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Levy meets former US President Clinton

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Former United States President Bill Clinton, who is in the country, today met President Mwanawasa at State House.

Mr. Clinton arrived at State House at 14.35 hours and was received by President Mwanawasa.

Mr Clinton signed the State House visitors book before he went into a closed door
meeting with President Mwanawasa that lasted for over one hour.

Health minister Dr Brian Chituwo, Foreign Affairs minister Mundia Sikatana, Zambia’s
ambassador to the United States Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika and other senior
government officials were part of the Zambian delegation that met the former US
President at State House.

Mr. Clintons visit is part of his four nation African tour of South Africa, Malawi,
Zambia and Tanzania to oversee projects funded by the Clinton Foundation.

The former US leaders visit comes barely two weeks after the current US First Lady
Laura Bush visited Zambia.

The 42nd American President is scheduled to leave Zambia for Tanzania tomorrow
before returning home on Tuesday.

Mr. Clinton, 61, is largely viewed as the ‘first black president’ of America because
of his closeness to causes of African Americans and his interest in developing
Africa.

And Foreign Affairs minister Mundia Sikatana told ZANIS later in an interview that
Mr. Clinton’s visit to Zambia was of utmost importance to the relations between
Zambia and the United States of America.

Mr Sikatana said Mr Clinton’s visit is a sign that under President Mwanawasa’s
leadership, Zambia’s profile has risen tremendously on the global arena.

Mr. Sikatana said Zambia’s continued peaceful environment has resulted in visits by
eminent world leaders to the country.

The womans place is in the kitchen?

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This statement is usually thrown around to belittle or irritate the modern day woman. But let us look at it from a different non chauvinistic angle.

 There is no doubt that male and female are different. Genetically we are different, the ways our brains function are different and of course physically we are different.

If we are designed differently we should obviously have different roles to play.

 In Genesis God told Adam “In the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return to the ground. (Genesis 3:19) Here God was clearly instructing the man to earn a living. Note this instruction was given to man and not the woman. 

To the woman God said “Thy desire shall be unto thy husband and he shall rule over thee” The woman was given a different assignment that of helpmeet, mother, homemaker. (Genesis 3:16, Genesis 2:18). Since she was biologically created to bear children her role as mother is unquestionable. Her homemaking role is assumed as she must nurture her young and run the household to free her husband to function as provider.

 The male and female roles are different in function but equal in importance. The greatest problems in marriage occur when either of the couple fails to perform his or her duties, or when one steps over the boundaries and forcefully takes over the partners role.

 Is it a womans role to work outside the home? From the God given roles it seems not. A man is to be the leader, protector and provider of the home. It is a mans duty to be able to fully provide for the family. So perhaps, it is sin if man fails in his duties and thus forces the wife to look for work outside the home to supplement his earnings. A woman should be free from the stress of being a provider for her family and should be allowed to take care of her children as she pleases. Putting children in daycares or crèches is not the best environment for young children to thrive. A woman should work if she wants to but her primary obligation is to her husband and kids.She fails in her role as a mother if shes successful outside the home but her children are unrully, her home is a mess and her husband miserable.

Mwanawasa to attend L/stone Business meeting

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President Levy Mwanawasa is expected in Livingstone in Southern Province over the weekend to officially open and attend the Fifth Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) Conference.

According to a programme released by the Provincial administration in Livingstone
today and availed to ZANIS, Mr Mwanawasa is expected to arrive in Livingstone at 16
hours on Sunday and he will be met on arrival by Southern Province minister Joseph
Mulyata, MMD Provincial Chairperson Danniel Munkombwe and senior Government
officials.

Mr Mwanawasa is expected to officially open the ZIBAC conference on Monday, July 23.

The conference will deliberate on cross cutting issues including the status of the
Energy sector, telecommunications and world trends on the liberalisation of the International Gateway.

Other sectors that would be looked at include tourism, the status of implementation
of the Citizens Economic Empowernment Initiative, mining, commerce and the status of
infrastructure development.

Mr Mwanawasa will attend the conference until Tuesday when he will officially close it.

Brothels, poverty levels frustrates HIV/AIDS fight in Livingstone

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An HIV/AIDS advisor says the increase in the number of brothels and high Poverty levels currently prevailing in Livingstone is impacting negatively on the fight against pandemic. 

Livingstone District HIV AIDS Coordinating Advisor Julius Chilongoshi complained
that it had become very expensive to fight HIV/ AIDS in the district due to high
poverty levels which was forcing most residents to go into prostitution taking
advantage of the tourist inflows.

Speaking when members of the visiting Livingstone District HIV AIDS Taskforce (DATF)
paid a courtesy call on  Kitwe District Commissioner Macdonald Mtine in Kitwe today,
Mr Chilongoshi said most of the interventions that various stakeholders had put in
place to fight the diseases were not working out.

He said Livingstone was a tourist capital and at the same time a border town where
most of the people being targeted for these interventions were always in transit.

He added that DATF wanted to aggressively work with communities at  local level to
ensure that interventions put in place to fight the pandemic were working out.

And speaking earlier at the same meeting, Livingstone Provincial HIV AIDS
Coordinating Advisor Elizabeth Mtonga said the  HIV AIDS Prevalence rate in district
currently stood at 31% .

Mrs Mtonga said the DAFT and various stakeholders were working extra hard to ensure
that all the interventions put in place to prevent new infections and fight the
pandemic were working out.

She said Livingstone had a lot of challenges in the fight against HIV AIDS due to
the increase in the number of the people that were flocking in and out of the town.

She added that the group was in Kitwe so that they could exchange views and ideas
with the Kitwe DAFT on how the district was managing to implement and coordinate its
activities at Community Level.

Mrs Mtonga said Livingstone DATF had laready learnt that the Kitwe DATF  through
partnership with various Stakeholders had managed to raise over K350 million for its
activities.

And Kitwe District Commissioner Macdonald Mtine said the Kitwe DAFT through working
with various Chief Executive Officers in the private sector had managed to come up
with an effective programme to coordinate and monitor the implementation of
activities in addressing the pandemic.

Mr Mtine said it was important to scale down HIV/AIDS incidences at community level,
if any tangible results were to be recorded.

He paid tribute to Share for sponsoring the teams visit to Kitwe.

COMESA, SADC confer over fish industry harmonisation

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Government says the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has started discussion on harmonisation of  polices  in the management of the fishing industry.

Agriculture and Co-opertives Minister Ben Kapita observed that the fish ban was not
effective because countries would enforce such mesaures at  different times.

With such discussions, Mr. Kapita was optimistic that the management of the industry
would now be effective.

The allocation of about K25.7 in this years budget, the Minister said would further
help adddress  transport woes which was an impediment in monitoring the exercise and
to undertake sensitisation  programmes.

He said Government would before embarking on the restocking exercise, educate people
on the danger of using bad fishing methods that have led to fish depletion in the
rivers.

The Minister said with resources available in this year’s budget, his ministry will
employ more staff to conduct sensitisation programmes.

He was giving a supplementary answer to Roan Member of Parliament (MP) Chishimba
Kabwili who asked Government on the effectiveness of the fish ban taking into
consideration that the programme was not conducted at the same time with countries
that share rivers with Zambia.

Earlier, Agriculture Deputy Minister Albert Mulongo said the ministry would
undertakerestocking of fish in Western Province after assessing the levels of fish
in baroste plains.

He was responding to Luena MP  Charles Milupi  who asked Government when it will
start the fish restocking in Western Province especially  in the Barotse plains.

Meanwhile, Local Government and Housing Minister Syliva Masebo told Parlimaent that
the National Housing Authority (NHA) built a total of 650 houses between 2004 to
2006.

She said the houses  which included low, medium and high costs were built at  Bennie
Mwiinga , Ibex Hill, Nyumba Yanga in Lusaka and Ndola Twapia township.

The Minister said although the programme is supposed to be countrywide, NHA had
started with the urban areas where there is demand for accomodation .

Ms. Masebo said as a measure to expedite the construction of houses, Government had
last year directed all local authorities to identify pieces of land  for the
construction of  houses.

She said Government has further come up with a munucipal bond through which it hopes more houses would be constructed.

MMD in Kafue asks Oasis Forum to partner with ZCID

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 The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in Kafue district has called on the Oasis Forum to join hands with the Zambia Centre for inter party Dialogue (ZCID) to ensure that the constitutional making process is successfully implemented.

MMD Kafue Constituency Chairman, Samson Kabaso, told ZANIS in Kafue today that it
was being unreasonable for the forum to reject the process President Levy Mwanawasa
has initiated and every Zambian is supporting.

Mr Kabaso said it was surprising that the Oasis Forum, which advocates for poverty
reduction and prudent use of public resource for the good of Zambians, is in the
forefront of wanting government to spend more money which can be channeled to other
areas of need in the country.

Mr. Kabaso stated that the position of government is the best as it is trying to
ensure that resources, which are taxpayers’ money, are used wisely and benefit all
areas of the economy. 

He said the best the Oasis Forum can do is to partner with government by monitoring
the whole process so that transparency prevails and the constitution is enacted.

Mr. Kabaso disclosed that the MMD in the district has embarked on a programme of
sensitizing its members and residents to support government so that the constitution
is enacted within the shortest possible time. 

He said the constitution is for every Zambian and government has the right to chose
a process which is manageable and easily understood by everyone.

Meanwhile Mr. Kabaso has described the death of late MMD District Party Secretary
Teddy Zulu as a  loose to the party. 

He noted that  Mr. Zulu was a strong supporter of the party and was always there
whenever the party needed him.

Mr. Kabaso said the late Zulu died on Wednesday in the early hours of the morning
after an illness at Kafue district hospital.

Illegal settlers on Isangano National Park to face eviction

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 Government has stepped up efforts to remove people who have illegally settled in Isangano National Game Park on the boundaries between Chilubi and Luwingu districts in the Northern Province.

The long awaited move is aimed at paving way for the re-establishment and restocking
of the depleted National Park with Wild animals by the Zambia Wild Life Authority as
part of enhancing tourism in the province.

Provincial Planner Mukuka Chibwe confirmed to ZANIS in Kasama that Government has
lined up a number of activities aimed at implementing the Provincial Development
Coordinating Committee (PDCC) resolution which called for the removal of all illegal
settlers from Isangano national Park.

Mr. Chibwe said some of the activities involved are demarcation of the district
boundaries, identification and resettlement of illegal settlers from the National
Park.

He said a stakeholders meeting will soon be held involving Government officers from
Chilubi and Luwingu, ZAWA and the affected communities led by their traditional
leaders.

Recently, the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee chaired by Permanent
Secretary Joel Ngo directed the two districts to meet and resolve the Isangano
issues before the next PDCC meeting in August.

Mr. Ngo observed that the Isangano issues had been pending for sometime despite a
number of resolutions to resolve the issue.

The PS expressed concern at the reluctance of concerned parties to implement the
resolutions saying this should come to an immediate end.

And Chilubi Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Obby Chisala told ZANIS recently in
an interview that Government should have first resolved the boundary dispute between
the two districts before rushing to evict the illegal settlers.

Mr. Chisala who was District Commissioner when the Isangano issue arose said the
major obstacle to resolving the matter was the boundary dispute.

He said the People of Chilubi had no problem to move the people if they are told
that Isangano National Game Park was in their district.

Zambia to benefit from USS 21.6m animal disease fund

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Zambia is among the five countries that will benefit from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) programme for strengthening of institutions on management of trans-boundary animal diseases fund, amounting to US$21.6 million.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Ben Kapita said other countries that would
benefit from the fund, which have already been approved, are Angola, Malawi,
Mozambique and Tanzania.

Zambia was left out in the earlier project which benefited Zimbabwe, Malawi and
Mozambique for the foot and mouth project.

The current project would commence soon.

He told ZANIS that the countries would use the money to create a programme on how to
combat livestock diseases in the region.

“It is easy to combat the diseases when the affected countries work together,” he said.

He said Zambia was buying medicines for foot and mouth disease from Botswana while
the medicine for the Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia (CBPP) was acquired from
France.

He pointed out that it was cheaper to purchase drugs from Botswana than France.

On the issue of the cordon line being constructed along Zambia’s western borderline,
Mr. Kapita said the project would continue with an extension of 700 kilometres.

The cordon line aims at controlling the movement of stray animals from Angola and
Botswana into the country.

Govt to recruit 5 000 nurses

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Government will this year recruit over five thousand nurses following the treasury authority which has been given to the Ministry of Health for the exercise.

And Government has officially handed over nurses uniforms worth K2 billion to
University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

Health Minister Brian Chituwo bemoaned the low numbers of nurses in the country
adding that at present the country has 9,300 nurses of the required 23,000.

To address this shortfall, Dr. Chituwo said Government was currently doing it
through  training, recruitment and retention strategies and that Government will
soon reopen nursing schools across the country.   

Dr Chituwo said the schools to be reopened include Roan Antelope in Luanshya,
Nchanga North in Chingola, Chitambo in Northern Province and Kaleni in North Western
Province.

He further said Chipata school of Midwifery will soon be made operational to quicken
the production of midwives.

The Health Minister said midwives are cardinal in ensuring safe motherhood and the
delivery of babies.

And officially handing over the uniforms to UTH, Mr Chituwo said one of
Government’s priorities was to motivate health workers in the country.

The Minister observed that the uniforms will improve the nurses’ welfare because
nursing is a noble profession expected to deliver clinical competence and care to
the patients.

In addition, Mr Chituwo disclosed that Government through this year’s budget will
purchase buses for nurses’ transport at UTH, Ndola and Kitwe central hospitals at a
cost of K1.4 billion.

Mr Chituwo said Government is commttted to delivering quality health care services
closer to the people.

And receiving the uniforms, Zambia Nurses Association (ZNA) representative,
Josephine Chimpinde, commended Government for the gesture.

Mrs. Chimpinde said the uniforms will help motivate the nurses and help enhance
their work.

Mbesuma’s court case fails to take off

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A court case in which football sensational Collins Mbesuma has been sued failed to take off in a Mufulira local court today due to his absence.

This is in a matter in which Mbesuma has been sued by John Chombwe, the father to
the woman he had a relationship with and has a three year-old daughter.  Chombwe,
father to Evelyn sued Mbesuma over the accused’s ”unclear’ position to marry his
daughter.

According to a court cause list made available to ZANIS today in the court chamber
by the local court Justices John Chama Michael Mutale and Elias Mugole, Mbesuma was
to appear in the local court today.

The Justices confirmed to ZANIS that the case failed to take place due to the
absence of Mbesuma and a Court clerk.

Mbesuma was represented by his uncle from Ndola who told the ZANIS Reporter that his
nephew was in Botswana on national duties.

Justice Chama set August 17 as the date for hearing.

Chiluba may stand trial by video link

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1_221004_1_2.jpgFormer president Frederick Chiluba may stand trial for corruption by video link due to ill health, a spokesman for the ex-leader said on Friday.

Chiluba, who is due to travel to South Africa for medical treatment, has been told by a Zambian court to return home by August 13 to resume his protracted trial the next day, spokesman Emmanuel Mwamba said.

Mwamba said Chiluba was due to inform the court whether he would stand trial by video link after Zambian doctors advised that he was too ill to be present in person.

“Dr Chiluba will inform his lawyers what they should tell the court after the court gave him an option to stand trial by video link or to be present in court whatever the circumstances,” Mwamba told Reuters.

Chiluba’s graft trial involving allegations of theft of $488,000 in Treasury funds during his decade-long rule which ended in 2001 has created major controversy between state prosecutors and his lawyers.

Prosecutors want the former president to stand trial despite having a cardiac problem, while Chiluba and his lawyers had earlier argued that he cannot be forced to appear via video link as it would impinge on his right to be physically present in court.

Last week, doctors advised him to seek immediate medical treatment in South Africa after he became weaker, but the court only allowed him to travel on Friday following earlier objections from state prosecutors.

Chiluba is simultaneously fighting a London court judgement which ordered him to pay back $58 million it said he stole from the national Treasury in a civil case Zambian authorities lodged in Britain.

Chiluba has argued that the British case was essentially fraudulent and promoted by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa in an attempt to make a point about graft in Africa.

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Botswana-Zambia Friendly Preview

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The Zambia national team plays its third international friendly tomorrow afternoon when they take on Botswana in Orapa.

Saturdays friendly is the first of two confirmed warm-up games is ahead of the teams Group 11 Africa Cup qualifier on September 15 against South Africa in Cape Town with the next game to follow on August 22 away in Kigali where they will play Rwanda.

Zambia face Botswana seeking a second successive win after beating the latter 1-0 in the 2006 Cosafa Castle Cup Semifinals on August 19 in Lusaka ending a four-game winless streak.

For this game, Coach Patrick Phiri is taking with him a 17-member team to Orapa that includes four debutants.

Two of the first-timers include goalkeepers namely Green Buffaloes Mike Poto and Makasa Mufwaya of Roan United.

Phiri’s is stretched on resources from his pool of regular home-based players due to Under-23 duty and absentees for other reasons leaving him with a threadbare team.

Konkola Blades striker Felix Nsunzu, defenders Francis Kasonde of Power Dynamos and Hichani Himoonde from Lusaka Dynamos are all away at the All-Africa Games in Algeria.

The team has also suffered absentees with defender Joseph Musonda, midfielder Rainford Kalaba and goalkeeper George Kolala all unavailable due to trial commitments in South Africa, France and Egypt respectively.

But for once in a friendly against perennial friendly opponents Botswana, Phiri has two key foreign-based players in his team to face The Zebras with Portsmouth striker Collins Mbseuma and club-less defender Clive Hachilensa formerly of Free State Stars of South Africa both available.

Phiri could also give unknown Allan Mukuka of Mufulira Wanderers a start to alongside Nkana utility player Mark Sinyangwe and the Zanaco duo of Jack Chileshe and Lameck Njovu in a depleted midfield as the coach searches for options and tries to improvise in that department.

Goalkeepers: Mike Poto (Green Buffaloes), Makasa Mufwaya (Roan United).

Defenders: Willy Chinyama (Zesco United), Evans Chisulo, Kennedy Nkethani (Both Zanaco), Clive Hachilensa (Free State Stars, South Africa), Patrick Masosa (Green Buffaloes), Gilbert Kalusa (Lusaka Dynamos).

Midfielders: Jack Chileshe, Lameck Njovu (Both Zanaco), Allan Mukuka (Mufulira Wanderers), Mark Sinyangwe (Nkana FC).

Strikers: Enoch Sakala, Jonah Sakuwaha (Both Zesco United), Elson Mukandawire (Power Dynamos), Ben Mwanza (Roan United), Collins Mbesuma (Portsmouth, England).

Zambia fall to Cameroon and face Tunisia for Bronze

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3.JPGZambia Under 23 on Thursday night failed to break their eight-year jinx against Cameroon Under 23 at the All-Africa Games when they lost 2-1 in the two side’s semifinal clash at this year’s football tournament in Algeria.

The two sides were locked at 0-0 going into the break before Cameroon struck with two quick goals in a space of ten minutes just after the restart.4.JPG

Franck Njembe headed Cameroon ahead on 50 minutes before Christian Bekamenga slotted in the ball from the penalty spot six minutes later.

Simon Bwalya scored Zambia’s consolation two minutes deep into injury time.

2.JPGZambia will now face Tunisia in the battle for Bronze on Sunday, July 22 while Cameroon while take on Guinea in a West Africa derby final for Gold or Silver on Monday.

Guinea beat Tunisia 1-0 in their semifinal clash also played on Thursday1.JPG

Cameroon are the All-Africa Games football tournament defending champions while this will be Guinea’s first final appearance in the tournament since 1973 when they lost 2-0 to Nigeria.

Government tasks ERB to review the fuel pricing system

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 Government  has  asked the Energy Regulation Board  (ERB) to review the fuel pricing framework  in the country.

Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga  said the nation would be
informed on the outcome of the review  next month.

ZANIS  reports that the Minister disclosed  in a ministrial statement  presented in
the house today,  on the fuel supply situation in the country.

He said it is essential that the energy sector plays its strategic roles in
streering the economy to prosperity as the country strives to reduce poverty and
promote economic growth.

He said  government recently  dissolved the ERB and Zambia Electricity Supply
Corporation (ZESCO) boards   in order to improve their operations.

He said it is important that these key institutions are able to meet the challenges
of the energy sector by being proactive and innovative.

The Minister stated that critical issues need to be considered in reconstituting
the ERB boards.

The minister pointed out that the board members should have a comprehensive
understanding of the national energy policy and should be able to effectively
implement it.

Mr Konga added that board members should ensure compliance to the rules and
regulation that govern the energy sector.

And government has revealed that it had of January this year owed three pensions
fund a total of K210 .5 billion.

Those owed include the Public Service Pension Fund K159 billion, Local Authorities
Supernnuation Fund k29.8 billion and National Pension Scheme Authority K21.5
billion.

Finance and National Planning deputy Minister Jonas Shakafuswa  said government
intends to reduce the debt hence the allocation of K154 billion in this year’s
budget.

He wsa responding to Lukulu East United Libral Party (ULP) Batuke Imenda who wanted
to know how much government was owing the three pension funds as of 31st January
this year.

Mr. Shakafuswa said  government had no plans to privatise the pension schemes but
will instead promote the comprehensive social systems for both the formal and
informal sectors.

Meanwhile,  Works and Supply Deputy Minister Benny Tetamashimba says a total of
K674.8 million was realised from the sale of  machinery at Esco Limited .

Mr. Tetamashimba said  the machinery and other propertes were disposed off through
tender and auction sale.

He said the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) advertised for the sale of the premises
whose  bids closed on June 30 last month.

He said government decided to sell the premises to a corsortium after realising
that it was not registered with the registrar of companies.

Mr Tetamashimba said government has not removed the tenants from the premises that
were paying rentals after they lost the case in court.

He however stated that government  has made it clear that the company that would win
the tender to purchase the premise should take  into consideration the tenants.

He was responding to UPND MP Brian Ntundu who wanted to know  how the machinery at ESCO Limited in Lusaka was disposed off.

Chief Naluama commends Ministry of Health for extending the measles campaign

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Chief Naluama of Mazabuka has commended the ministry of health for extending the measles vaccination campaign.

The traditional ruler told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, the extension will enable
hundreds of children who were left out in the first phase of the exercise to receive
the vaccine.

Chief Naluama said his village headmen are going round to sensitise parents on the
extension of the vaccination programme  so that they can take their children for
vaccination.

Meanwhile, Chief Naluama has also commended the church for supporting themeasles
campaign.

He told ZANIS, his chiefdom has not received reports of some churches shunning
discouraging their measles vaccination campaign as was the case last year.