Government has assured Zambians that the proposed constitutional conference will perform similar functions as a constituent assembly, such as the adoption of the new constitution.

Minister of Justice George Kunda also said the drafting of the Constitutional Conference Bill had reached an advanced stage and that he would in the next few days subject it to consultations with stakeholders.

He was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Kunda said the constitutional conference was in line with recommendations by the Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission on page 788 of its report, which stated that the body to be created to adopt the new constitution should have no legislative powers.

He also said the CRC report on page 799 further stated that; “An overwhelming number of petitioners submitted that the Constitution should be adopted by a Constituent Assembly, a Constitutional Conference or any popular body that would represent the views of the people”.

Mr Kunda said Government was confident that the Bill being prepared was in line with the resolution reached at the recent summit of presidents of political parties, as well as submissions made by petitioners to the Mung’omba CRC.

“People have been demanding for the Constitution to be adopted by a wider representation.

What Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID) has done is to come up with a neutral term.

“President Mwanawasa also suggested a national indaba and others like Oasis Forum also suggested a Constituent Assembly or a national conference.

This is why we are now providing legislation for this body, and this is what they have been asking for.

We can call it anything.

Why can’t we call it Insaka, it is more Zambian,” he said.

Mr Kunda appealed to Zambians not to waste time arguing over straightforward issues.

He said Government would follow the road map agreed through the ZCID.

Mr Kunda also said when the drafting of the Constitutional Conference Bill was completed, he would start consulting stakeholders who include the ZCID and other interested civil society organisations.

“Thereafter, I will present the Bill before Cabinet for final approval.

Once Cabinet approval is obtained, I intend to present the Bill in the next sitting of Parliament,” he said.

The objective of the Constitutional Conference Bill is to provide for its establishment, define its powers, structures, procedures, functions, and composition and provide for the allocation of financial resources.

The Constitutional Conference would undertake the process of examining, analysing, debating and adopting by consensus contents of the proposed Constitution.

Mr Kunda said agreed constitutional provisions in the Conference would thereafter be presented to Parliament for enactment while those provisions which required a referendum like the Bill of Rights in Part three would await the process.

“The first step is enacting a Constitutional Conference Bill.

Those who want to concentrate on bickering and arguments just want to delay the process.

Certain people in Zambia want to engage in arguments and create tension because they think they should have that sort of agenda, but we want peace and we want to move the Constitution making process forward.

“Some of the people have no agenda now because there is peace. Some people just want confrontation,” he said.

President Mwanawasa says the West should stop treating African nations as infants who cannot make decisions on their own.

Mr. Mwanawasa said African governments and Zambia in particular are capable of making decisions that are good for their people.

The President also condemned the decision by some opposition parties to champion the cause for Western countries against Chinese investment in Zambia.

He said Europe and the United States import from China and have trade relation with it.

Mr. Mwanawasa said some European countries like the United Kingdom even exceeded their import quotas from China last year.

The President wondered why Chinese investment in Africa was of so much concern to Western Countries.

He was speaking on arrival at Ndola international Airport ahead of his tour of NCF Mine projects in Chambishi.

Deutsche Welle, DW,  a German National Broadcaster has called on  radio stations in Zambia to produce quality audio sound and contents to the audience.

DW Project Manager, Uwe Rob observed that in the current revolution of digital
technology, most radio stations have lagged behind in giving clients quality
broadcasting adding that the focus is mainly on handling the equipment at the
expense of producing quality sound.

Mr Rob emphasised the need to improve digital equipment to ensure that quality sound
is produced.

He said this in Lusaka today at the closure of a two-week audio recording and
editing course for journalsists from 12 radio stations across the country.

Speaking at the same function, ZAMCOM Director, Daniel Nkalamo, commended DW for
hosting the workshop at the institution adding that it is first of its kind.

Mr Nkalamo was hopeful that the participants have adopted the required knowledge and
skills that will help them produce quality radio broadcasting.

Speaking Earlier, German Ambassador to Zambia, Irene Hinrichsen, noted  that
continous training for journalists and media technical personnel is key to quality
broadcasting.

President Levy Mwanawasa has advised opposition political parties not to join people who were criticising  Chinese investment in Zambia
without merit.

ZANIS reports that President Mwanawasa said this today at Ndola International
Airport when he addressed heads of Government departments and party leaders before
going to Chambishi by road.

The President said he was reading a report which stated that some people in
Chambishi were planning to stage a demonstration to stop  Chinese investors from
using a piece of land for a smelter plant.

President Mwanawasa said the people concerned should remember that the Chinese
people had options to go to any other country  and invest there because they did
not owe Zambians anything.

He commended the Chinese investment in the country and said the investment was
creating jobs for the locals and should be appreciated.

The President also advised those who wanted to preserve the piece of land where
China wanted to put up a smelter to go to the village where there was plenty of
land for growing maize and groundnuts.

He said Government will not allow people to frustrate its efforts when investors
were ready to create jobs for the locals.

President Levy Mwanawasa has hailed Chinese investment in Zambia and called on Zambians to appreciate what China was doing in the country.

Mr Mwanawasa said the Chinese have set a good example in their country and they believed in workable investments which cannot be compared to countries that were speaking against China.

President Mwanawasa was speaking this morning at Ndola International Airport enroute
to Chambeshi Mine in Kalulushi by road.

ZANIS reports that the President said the Chinese investment was compared to non
except Japan and that no one should demean China.

He said he wished Zambia could come to a level of even one of what Chinese achieved
in economic development.

The President said he wondered why the western countries were making an issue of
China’s development and wanting to treat African countries like adulterers to
receive instructions from them.

He said governments of Africa were mature enough to choose what was good to its people.

He said United Kingdom was a good example that imported a lot from China in the past
quarter last year.

Vice President Rupiah Banda today led hundreds of mourners in paying their last respects to the late Lusaka Division Police Commanding Officer,Wasakaza Ng’uni.

Speaking during the church service of the late Ng’uni at St.  Paul’s United Church
of Zambia in Lusaka, Mr. Banda said it was unfortunate that some suspected criminals
were allegedly celebrating Mr. Ng’uni’s death.

He said the deceased was a patriotic serviceman, whose death should sadden every
peace loving Zambian.

And Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, has warned criminals against taking
advantage of Mr. Ng’uni’s death, saying the Police Service was still remain intact
and alert.

And in a sermon, Reverand Mpanji Silungwe said that Zambia needed selfless leaders
of the calibre of the late Ng’uni.

Among the hundreds of people that attended the church service were former republican
Vice Presidents Lupando Mwape and Nevers Mumba, former Inspectors General of Police
Zunga Siakalima and Silas Ngangula.

Several Cabinet ministers, Government and Defence officials, MMD and opposition
political party officials were also present.

Mr. Ng’uni, 57, died on Tuesday in a road traffic accident in Lusaka’s Kabangwe area
on Great North Road.

Meanwhile, the late Mr. Ng’uni’s body has been flown to Lundazi district in Eastern
Province in readiness for burial in Chama district tomorrow.

The Police brass band sang solemn music at the airport.

The Vice President, Senior Defence force Officers and scores of sympathisers
proceeded to City Airport where the body was flown by a Zambia Air Force (ZAF)
plane.

Government has with immediate effect dissolved the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) and the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Board for ineficiency and lack of focus.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga has since advised ERB Executive Director Sylvester Hibajane and ZESCO Managing Director Rodney Sisala to report to
the Energy Permanent Secretary for further guidance.

Mr Konga disclosed the dissolution of the two Boards at a press briefing in Lusaka
today.

Mr Konga said Government will soon appoint new Boards  using power vested in him to
do so.

The Minister who condemned poor Governance by the two Boards observed that owing to
the looming power deficit and fuel shortages in the country,  the National
Developnment Economic indicators shows that Zambia would be affected.

And Mr. Konga has disclosed that Government is pondering on finding another
strategic partner to work with Indeni Petroluem Refinery in Ndola on the Copperbelt
on addressing the fuel situation in the country.

He said at the moment Indeni has four million litres of diesel, 30 days stocks of
Petrol, 26 days jet fuel and 30 days stocks of Kerosine.

The Energy Minister also disclosed that Government through the Office of
Proportional Private Power Investment, OPPI, is working closely to generate and
export surplus power to other countries in the region.

The Minister explained that under the OPPI, Government is investing power at Kafue
lower, Kabompo falls, Itezhi-tezhi to generate sufficient hydro electricity for
Zambia as well as trade with SADC countries in the energy sector.