A traditional ruler in Mazabuka has called on opposition political parties in the country to support President Mwanawasa’s suggestion for a national Indaba to chart the way forward in the constitution making process.

Chief Mwanachingwala says President Mwanawasa’s proposed Indaba is the surest way of breaking the impasse that has characterised the current constitution making process.

The traditional ruler says the Indaba will bring all the stakeholders to a round
table to resolve their differences.

He told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, all progressive political parties with the interest
of the Zambian people at heart, should not hesitate to attend the Indaba in order to
find solutions to the challenges facing the country.

And chief Mwanachingwala has taken a swipe at some opposition political parties and
non governmental organisations for pressurising government to take shortcuts in the
constitution making process.

He said he supports the stance taken by government to follow the constitution making
process step by step in line with available resources.

Chief Mwanachingwala has also called on the donor community to support government
financially to enable it come up with a new constitution.

By Tovin Ngombe-:
Most Children in Zambia go to School on an empty stomach said Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC).

Speaking at the celebration of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in Sinazongwe Laiven Apuleni told the gathering that many parents fail to enroll their children and force them to look for food.

Apuleni noted that Sinazongwe people have joined thousands of their fellow citizens to demand for an end to the unnecessary suffering of children.

The celebration whose theme was Fight Hunger, walk the world has one goal of ending hunger by 2015.

The DC said the UN WFP together with Ministry of education was providing School meals to over 185,000 children in over 600 community and basic Schools around Zambia.

He disclosed that the WFP was currently feeding 22, 592 School going children across Sinazongwe District.

WFP launched a pilot School Feeding Programme in Zambia in July 2003 to increase enrolment, access to education in drought prone areas such as Sinazongwe, and food insecure areas.

It also provides children with hot porridge of fortified Corn-Soya blend, sugar and oil.

However, the DC urged the Schools that donor funding has a life span adding that it was prudent for them to start having gardens in their backyard to prepare for a time when the programmes would end.

Apuleni said parents should start having gardens at each place where there was a borehole to encourage children to be better citizens in future.

“If parents are lazy then they will set a bad example to their children, this scenario of failing to cultivate should end,” the DC said.

Sinazongwe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Elijah Sikuvwaza disclosed that WFP has increased children’s enrolment to 23353 for regular Schools and 6671 for Community Schools.

Sikuvwaza said the School feeding programme was not only meant to increase enrolments but also to improve the nutrition of children.

He said the district has a number of programmes running in Schools such as the Save the Children, Bilharzia control, and Change to School Feeding Programme.
The DEBS thanked the organizations such as ZAMBEEFF, Chipaila Stores, Ziba Zako, Kwa Gondwe Guest house, and all Schools in Maamba for the support rendered.

He said the celebration was the first of its kind since the School Feeding programme was instituted in the district

Mothers day may not be a recognized Zambian holiday but before you castigate the West for inventing useless holidays take time to just appreciate your mother.

Your mother loved you even before you were born. She gently caressed her tummy those nine months she carried you. She would secretly or publicly talk to you even before you met. When “D” day finally arrived she labored for you for 6 – 18hrs. During that time she probably said some 4 letter words directed at the midwives or your father but never directed at you! When she finally pushed you out or when the doctor handed you to her and she held you, it felt like heaven. She thought you were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
The next year you kept her up most of the nights but she was only too glad to be at your service. When you could finally walk, talk and perhaps even climb furniture, she looked at you proudly like someone had awarded her a Nobel peace prize. Those nights you were down with malaria, diarrhoea or a fractured limb she never left your side. She urged you to get an education though you would have rather dodged school. She scolded you for playing with Bana Mulengas kids but she was only trying to protect her precious child from bad company.
When you became a rebellious teenager she still loved you and spent most nights praying you would turn out right. You graduated from university or college and she was “ululating” the loudest in the crowd. Her little angel had done it. You got married and though she would have preferred someone taller or slimmer she was still happy for you. Now she’s a grandmother and the joy you’ve brought in her life is overflowing. How she longs to baby-sit her grandkids for you. Alas you left Zambia in search of greener pastures. For this precious woman who has always been there for you, for your number 1 fan why not appreciate her on this Mothers Day.
To all you mothers out there Happy Mothers Day!

 Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, MikeMulongoti, says information is a key factor in national development.

Mr. Mulongoti says the provision of information to the citizenry would empower them
to make decisions that will enhance their health and economic status.

Speaking today during a Labour Day award giving ceremony for Ministry of Information
staff at Mass Media Complex, Mr. Mulongoti prodded journalists to be proactive and
reach the masses in all corners of the country.

“We as the ministry responsible for collecting and disseminating information must be
proactive and reach the masses in corners of the country,” he said.

Mr. Mulongoti said the media is central to any developmental efforts because no
meaningful development can take place in the absence of information.

He said the award ceremony provides workers with an opportunity to reflect on each
individual worker’s performance and to identify areas that need improvement so as to
adjust and deliver service more efficiently.

Mr. Mulongoti urged the Ministry of Information staff members to execute their
duties diligently in order for the ministry to achieve its intended goals.

He further encouraged the workers to take up studies that would improve their skills
and consequently enhance their performance.

The minister saluted the recipients of the awards and challenged others to improve
their performance so that they could be considered next year.

Several workers walked away with awards ranging from Refrigerators, DVDs and other
electrical appliances.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mulongoti challenged the public media in the country to work in line
with their mandate of highlighting and explaining government programmes to the
people.

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, said the public media
should move away concentrating from reporting on scandals to developmental issues in
order to effectively contribute to national economic development.

President Levy Mwanawasa says he should be punished if he has also stolen from national resources.

Mr Mwanawasa said he does not see any reason why he should not be punished if he had
stolen.

Speaking when he commissioned the Livingstone International Airport Runway extension
and civil works in Livingstone today, Mr Mwanawasa said  when he follows up corruption cases, it does not mean that he is also guilty.

”US$46 million was lost in just one case tried in London. We have made that possible and when we do that it doesnt mean that we are also guilty. When anyone of us abuses facilities at his disposal , he will be punished,” he said.

Mr Mwanawasa reiterated that there would be no sacred cows in his government adding
that anyone who abuses his office will be punished.

”But it is being said that Levy you are facilitating this and we will do the same to you when you leave. You are welcome. If I have stolen I don’t see any reason why I should not be punished,” he said.

ZANIS reports from Livingstone that Mr Mwanawasa said he knew that the path he had
taken in pursuing corruption was a dangerous one but noted that someone had to start
the fight in order to save the country.

”I know that the path I have taken is a dangerous one both to me and my family. But
someone must start the fight, if we don’t, we are gone. They are saying that the MMD is full of thieves. I agree. Iam not saying we are clean. If we are found wanting, we should be punished,” he said.

Mr Mwanawasa said because his government had exercised integrity, the donor community had restored its confidence in government adding that the commissioning of
the extension and civil works done at Livingstone airport funded at a cost of US$14
million Euros  by the European Union was a testimony of the confidence the donor community had in the government.

He said the EU’s relationship was not as strong as it is now adding that things have, however, changed and that the EU had become a strong partner to Zambia because of the confidence it has in the new deal government.

Mr Mwanawasa said his administration has been able to disclose a number of malpractices in government which included the disclosure of the thefts of money.

”This demonstrates that we are transparent. Things were being stolen in the past that you did not know.  US$46 million was lost in just one case tried in London

Mr Mwanawasa also noted that advocating for the new Constitution would neither put
food on the table nor develop the country.

He said some sectors of society felt that there would be no food, employment ,
marriage and development if the Constitution is not enacted.

”Dear colleagues, the new constitution will not put food on the table. What will do
is that you should elect leaders of integrity who are ready to work for Zambia. You should elect leaders who will generate confidence from donors,” he said.

The president, who arrived this morning to officially commission the newly rehabilitated Livingstone International Airport was accompanied by Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande, Transport and Communications minister Sara Sayifwanda, Tourism Minister Kabinga Pande and other senior government officials.

ZANIS

Former President FTJ Chiluba, today lashed out at a London high court judge who found him guilty of stealing US $46 million , calling him a “racist”. He accused Zambian and British leaders of conspiring to “crucify” him.

At an emotional press conference, Chiluba protested his innocence.
Dressed in his trade mark tailor-made suit, Chiluba told reporters that he would not accept the judgment made by Judge Peter Smith last week, claiming it was predetermined by the British government.
“At best, this judgment is a mere political statement made by a man who represents a vicious and violent system with inherent prejudices and hatred against Africa,” Chiluba said at a news conference.
“The language he uses is racist, abusive, demeaning and clearly unbecoming of a high court judge,” he said.

“I find this judgement totally unacceptable and I therefore reject it.”

“Judge Smith’s obsession with my clothes is obscene. Is not the living and other expenses of the president borne by the state?” Chiluba asked.

He explained that part of the funds he allegedly stole was in fact from a private reserve of money made up of donations from various people and put in a secret service account for security reasons.

“More than nine million dollars came from private sources,” Chiluba said.

Chiluba gave no indication of whether he will appeal the ruling.
Chiluba said that Mwanawasa had “betrayed the national trust,” by pursuing legal action in a foreign court. Some criminal charges remain pending in Zambian courts.
The government said it was vindicated by the ruling. “Public service is about service, not about the aggrandizement of wealth,” Minister of Information and Broadcasting Mike Mulongoti told The Associated Press. “The judge has vindicated us. Forty-six million dollars, for a country like Zambia, is a lot of money. … The outcome has profound implications.”
If Chiluba does not pay, the government could then begin the process of seizing his assets, said Stephen Lungu, vice president of the Law Association of Zambia. The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said the judgement handed would be enforced in Zambia.
“If he (Chiluba) fails to satisfy the judgment, he can be declared bankrupt,” LAZ vice president Stephen Lungu warned.

“Nothing will stop the enforcement of a foreign judgment because of the reciprocal agreements that exist between the two jurisdictions,” Lungu said.

Chiluba officially earned about 100,000 dollars during his time in power, yet he managed to pay the exclusive Basile clothes boutique in Switzerland 1.2 million dollars — all with money stolen from the Republic of Zambia, according to the British court.

Zambian prosecutors, who pursued the case in British courts because some of the money was laundered through British banks, are in the process of entering the judgment with the Zambian High Court, which is expected to accept and enforce it. Chiluba will then have 14 days to pay back the funds.