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Civil servants challenged to rid themselves of corrupt elements

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Government has challenged public service workers to rid themselves of corrupt elements in their midst by reporting those involved in corrupt practices to law enforcement agencies.

Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Kabinga Pande says the onus is on civil servants to ensure that the Public Service is corruption free.

Mr. Pande was speaking when he addressed government workers at the council chambers
in Kasempa today. He said corruption is a cancer that derails national development because public resources are diverted to individual pockets.

Mr. Pande, who is also Kasempa Member of Parliament, urged the workers to come on
board the crusade against corruption by ensuring that public resources are prudently
and properly utilized.

Mr. Pande’s sentiments come in the awake of the revelation by President Mwanwasa
that K36 billion has been misappropriated by some civil servants.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pande has announced that a facility that would afford teachers to
access mortgage loans from the National Savings and Credit Bank has been introduced
in all provinces of the country.

He also urged teachers to take advantage of the facility and access the loans
in a bid to answer the accommodation problems faced by the some teachers.

Mr. Pande was in Kasempa on a two-day on the spot check of the impact of floods
experienced in the area.

The heavy rains experienced in the area have threatened human lives and destroyed
both public and private property.

Over 2000 residents have been cut off from health centres and schools
following the submerging of bridges and the destruction of the road infrastructure
in the district.

Livingstone to soon have an international youth camp

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The Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) Livingstone branch in conjunction with the C-PROJECT from the United States of America (USA) will soon start building an international youth camp in Chief Mukuni’s area.

This was revealed by YMCA National Executive Director Annie Ngwira during a meeting with YMCA members in Livingstone yesterday.

She said the long awaited project which will see Livingstone establish one of the biggest youth training centres and a resort which will accommodate international YMCA members of the general public was finally coming to fruition.

Ms Ngwira paid tribute to Chief Mukuni for being development forecast and oriented by offering 100 hectares of land to YMCA.

The youth camp is named after the first and late wife to chief Mukuni Mary Muhango
Mukuni.

She advised Livingstone YMCA members to continue on recruitment drive by targeting new members.

She also said the YMCA has a responsibility to help eradicate child defilement which is on the increase and control streetism through advocacy adding that the association should come up with programmes towards the same.

The YMCA executive director disclosed that the vision for the youth camp was of a center that will provide training in modern handicraft,  tourism training and many other courses relevant to the economics of Livingstone and the region.

She said there was so much good will for YMCA Zambia by donors and that members should create an environment that was conducive for youth development through
programmes and projects .

Venturing into politics must be backed by the desire for public service

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Vice President Rupiah Banda says he joined politics in a bid to contribute to the national building.

Mr. Banda says those that venture into politics must do so with a desire and passion
for public service.

He was speaking when he officiated at the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA)
Matero congregation in Lusaka today.

Mr. Banda has urged the Zambian people to rally behind President Levy Mwanwasa
and his administration as they endeavor to propel national development.

The Vice president also said national unity is central to national development hence
the need to guard the peace enjoyed by the country.

Mr. Banda, who is former Munali Member of Parliament (MP) further challenged
parliamentarians to strive to develop their constituencies.

Meanwhile, the Vice President has advised the church to concentrate on preaching the
gospel and desist from unnecessarily criticizing government.

He said is incorrect to use the church platform to advance messages which are harmful to the nation.

Mr. Banda said the church should seek to provide answers to challenges faced by the
country and its people.

He said the country faces many challenges such as poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS which require the efforts of all stakeholders, the church included.

And speaking earlier, Matero BIGOCA in-charge Bishop Peter Ndhlovu said the church
stands ready to work with the government of the day.

Bishop Ndhlovu urged his fellow clergymen to remain focused to the Gospel and not to
be derailed by politicians.

Politicians warned against politicising the Constituency Youth Development Fund

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An MMD councillor in Mazabuka has warned against politicising the Constituency Youth Development Fund.

Munenga ward councillor Fred Malambo said in a statement to ZANIS in Mazabuka today
that politicising the fund would retard development in constituencies.

Mr Malambo said the political stance taken by all the three United Party for National Development (UPND) Members of Parliament over the composition of committees
is disappointing.

He observed that there is need for the MPs to realise that time for politics is over adding that selecting committee members on political lines defeats government essence of  providing funds for youth empowerment.

Mr Malambo was supported by UPND Kasengo ward councillor Alfred Kawale who advised councillors and MPs to desist from politicising the funds.

Mr Kawale said politicising the funds and ignoring government guidelines would only dent the good image of the opposition party in the area.

He urged policy makers to exercise levelheadedness in finding a solution to the impasse that has rocked the district over the disbursement of K 120 Million constituency development fund.

Four days ago, a meeting chaired by acting district commissioner, Wilson Siadunka,
dissolved all the committees and called for fresh elections.

Over 2000 people in Kasempa district cut off from health centres due to floods

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Over 2000 people in Kasempa District in North-western province have been cut off from health centres and schools.

This is as a result of the submerging of  Mukunashi bridge on the Mukunashi River due to heavy rains experienced in the district.

This can to light when Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Kabinga
Pande toured the district to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods in the
area.

Mr. Pande, who is also area Member of Parliament, however assured the affected families that government would act swiftly to render relief assistance to the flood
victims.

He said government would also move in to repair and upgrade the Mukunashi bridge to
avert loss of lives.

Mr. Pande said he would present an assessment report of the damage caused by floods
in the area to facilitate the flow of relief assistance.

He has since advised the villagers in the area to maintain high standards of cleanliness because floods bring about the likelihood of epidemics.

The floods that have threatened human life and destroyed property in other parts of
the country have not spared Kasempa District.

Ndola based rally Shiel leads in Toyota 2007 motor sports championship

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Ndola based rally ace, Gary Shiel, outwitted his Lusaka based counterpart Tim Mevey to win the opening of the Toyota Zambia sponsored
4×4 rally championship.

Shiel with his co-driver Peter Deveillers overcame the rough and muddy rally  course
at Lusaka Motor Sports Club in the showgrounds to emerge the winner in his Toyota
Landcuise scoring 84 points. He won a gold trophy for his efforts.

He snatched a point from Tim Mevey and his co – driver Peter Twining who scored 83
points.

Denziel Robertson with his co- driver Tania Williams was third in a Toyota Prado
with 79 points.

He was followed neck to neck by Jaco Secholt who manged to pick up 79 points.

The only woman rally driver Jean Andersion co-driven by her husband Fred ended the
rally fourth with 78 points in a Mahindra jeep.

Josph Mulenga co driven by Anthony Njapau was sixth with 77points in a Isuzu.

Meanwhile Toyota Zambia Managing Director Dencil Robertson said the rally was aimed
at showing the agility and flexibility of 4×4 vehicles on rough and muddy roads in
Zambia.

Robertson told ZANIS in an interview that it was his company’s hope that the general
motoring public would also take pride and become more knowledgeable about 4×4
vehicles.

Robertson,  who also participated in the rally indicated that his campany was happy
to to be associated with the 4×4 motorally.

The rally had a green and red lane for family and seasoned participants respectively.

The next round of the rall  takes place in Ndola and  Kitwe on the Copperbelt early
next month

MARRIAGE

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wedding.jpgCan two walk together unless they are agreed?. The rate of divorce in Zambia is going up. Divorce rates are also high in the church. People who should be setting the moral examples are now seen to be falling short.

This world is governed by laws. Just as everyone succumbs to the law of gravity whether rich or poor, politician or cadre, preacher or atheist, so there are laws that govern a successful marriage. One such law is every couple should have a clear vision of what they want their marriage to be. The word vision means ” mental sight – the ability to see a goal or destination. If you do not have a clear vision of where you are going, how will you know when you have arrived? How will you know when you are on the wrong path?

When you have a vision of success before you, you will naturally behave in such a way that causes success to happen. Every couple goes through difficult times but a vision encourages you in those difficult times. Lets honor our marriages for good marriages breed good families which in turn breed good, strong societies.

Circumcision ‘reduces HIV risk’

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Circumcision can reduce the rate of HIV infections among heterosexual men by around 60%, a study suggests. The South African study, reported in Public Library of Science Medicine, found it had a protective effect for some of the 3,280 young men involved.

Circumcision is thought to help protect against HIV because cells under the foreskin are vulnerable to the virus.

UK experts warned some circumcised men in the study still became infected and condoms offered the best protection.

HIV infection rates are lower among groups in Africa who practise circumcision, but it was not known if this was due to cultural differences.

  There is a danger that people who have been circumcised will feel that they are fully protected from HIV when they are not
Deborah Jack, National Aids Trust

When the foreskin is removed, the skin on the head of the penis becomes less sensitive and so less likely to bleed, thereby reducing the risk of infection.

Studies in Uganda and in Kenya are also investigating the link.

Trial stopped

The South African trial, conducted by a team of French and South African researchers and sponsored by ANRS (the French National Agency of Research on Aids), took place in the Orange Farm area near Johannesburg, where male circumcision in adulthood is a common but not universal practice.

Just under 3,280 young, sexually active, uncircumcised, heterosexual men who took part in the study were offered the chance to be circumcised and then monitored for HIV infection.

Just under half chose to be circumcised.

The researchers planned to test all participants for HIV at three, 12 and 21 months, to see whether there was a difference in the rate of new infections between the two groups.

However, after 18 months, the number of new HIV infections in the control group was 49, compared with 20 in the treatment group.

The researchers decided at this point it would be unethical to continue the study.

It was stopped and the uncircumcised men were offered circumcision.

UNAids has said the trial found promising results, but more work needs to be done to confirm its findings and “whether or not the results have more general application.”

‘Not a condom substitute’

Keith Alcorn, of the National Aids Manual, said: “Although this study showed that men who were circumcised were less likely to become infected with HIV, it must be stressed that circumcised men did become infected in this study, and that circumcision does not provide total protection against HIV.

“I don’t think that any country will be moving towards promotion of circumcision for HIV prevention on these results alone.

“Two further studies in Kenya and Uganda have yet to be completed, and will give us more information.”

Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, added: “There is a danger that people who have been circumcised will feel that they are fully protected from HIV when they are not.

“We need more research and clear guidance, as circumcision can never be a substitute for condom use.”

BBC

Children in Chadiza demand to be given chance to acquire an education

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Grade seven pupils of Kapachi Basic School in Chadiza district have challenged government and other stakeholders to carry out a vigorous campaign to sensitise parents on the importance of sending children to eradicate illiteracy.

Speaking to ZANIS in Chadiza today, one of the Children Florence Zulu said the campaign should be targeted at both parents and pupils in a bid to improve literacy levels in the district.

“Children should also realize that they can only bring tangible development to their areas as well as improve the living standards of parents and their communities if they acquired education as it is the only key to success,” she said.

Florence said parents should also understand that forcing children to either herd cattle or marrying them off at a tender age was of detriment to the affected children and the future welfare of both the family and country at large.

“Other organizations should emulate Plan International which is doing everything possible to improve the lives children by working to reduce cattle herding by children, discourage bad cultural practices and encourage entrepreneurship to improve income generation,” another pupil Blackson Phiri added.

Blackson 16 of the same school said traditional Nyau dancing, herding cattle and allowing people from towns to get children to work in their homes were a thorn issues in Chadiza district.

Blackson has since challenged children to utilize the programmes that Plan International has put in the district place such as orientation of children on Youth Parliament and children’s tribunal.

“What Plan International is doing to teach us through the conveners of Youth Parliament on what happens in parliament when our Members of Parliament formulate laws has really helped us to understand” he said.

Meanwhile, Plan International Programme Communication Coordinator for Chadiza Masuka Mutenda said it was Plan’s focus and programme approach to use the child-centered initiatives for community development.

Ms Mutenda said her organization has continued to sensitise both the children and parents on the bad effects of bad cultural practices such as the labor bondage of boy child to herd cattle with a view to be given a cow after laboring for three to four years.

“Its not that Plan is against cultural practice like initiation ceremonies but that such ceremonies could be performed during school holidays rather than disturbing the school calendar,” she said.

Plan International is operating in ten communities in Chadiza targeting mainly small-scale farmers who grow crops and keep livestock.

Sell of 49% shares of Zambia National Commercial Bank to Rabobank was done

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Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi has maintained that the sale of the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO) 49 percent shares to Rabobank of the Netherlands was done fraudulently.

Ms Nawakwi says the Zambian Law does not allow any foreign company to own more than 25 percent shares in the Zambian company.

She told the Zambian News and Information Services (ZANIS) in an interview in Lusaka today that the sale of 49 percent shares to Rabobank of Netherlands was done outside the confines of the law.

Ms Nawakwi, who is also Vice President for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), said the sell of shares in the ZANACO Bank should have been done according to law.

She further said that there was no formal consultations made between the Zambian government and the Zambian citizenry as regards the sell of the 49 percent ZANACO shares to a foreign Bank.

Ms Nawakwi noted that government should have sold 25 percent shares to Rabobank and not 49 percent shares so that the remaining shares could be sold to Zambian owned companies.

She advised government to sell the remaining 24 percent shares to the Zambian State Insurance Co-operation (ZSIC) and the Zambia Pensions Fund Authority.

Ms Nawakwi has since advised Rabobank not to go ahead with the acquisition of more than 25 percent shares in the ZANACO Bank to avoid swindling the Zambian people.

She stressed that the acquisition of 49 percent shares from ZANACO Bank was not done within the legal framework of the Zambian Law.

ZANIS

Levy makes a stop-over in London for a scheduled medical check up

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President Mwanawasa today left Cannes for London after attending the 24th France-Africa summit which closed yesterday.

Mr. Mwanawasa left aboard a British Airways plane from Nice International Airport at 14:55 hours Zambian time.

He was accompanied by First Lady Maureen, Foreign Affairs minister Mundia Sikatana, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations John Musukuma and PrincipalPrivate Secretary Alfred Chipoya.

Mr. Mwanawasa was seen off at the airport by Community Development and Social Services minister Catherine Namugala, Zambia’s ambassador to France Ian Sikazwe andother senior Zambian and French government officials.

The President told ZANIS at Hilton hotel in Cannes shortly before departure that he would make a stop-over in London for a scheduled medical check up.

Mr. Mwanawasa said he has had hectic schedule before and after the tripartite elections last year and his doctors felt it was time for him to undergo another thorough medical review in London.

The President assured the nation that he was enjoying good health and ably discharging his duties in the high office of the presidency.

Mr. Mwanawasa returns home on February 24.

ZANIS

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa has called on Zambians to make sacrifices for the development of the country.

Briefing the Zambian media in Cannes on the just ended France-Africa summit, Mr.Mwanawasa said Zambians should not be carried away by the international goodwill being shown by its cooperating partners such France.

He said Zambians should work hard and not depend on outsiders to develop the country.

Mr. Mwanawasa said the summit sent a message to the world that what Africa needed was foreign investment that added value and created jobs for its people.

The President said much as he appreciated aid directed at governance and other social mobilization programmes through non-governmental organisations, only government and its institutions had the capacity to bring about more meaningful and
equitable development for its people.

“The trend by some Western governments to channel development aid through civil society organizations fail to produce the desired results as they are not accountable to government.” said Mr. Mwanawasa.

On raw materials which was one of the thematic topics of the summit, Mr. Mwanawasa called on western countries to emulate the approach of China by investing in Africa’s capacity to process its raw materials into finished products.

Mr. Mwanawasa said by exporting cheap raw materials to the industrialised countries,Africa was exporting jobs and wealth for its people thereby perpetuating poverty and underdevelopment on the continent.

The current trend where industrialized countries import cheap raw materials from Africa and later export expensive finished products to Africa will not do because the continent needed tangible development projects which have a bearing on the living standards of the people.

The president underscored the fact that Africa’s resources, its people and leadership were indispensable in the overall well being and advancement human kind.

The summit was held in the French Cannes from 15-16 February and was attended by 40 African Heads of State and Government.

2007 Charity Shield Semifinal Wrap-Up

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2006 Coca Cola Cup champions Kabwe Warriors will face last years Mosi Cup winners Zesco United next Saturday in the final of this years Samuel “Zoom” Ndholvu memorial Charity Shield.

Warriors booked their place in the final after beating defending Champions Zanaco 1-0 in their semifinal tie played at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka this afternoon.

Zesco on the other hand were 2-1 winners over Buffaloes at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe on the same day.

Warriors win was secured midway through the first half thanks to a 23rd minute goal through striker Maonga Kabuku.

The Railwaymens victory ended a run of three successive defeats in the same tournament against Zanaco starting from the 2003 final and semifinals of 2004 and 2005 league opener cup event.

At Arthur Davies, Zesco’s  new coach Wedson Nyirenda enjoyed his first competitive career win in charge of a top-flight club with a convincing performance against Zambia’s Caf Confederations Cup representatives Buffaloes.

Nyirenda fielded 9 regular first team starters of last year’s unimpressive squad that struggled all of last season and survived relegation in the latter stages of the campaign.

Zesco were a lively throughout and their new coach Nyirenda animated too all of the 90 minutes as he inspired from the bench on the Ndola clubs way to next weekends final.

Refreshed Zesco took the lead in the 6th minute through a trademark free kick converted by Zambia international midfielder Rainford Kalaba that sailed into the top right hand corner of the net leaving Buffaloes goalkeeper Mike Poto riveted in his spot.

Zesco too enjoyed more shots on goal throughout the first period against an overwhelmed Buffaloes but were let down by some poor finish from Crispin Mwaba, Yona Mwango and Nicholas Zulu.

Buffaloes meanwhile restored parity against the run of play from a corner just 11 minutes into the match when Under 20 midfielder out jumped Zesco’s towering defence to nod in the equalizer.

Zesco sealed their win on 50 minutes through one of two non-familiar faces in Dan Mulenga, their defender who spent last season on loan at Nakambala Leopards.

Mutale, young brother of the late Kelvin Mutale, rifled in the ball from the edge of the penalty area on the right after Kabala slipped the ball into his path following an overlapping run from his right-back position.

Buffaloes had a good chance to equalize in the 69th minute through Newa Mwewa denied by the horizontal with Under 20 goalkeeper Jacob Banda beaten.

Meanwhile Faz has yet to reveal the tournaments final venue next weekend.

Courtesy of Kalumiana Kalumiana 

Govt donates medical equipment, lab to Kakwiya rural health centre.

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Government  has donated  mediacl equipment and a laboratory worth K63 m to Kakwiya Rural Health Centre in Petauke.

District Director of Health, Kennedy Kabuswe, confirmed the development to ZANIS in
Petauke today.

Dr. Kabuswe said the centre, which was more than 25 kilometres away from the Boma,
did not have laboratory equipment for a long time now.

He said due to lack of equipment, most patients were traveling to the District
Hospital to acquire laboratory services and that caused congestion at the health
institution.

Dr. Kabuswe appealed to management at Kakwiya Rural Health Centre to guard the
equipment jealously.

He said  the community at Kakwiya had suffered for a long time hence the need for
them to utilize to the fullest the services that were available.

Kalabo district in urgent need of relief aid

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Kalabo district Administrative officer has appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit under the Office of the Vice President to urgently send relief food to flood victims in the area.

Mr.Mishengo  Mishengo said the district has been hardly hit by the floods because
crops on both the upper and lower land have have been destroyed by floods.

He said about 108, 144 people have been affected by the floods hence the need for
urgent action to avert the impact of the disaster on the affected population.

Mr. Mishengo, further, said about 11, 114 metric tones of relief food is required to
cater for the flood victims in the area this year.

Mr. Mishengo noted that the worst hit area was  Liuwa Constituency which is mainly
covered by Liuwa plain National Park adding  that the area was  on the lower plain
that makes it prone to floods.

He said the food security in the district has been threatened   because  Nyengo 
area which is the  major producer of grain in the district is equally flooded.

Mr. Mishengo said there is need to empower farmers with community based irrigation
systems to enable them  grow crops throughout the year to avoid the effects of
floods and drought.

He stated that public infrastructure such as schools and health centers has also
been affected by the magnitude of the floods.

He said eight schools have closed prematurely  due to floods which have left the
school buildings  submerged  posing a threat to the pupils health.

Mr. Mishengo observed that some health centers in the district have also become
completely inaccessible such as Nyengo, Kuuli and Mambolomoka.

He said the District Disaster Management Committee with the help of local
traditional leadership is  currently sensitizing  flood victims on the importance of
shifting from the flooded areas   in order to safeguard their lives.
 

Govt. says Vulture Funds are exploitative to poor nations

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Government says the Vulture Funds, that exist on the international monetary scene, should not be sustained because they exploit poor countries. Chef Government Spokesperson Vernon Mwaanga said the Vulture Funds have been used for somtime to exploit poor countries. Mr. Mwaanga said Zambia’s liability to pay the claimed debt is yet to be defined by the court hearing scheduled to take place on on March 9, 2007.

Mr. Mwaanga explained that the claim against Zambia arose from a debt incurred from  the Romanian government for the supply of agricultural equipment in 1979.

“The claim against the Zambian Government arose from a debt incurred from Romanian Government in 1979 for the suplly of tractors, agricultural machines, vehicles, spare parts and training of personel,” Mr. Mwaanga said.

Vulture Funds, as defined by the IMF are companies that buy off debt of poor nations cheaply, when it is about to be written off and then sues for full value of debt plus interest.

Zambia was unable to keep up the payment, a sutiation that resulted in negotiations with Romania and subsequent liquidation of the debt to US$3 million in 1999.

But before Zambia could pay for the US$ 3 million debt, Donegal International bought off the debt for less tham US$4 million and then claimed US$42 million from Zambia.

Mr. Mwaanga explained that in 2003 entered into a settlement agreement with Donegal, the assignment he said was tainted by corruption.

He, therefore, said English Court was then expected to determine wether the
settlement agreement was duly signed on behalf of Zambia and the extent of liability  involved.

Mr Mwaanga noted that Donegal was seeking to enforce a claim against Zambia for US$55 million despite having bought it from Romania eight years ago for only US$3.2 million.

Mr. Mwaanga has since thanked the co-operating partners for financially supportingthe Task Force on Corruption which has been responsible for  contracting the LondonLawyers to act on the matter.

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