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China offers Zambia tariff-free market

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Lusaka – China had offered Zambia tariff-free market access for its products and would allow its citizens to borrow investment capital from the Bank of China, finance minister Ng’andu Magande said yesterday.

Chinese firms had started feasibility studies on how $800 million (R6 billion) in investments pledged by Beijing would be spent, he added.

President Levy Mwanawasa announced the cash pledge on Saturday after talks with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, who was on a three-day state visit.

Magande said: “It is exciting that China has opened up its market to 452 Zambian products from the previous 192 products, and the best thing is that Zambians can now borrow money from the Bank of China to manufacture goods required to export to that market.”

Relations between China and Zambia have been cordial for decades.

China has invested to help build a major railway line and develop copper mines in the country, which has consistently supported a one-China policy.

The Bank of China has a Zambian branch, which previously provided services only to Chinese investors.

Magande said the $800 million would roll into the country of 11.5 million people over the next three years, starting this year.

He said the investments would include a $250 million copper smelter at Chambishi, which would process 150 000 tons of finished copper starting next year.

Chinese firms investing in Zambia after the creation of a special economic zone in Chambishi would be exempt from paying 25 percent import duty for equipment, while the 17.5 percent value-added tax would be deferred until they began to make a profit, he said.

State media hailed Hu’s visit as the best way to “conduct world politics”.

Magande agreed: “If everyone [in the world] was behaving like this, then there would be more development.”

Zambian Football Saturday Update

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Rainford Kalaba on Friday evening final joined the Zambia Under 23 national team as it winds up its three-week training camp in Kitwe.

The Zesco United midfielder arrived on the eve of the squads’ departure for Lusaka on Sunday ahead of Wednesdays Olympic Games qualifying match against Malawi to be played at Nkoloma stadium.

Kalaba took part in Saturday’s training after arriving in camp early on Friday evening from Ndola.

He joins the squad a day after Peter Kaumba announced his 19-man squad.

Kaumba is certain to drop at least three players to make room for two foreign based players who are expected to join the team within the next 24 hours.

The two players expected are striker Given Singuluma and defender Davies Nkausu of South African division 2 league club’s Bay United and University of Pretoria FC respectively.

Meanwhile Afrisports and Zambia schools international utility player Stophira Nsunzu has recovered from his knee injury sustained last Wednesday in a friendly against Power Dynamos.

Nsunzu took part in Saturday’s training with the rest of his team mates but Power midfielder Chanda Mwaba pulled out midway through the morning session with an ankle sprain.

The squad leaves for Lusaka early Sunday morning and is expected to play its final training match tomorrow afternoon at Nkoloma against Red Arrows.

PF barred from attending Hu ceremonies

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The Government has barred the main opposition party from attending ceremonies marking the visit of Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, because of its anti-China stance.

Zambia has witnessed some of Africa’s most public expressions of unease over China’s growing power, most notably when workers at a Chinese-owned mine rioted over pay.

Vernon Mwaanga, the chief government spokesman, told reporters from state media that the Patriotic Front was the only opposition party not invited to meetings between Hu and Levy Mwanawasa, the Zambian president.

The Patriotic Front has accused the government of selling out to Beijing.

“We have invited opposition party leaders to attend public functions like the state banquet for the Chinese president,” Mwaanga said.

“But … we have not invited any leader of the Patriotic Front because they do not recognise the Chinese people.”

Bilateral ties

Hu, who arrived on Saturday, faces a delicate task in copper-rich Zambia because of widespread local feeling that China is attempting to dominate and ‘colonise’ the local economy.

Zambian officials however said Hu’s visit will spur trade and foreign investment and make Zambia a hub for China’s economic expansion on the world’s poorest continent.

Ng’andu Magande, the finance minister, said that Zambia aimed to strengthen its bilateral ties with China in order to learn from the Asian country’s success in boosting its once-moribund economy.

“The most important thing for us is that China is the fastest growing economy and we are also growing. These relations will help us to find winning ways because China was an [economic] underdog just a few years ago, but they are now performing well,” Magande said.

China did not respond to the opposition’s claims.

“I’m sure that this visit will serve to take China-Zambia relations to a higher level,” Hu said in a statement.
‘Colonise Africa’

Hu and Mwanawasa were due to hold private talks later on Saturday and will then issue a joint communique.

The government has said journalists would not be allowed to ask questions during a joint news conference by Hu and Mwanawasa on Sunday after the two leaders sign trade and economic co-operation agreements.

The Patriotic Front, which narrowly lost elections last year after running on an openly anti-China platform, criticised Hu’s visit.

Guy Scott, Patriotic Front general secretary, said: “They are out to colonise Africa economically and also to get Africa’s solidarity at the United Nations.”

Hu’s trip to Zambia dropped a planned stop in the Copperbelt region, apparently out of fears he might be targeted by protesting families of workers who died in a 2005 explosion at a Chinese-owned mine.

China Offers Zambia Investment Package

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lpm_hu_zam.jpgChinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday offered Zambia a multimillion dollar investment package aimed at boosting ties. Facing mounting accusations of Chinese exploitation of African labor and resources _ an issue during last year’s Zambian presidential elections Hu Jintao stressed that Beijing was motivated by partnership rather than purely profit.

“China is happy to have Zambia as a good friend, good partner and a good brother,” Hu Jintao said at a joint news conference with President Levy Mwanawasa.

Speaking through an interpreter, Hu Jintao said that China’s relationship with Zambia “represents a new type of strategic partnership” in Africa.

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Criticism of China in mineral rich Zambia

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Chinese President Hu Jintao faces a delicate task this week when he visits copper-rich Zambia, where anti-Chinese sentiment is riding high amid fears Beijing is moving to colonise the local economy. Zambian officials say Hu’s visit, which begins tomorrow, will spur trade and foreign investment.


Mining Minister Kalombo Mwansa said: “It’s important because China is investing heavily in our copper mines, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.”


But Zambia has also seen some of Africa’s most public expressions of unease over China’s power, with a riot at a Chinese-owned mine over pay and the opposition party alleging a sell-out.


“They are out to colonise Africa economically and also to get Africa’s solidarity at the United Nations,” said Guy Scott, the general secretary of the opposition Patriotic Front, which narrowly lost elections last year after running on an openly anti-China platform.
“Unfortunately, we cannot stop them and they will get what they want from Africa because they offer aid without conditions.”
Hu’s trip to Zambia dropped a planned stop in the Copperbelt region, apparently out of fears he might be targeted by protesting families of workers who died in a 2005 explosion at a Chinese-owned mine.


Zambian officials say overall the country is sure to profit from its relationship with China and are positioning the country to serve as a “base” for China’s regional economic strategy.


To smooth Chinese and other foreign investment, the town of Chambishi, 420km north of the capital Lusaka, will be “declared a free economic zone” in step with Hu’s visit, Zambian officials said.


Claims that more Chinese investment will create jobs and help modernise infrastructure ring hollow for some, including the Patriotic Front (PF). While the PF failed to unseat President Levy Mwanawasa or his ruling party in last year’s polls, it won considerable support around the country, due in part to its accusations that Chinese firms underpay and mistreat their Zambian wo

Chinese media’s view on Zambia

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　CHINA, ZAMBIA WITNESS BOOMING ECONOMIC COOPERATION

By Shi Shouhe

    LUSAKA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) — Yan Dongyan, the middle-aged Chinese boss of a Zambian travel agency, could not help grinning as he received a report on the agency’s revenue in 2006.

    Located in Zambia’s most bustling business street in the capital, Dianelink deals with booking and sale of air tickets.

    As more Chinese came to Dianelink to buy flight tickets from here to China or vice versa, the company’s revenue doubled in 2006over the previous year.

    The travel agency, a parameter in measuring the personnel exchanges between China and Zambia, is the very best mirror that reflects the fast-growing economic cooperation between the two countries.     

　　MORE INVESTMENT FROM CHINA

    Since the two countries established diplomatic ties 43 years ago, about 200 Chinese companies have set up business in Zambia, ranging from mining, textile, construction, banking, agriculture to clinic and restaurant, according to statistics from Zambia Investment Center.

    Some of these companies, such as the NFC Africa Mining Company and Zambia China Mulungushi Textile Company, are large-sized and playing an important role in the country’s economy, while a large number of others with a smaller scale are also contributing to Zambia’s development.

    In recent years, Zambia’s investment from China has witnessed a significant growth. China is now Zambia’s third largest investor, after South Africa and Britain, with a total investment of over 500 million U.S. dollars by the end of 2006.

    During the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which was held in November 2006, the Chinese and Zambian governments signed an agreement on building a copper smelter worth some 200 million dollars, which will be constructed by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group.

    China’s investment in Zambia’s mining industry is of great importance to Zambia, said Kalomo Mwansa, Zambia’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Development.

    “The investment from China will bring in new technology to the sector and create more jobs for our people,” the minister told Xinhua in a recent interview.     

    TRADE BOOM

    China and Zambia have also experienced a rapid trade boom in recent years.

    Bilateral trade in the early 1990s had been only 20 million dollars, but in 2005 it reached 300 million dollars, partly thanks to China’s tax exemption on Zambia’s commodities.

    And the latest statistics indicated that bilateral trade in the first 10 months of 2006 hit 290 million dollars, an increase of 20percent compared with the same period of 2005.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao is currently on an eight-nation Africa tour, of which Zambia would be the fourth leg.

    The top-level visit, Mwansa said, would bring more Chinese investment to Zambia, boost bilateral trade, and strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries.

    “I believe that there will be more Chinese investment coming after this visit,” the minister said.

    “It’s a very significant visit to Zambia that will enhance our cooperation, bring our relations to a higher level and strengthen the already existing friendship between our two countries,” he added.

Maize Production Almost a Success Story

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maifield_inzambia.jpgZambia is poised to have a maize surplus this season but it is still unlikely that the food will reach many of the 58 percent of Zambians that are classified as extremely poor. The ministry of agriculture recently released a national food balance sheet showing that the country will have a surplus of 160,000 metric tonnes of maize during the 2006/07. In the 2005/06 season the output was 63 percent above the previous season and 54 percent above the five-year average.

Only a few years ago, such a surplus of Zambians’ main staple crop would have seemed an unreachable dream. Successive droughts had caused a food crisis in the eastern and southern parts of the country, the main maize producing areas.

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Government oders cobalt smelter Closure

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The Zambia Government has told Chambishi Metals plc it must shut down its cobalt smelter for 45 to 60 days in order to make repairs following an explosion last month in which its circuit was damaged.

The accident, which happened on January 21, is costing production of 7 t/d of the metal, said Bloomberg citing Zambian mines minister Kalomb Mwansa in a recent parliamentary speech.

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I couldn’t believe I had lost the election – Kalumiana

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Former Nalikwanda member of parliament Simasiku Kalumiana today told the Lusaka high court that he was surprised when he heard that he had lost his seat in the 2006 tripartite elections despite having commanded a lot of support in the area.

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Heavy Rains cuts of Sinazongwe people

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The People of Chiyabi area in Sinazongwe district has been cut off from the rest of the district following collapse the bridge.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner Mr. Lavian Apuleni confirmed the development to ZANIS that the bridge was washed away along Sinazeze Chiyabi road following a heavy down poll.

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Zambian Football Thursday Update

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PETER Kaumba on Thursday afternoon unveiled his 19-man squad to face Malawi on Wednesday, February 7 in the two sides Olympic Games 1st round, 1st leg qualifying match to be played at Nkoloma stadium.

The squad wholly comprises of local-players though it is likely to change with the imminent arrival of two South African -based professionals in the run-up to Wednesday’s match.

Defender Davies Nkausu and striker Given Singuluma of South African division 2 club’s University of Pretoria FC and Bay United respectively are the two being expected.

The official squad list however does not include Zesco United midfielder Rainford Kalaba.

Kalaba failed to turn-up on the eve of the squads unveiling just 24 hours after receiving a late call-up.

Dropped from the squad are the Zamtel duo of Jackson Mwanza and Kondwani Mtonga including three other players.

The others dropped are City of Lusaka’s Mazuba Mukandawire, Lusaka Tigers defender Aaron Sichilima and Simon Nkole from Kitwe United.

The latter three were all members of last years Under 23 squad that faced Djibouti in a preliminary round one-leg Olympic qualifier played in Lusaka last October.

Late call-up Robert Gondwe of Green Buffaloes makes the cut and is line for his first Under 23 cap.

Another player expected to make his Under 23 debut is Nkana midfielder Chileshe Chibwe who missed the Djibouti game due to injury.

Nchanga Rangers goalkeeper Fred Silwamba including his club mate and striker Brian Chilando have also made the final 19.

Afrisports’ Zambia schools international utility player Stophira Nsunzu too has made the cut to join his brother and Konkola Blades striker Felix as the Under 23’s sibling pair.

Meanwhile a majority of the squad that beat Djibouti 10-0 last October have received the nod from Kaumba to feature next week against Malawi.

But missing will be three-goal hero from the Djibouti game Christopher Musonda of Forest Rangers and defender Charles Sinyingwa.

The duo left camp on Wednesday and are in Hungary attending trials at division 2 side Papa Lombard.

The squad is due to depart Kitwe for Lusaka tomorrow after having a late extension to their Copperbelt leg of training camp by another two days.

TEAM:

Goalkeepers: Rabson Muchelenganga (Power Dynamos), Kelvin Mulenga
(Kitwe United), Fred Silwamba (Nchanga Rangers).

Defenders: Field Chipungu (Forest Rangers), Maybin Chishimba (Konkola Blades), Francis Kasonde (Power Dynamos), Clive Sichondwe (Kabwe Warriors), Eugene Shamakamba (Kitwe United).

Midfielders: Chibwe Chileshe (Nkana), Chabusha Malumani, Simon Bwalya
(Both Lusaka Dynamos), Oliver Mukuka (Forest Rangers), Chanda Mwaba (Power Dynamos), Collins Mwanza (Forest Rangers), Mwape Mwelwa (National Assembly), Stophira Nsunzu (Afrisports).

Strikers: Brian Chilando (Nchanga Rangers), Robert Gondwe (Green Buffaloes), Felix Nsunzu Jr (Konkola Blades).

Courtesy of Kalumiana Kalumiana

Resign, if you can’s serve under current conditions, Mps urged

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Members of Parliament (MPs) who are not ready to serve under the current conditions of service have been challenged to resign on moral grounds because they are not ready to sacrifice for the people who voted them into office.

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SWISS GOVERNMENT SPONSORS DOCTORS

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An advanced course in immunology, vaccinology and biotechnology applied to infectious diseases, will be held at the WHO Immunology Research and Training Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland. It will be organized specifically for English-speaking candidates from developing countries, through a donation from the Government of Switzerland (Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation [SDC]).

A. Program.

The first part of the course will be devoted to the recent advances in the areas of basic immunology and molecular biology. Teaching modules will be structured to deal with
the specific problems related to bacterial, parasitic and viral infections of public health importance. One module will be specifically devoted to the development of new vaccines and the testing of their efficacy.

Practical sessions will be organized during which participants will
perform techniques related to the: a) evaluation of the humoral and
cellular immune response to infectious agents, and b) identification
of micro-organisms in biological samples by nucleic acid
hybridization.

B. Extended research training

There will be an opportunity for two participants to stay at the
Centre for a period of up to four months after the Course for further
specialized training.
The course will run from 4th September to 18th  October.

Deadline for receipt of applications is 27th  April 2007

For further details log on to http://www.who.int/tdr/grants/grants/immu_rcs_07.htm

courtesy of Dr. Emmanuel Makasa 

BRA ALERT !

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The statistics are shocking 8 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra .Yes, you are most likely wearing the wrong bra this minute! A bra can be a woman’s “best” friend. A good fitting bra will accentuate the body silhouette under clothes.

Signs of a wrong bra

* Falling straps.
* The bra creates a “ double bubble” effect.
* A band that rides high in the back across shoulder blades.
* A bra that looks lumpy under clothes Underwires that push or poke your skin.
* A bra that leaves marks on the skin.

Find your fit

Measurement 1.

Full bust. Measure the full bust circumference. The tape should be held horizontal, flat on your back and your arms should be down .Do not let the tape droop in the back and do not pull the tape tight. Jot this number down. E.g. 38 inches

Measurement 2 (band/bra size)

Under bust Measure around the rib cage. The tape should not be tight. Jot this number down. Add 5 inches to this measurement. If the number is an odd number add 1 to make it even.

Measurement 3 (cup size – projection of breasts from chest wall)

Difference between Full bust and band size

[TABLE=3]

1 INCH ~ 2.5cm

Example:

Step 1

Band size – 31 inches add 5 = 36 inches

Step2

Full bust – 39 inches

Step 3

39 – 36 = 3 inches difference cup size

Bra size is 36 C

Now that you’ve bought the correct bra, how do you take care of it.

* ALTERNATE BRAS -Your body gives off heat and that makes the lycra in the bra to stretch. The lycra needs 24 hours to cool off. So wearing your bra for more than one day in a row will cause it to deteriorate faster. Alternating bras everyday will make them last longer.
* WASH – It is best to handwash your bra daily to lengthen its life and remove all the dirt and oil that accumulated in it during the day.
* FABRIC- A fabric blend is often your best choice.

Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Drive Misses the Point

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lpm.JPGZambia’s anti-corruption drive is failing because the government has been concentrating its resources on investigating the corrupt practices of the previous regime, allowing present graft in the public service to flourish, a corruption watchdog said in its latest report. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Indices [CPI] has consistently ranked Zambia as one of the most corrupt countries since 2001.

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