mwanamwambwa said it was a requirement that what was discussed in the House was recorded and transmitted live on parliament radio.

    He said the hired public address system parliament was currently using was not
    working well, adding that he would inform the House on how far the National Assembly
    had gone in acquiring its own equipment.

    Business only resumed at 16:07 hours after the problem was rectified. 

    During the questions for oral answers session, Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy
    Minister, Albert Mulonga informed the House that the Zambia Colleges of Agriculture
    (ZCA) in Monze and Mpika would in September this year start offering diploma
    courses.

    Previously, the two colleges have only been offering qualifications at certificate
    level.

    Mr. Mulonga was responding to Chadiza Member of Parliament (MMD), Allan Mbewe, who wanted to know when government would turn the Natural Resources Development College (NRDC) into a university and when the two ZCA colleges would start offering diploma courses.

    Mr. Mulonga said government had no immediate plans to upgrade NRDC into a university because of insufficient infrastructure at the institution.

    He however said the college was offering diploma courses that were underwritten by
    the University of Zambia (UNZA).

    On the issue of encroachment into the NRDC land, the deputy minister said government
    would repossess the land from encroachers after they procedures have been finalised.

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