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Govt to invest $65 million in Indeni

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The Zambian government and French oil major Total SA (TOT) are set to invest up to $65 million in the country’s sole petroleum refinery, Indeni, in the next five years as the country seeks to stabilize fuel supply to its vast copper mines, according to a report from the Ministry of Energy and Water Development obtained by Dow Jones Newswires.
Total and the Zambian government each hold 50% in the Indeni refinery, which closed Jan. 2 for restoration work. It started partial output last week and is expected to be fully operational by the end of this week, industry insiders said.
The report also said Zambia is also seeking to blend refined petroleum products with biofuels such ethanol from molasses and biodiesel from jathropha trees in a bid to guarantee security of supply and reduce dependence on imports.
The report said the government has realized the scale of the growing demand of fuel, led by the mining and manufacturing sectors, and has put in place a strategic reserve fund to stabilize fuel supply. Oil marketing companies are also expected to keep 15-day fuel reserves to avoid a crisis.
Investment in the Zambian mining industry continue to rise significantly, spurred by a recovery in copper prices on the international market and increased copper demand from China.
Zambia’s 2007 copper output is seen at 600,000 metric tons, rising to over 700,000 tons in 2008.
Dow Jones Market watch

Lumwana copper project wins award

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Zambia continues to amass accolades for its burgeoning mining sector. The latest news is that Equinox Minerals’ Lumwana project has been awarded Mining Deal of the Year by Project Finance International (PFI) at the PFI Annual Awards Dinner held recently in London, England. The prestigious PFI Awards are decided by the industry through a public on-line voting process. The awards host over 30 different citations regionally and globally and are widely recognized as the ultimate symbol of excellence and achievement in the project finance industry. The Company’s award represented the winner in PFI’s European, Middle Eastern and African category.

The award recognizes the company’s significant achievement in securing the $583.8 million senior and subordinated project finance debt facility for the completion of development and construction of Lumwana . The debt facility will be provided by a syndicate of European, African and Australian based Commercial Lenders, Developmental Finance Institutions and Export Credit Agencies.

Lumwana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Equinox – which is dual listed on the Toronto and Australian Stock exchanges (Ticker EQN), is located in the North Western Province of Zambia, west of the world-renowned Copperbelt. With proven and probable reserves totalling 321 million tonnes of ore grading 0.73% copper, Lumwana represents one of the largest fully permitted copper projects in the world currently in construction. Mine construction remains on schedule with commissioning expected during the second quarter of 2008.

Craig Williams, Equinox President and CEO said “Signing the Lumwana debt package was a milestone event for the company. The facility underpins the Lumwana project and as such, was a critical achievement to timely development of Africa’s largest copper mine. We are delighted that our solid work, conducted over some 25 months, has been recognized at the highest level by the project finance community. We came to Zambia in 1996 and to Lumwana in 1999 and our progress is testament to the tenacity, skill and perseverance of the committed Equinox team who are bringing this exciting development to reality.”

source:Mineweb 

Zambian Football Saturday Update

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Zambia are through to the semifinals of the 2007 Africa Youth Championships after beating Egypt 3-0 this afternoon in their final Group B match played in Brazzaville.

Victory for Zambia today also means they also qualify to the Fifa Under 21 World Cup to be held in Canada this summer.

A brace from Clifford Mulenga and an Fwayo Tembo goal settled matters in this match to see Zambia join defending champions and Group B top finishers Nigeria into the last 4.

Nigeria reached the penultimate stage despite losing 2-0 this afternoon to arch-foes Cameroon in the other final Group B tie.

In the semifinals to be played on Tuesday, January 30, Zambia play hosts Congo while Nigeria takes on Gambia.

All four sides will represent Africa at the Under 21 World Cup this June.

ZANACO KICKOFF CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUEST IN LESOTHO.

Zanaco tomorrow afternoon face Likhopo of Lesotho away in the 1st round, 1st leg of this year’s Caf Africa Champions League away in Maseru.

The match will be the first ever meeting between the two sides that play each other over two legs with the return leg to be played in Lusaka on February 10.

Meanwhile Zambia’s Caf Confederations Cup representatives Green Buffaloes are on bye from the first round in their competition.


RANGERS HOLD UNDER 23.

Nchanga Rangers this afternoon held the Zambia under 23 team to a 1-1 draw in a training game played at Nchanga stadium in Chingola.

The game was decided via penalties with Zambia taking a first half lead through a spot-kick converted by defender Eugene Shamakamba.

Thomas Chisha leveled scores later in the second period.

Courtesy of Kalumiana Kalumiana

Zambian Football Friday Update

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Zambia is a game away from the semifinals of this year’s Africa Youth Championships when the face Egypt tomorrow, Saturday in both sides final Group B match in Brazzaville.

An outright win for 3rd placed Zambia on 3 points over number 2 positioned Egypt on 4 points will see the former through top the last 4.

Zambia put themselves back in contention when they rallied to beat Cameroon 3-2 with two late goals from joint top scorer Fwayo Tembo and Clifford Mulenga.

Tembo again should be instrumental in Zambia’s attack together with Red Arrows winger Simon Lupiya.

Egypt meanwhile are desperate to get their quest for a semifinal berth right this time after drawing 1-1 with group leaders Nigeria in the two sides penultimate pool match in midweek.

A draw over Zambia will be enough for them to reach the last 4

Nigeria meanwhile, on 4 points, has almost secured their last 4 place and they too need just a point over archrivals Cameroon to see them through.

Reaching the Africa Youth Cup semifinals gains all four nations qualifiers automatic berths to this years Fifa Under 21 Championships to be held in Canada this coming June.

KASONDE GETS UNDER 23 CALL-UP.

Power Dynamos defender Francis Kasonde has been drafted into the Zambia Under 23 national team.

Kasonde comes into the under 23 team as replacement for Konkola Blades defender Thomas Nyirenda.

Nyirenda was released in mid-week due to a long-term injury on his right thigh he sustained during a training game with the squad against Zamtel FC last Saturday.

The Power defender joined camp yesterday and begun training with the Under 23 team Friday morning’s training session.

Kasonde has been capped 11 times with the senior national team with one goal in his last game against Congo DR in a friendly played in Kitwe on December 12, 2005.

The Under 23 meanwhile tomorrow, Saturday travels to Chingola to play Nchanga Rangers in training game at Nchanga stadium.

Embrace Chinese firms, urges Mwanawasa

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Mwanawasa in ChinaPresident Levy Mwanawasa has urged Zambians to be more positive about Chinese firms and their workers, a plea that comes a week before Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Zambia. In a meeting with supporters late on Thursday, Mwanawasa said he regretted violent anti-Chinese protests that erupted in the country last year and described China’s involvement in the Zambian economy as helpful.

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Now Magistrates Boycott ACC Cases

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MAGISTRATES in Lusaka have resolved not to attend to any cases involving the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The boycott is as a result of a statement made by ACC director general Nixon Banda that magistrates were not competent to handle corruption cases.

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) described the decision by the magistrates in Lusaka to boycott hearing cases from the ACC as unfortunate and called for immediate intervention.

The magistrates held a meeting to discuss statements attributed to Mr Banda on whether they should continue handling ACC cases or not. They concluded that they would only start handling ACC cases once the matter was soundly resolved.

This came to light when former Zambezi East member of Parliament (MP) Maxwell Mukwakwa appeared on charges of bribery.

Magistrate Sharon Newa informed both parties in court chambers yesterday when the matter came up for hearing that the magistrates had resolved not to handle cases of such nature and others relating to ACC and had been adjourned Sine die with liberty to restore.

LAZ president William Mweenba said in an interview yesterday that magistrates and the ACC should immediately call for a meeting and resolve their differences.

He said LAZ expected the magistrates to accept the apology made by the ACC director general who regretted publicly for having accused the court of lacking knowledge to preside over corruption cases.

Mr Mweemba reiterated that the ACC should have used the right to appeal to the High Court if it was not happy with the rulings from the subordinate courts.

He said magistrate courts were critical in the judicial system and the boycott by the magistrates should be resolved amicably.

In his statement, Mr Banda had stated that magistrates’ understanding of corruption was very low and that they were treating corruption cases like any matter.

The ACC chief said in Kitwe it was disappointing that despite overwhelming evidence and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)’s confirmation, the magistrates threw the cases out of court.

Mukwakwa was accused of bribery after he allegedly gave a Post reporter, George Chellah, K350,000 last year.

Lawyers representing both parties said the matter should be resolved urgently because cases would pile up. They said a lot of cases were at the courts and new ones were coming in.

“We understand the matter at hand, but we pray that the matter is amicably resolved as soon as possible to reduce the workload already at hand, the delay would mean new cases delayed too,” they said.

On Wednesday, Mr Mweemba and High Court registrar Mwamba Chanda said the statement by the ACC was made in bad faith and warned that in future such attacks should be avoided.

The judiciary complained and described Mr Banda’s remarks as unfortunate, especially that it was made by a qualified lawyer.

Mr Banda has since apologised to the Chief Justice, members of the judiciary, especially the magistrates to whom the statement referred.

“ACC is committed to work together with the judiciary who are key stakeholders. I did not mean to undermine the integrity of the judiciary in any way,” he said.

Times of Zambia 

Sinazongwe Farmers cry for School..

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SinazongweSinazongwe farmers from Chuunga in senior Chief Mweemba area have called on government to construct a road, School, Clinic, and boreholes to save them from difficulties they are facing. Chuunga area which has more than 400 hundred people have been having no School, clinic, boreholes, and a road network since the country attained Independence.

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Magistrates Not Amused by ACC

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Zambia CourtThe Judiciary says it takes great exception to remarks by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)- Director General, Nixon Banda, about Magistrates’ alleged incomptence in handling corruption cases.Registrar of the High Court, Mwamba Chanda, said Mr. Banda’s remarks on Magistrates were most unfortunate especially that they were made by a qualified lawyer.

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Tata Group to build power station

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LUSAKA: Tata group Tuesday signed an agreement with Zambia’s state-run power utility Zambia’s Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) to build a hydroelectric station in Zambia where demand for electricity has outstripped supply.

The 120-megawatt plant, will be constructed over two years and cost $150 million (115 million euros), said Rodney Sisaala, managing director of ZESCO.

It will be jointly financed by ZESCO and India’s giant conglomerate, the Tata Group, which has interests in steel, mining, cars and computers.

“The two companies will form a special purpose vehicle company to carry out this development,” Sisaala told reporters.

He said Zambia’s demand for electricity had shot up dramatically in recent years, adding that the country would require additional capacity by 2008 to meet the projected deficit.

“The main drivers of this demand are the growing mining, industrial and agriculture sectors.

Old mines are being recapitalised and new ones are being opened,” Sisaala said.

ZESCO already has a load-shedding programme for residential customers in order to save the power being generated for commercial users.

The entire southern African region, from which Zambia imports electricity when faced with a deficit, will be in need of additional capacity by 2008, Sisaala said.

Zambian Football Tuesday Update

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Peter Kaumba has demanded character from his Zambia under 23 ahead of the Olympic Games qualifying matches including the All Africa Games qualifiers thereafter.

Kaumba’s side kicks off with an Olympics qualifier against Malawi on February 10 in Lusaka before facing them in the final leg on March 14 away.

Winner there will go on to the group stage on the road to Beijing that kicks off in June.

“The players know the importance of winning in the Olympics and All Africa Games qualifiers that’s why they are here,” Kaumba said at the end of Tuesday morning’s training session.

“Every game will be tough and very important to us and it doesn’t matter what team we will play but we will prepare hard for them and we have to win because no games are not easy games.”

After the final leg away leg match in Malawi, Zambia under 23 will face either Zimbabwe or Mozambique during the April Fools day weekend in the first leg of the final round qualifiers for next July’s All Africa Games.

Winner over both legs will qualify to the All Africa Games final tournament to be held in Algeria.

Zambian Football Pro’s Hit List

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DENMARK.

Striker Chris Katongo’s debut last Thursday with Brondby got off on a promising note when he scored his sides final goal in their 5-4 defeat to Ukrainian champions Shakhter Donetsk in a pre-season tournament.

Katongo, who recently joined the Danish club from Jomo Cosmos of South Africa, came on in the second half before finding the target late into the match.

GERMANY.

PADERBORN: Midfielder Andrew Sinkala did not play on Sunday for his 2.Bundesliga club and 11th placed Paderborn in their 0-0 home draw with bottom of the table Enitracht Braunschweig.

ALEMANNIA AACHEN: The Bundesliga resumes on Friday, January 26 after a five-week winter break and Aachen host Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA.

SUPERSPORT UNITED: Midfielder James Chamanga played for 6th placed SuperSport United on Sunday in the clubs 1-1 away draw to bottom placed Amazulu.

KAIZER CHIEFS: Striker Rotson Kilambe did not play for 3rd placed Chiefs on Sunday in their 2-1 away derby defeat to number 4 side Jomo Cosmos.

WITS: Striker Noah Chivuta played the full 90 minutes for Wits on Saturday in his clubs 1-0 away loss to Ajax Cape Town who are 5th and 7th on the table respectively.

ORLANDO PIRATES-MOROKA SWALLOWS: Striker Songwe Chalwe started for Swallows on Saturday in their 0-0 away derby draw to Pirates before being substituted in the 72nd minute.

Troubled Pirates are 13th on the table after playing an ominous same number of games on 14 points while Swallows are three places above them in 9th position on 25 points from 17 matches.

LAMOTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS: Defenders Billy Mwanza and Kampamba Chintu both played the full 90 minutes for Golden Arrows on Saturday in the 12th placed sides 3-0 defeat away to the top-flights defending champions and 2nd positioned Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje did not play

Zambian Football Monday Update

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The Zambia Under 23 squad returned to training today after taking Sunday off at their Kitwe camp where they are preparing for their February 7, Olympic Games qualifying 1st leg, home leg match against Malawi.

Joining the squad during the break were schoolboy international midfielder Stophira Nsunzu of Afrisports FC and Kondwani Mtonga of promoted Zamtel FC.

Mtonga’s clubmate and ex-Afrisports striker Jackson Mwanza, himself a former Zambia schoolboy international, has also been added to Peter Kaumba’s squad.

Mwanza and Mtonga were called up after impressing Kaumba with Zamtel in this past Saturdays friendly against his side at Arthur Davies that the club won 3-2.

Mtonga and Nsunzu are potential replacements for out of favor Kitwe Uniteds’ defensive midfielder Richard Mooka who failed to impress in the Under 23’s 10-0 demolition of Djibouti in the one-leg preliminary round tie played in Lusaka last October.

18 -year old Nsunzu meanwhile joins his brother and striker Felix of Konkola Blades at teh Under 23’s to form the squads first sibling pair in Kaumba’s team.

26 players in all are in camp as the Under 23 steps up training.

The team this Saturday plays its second training match away in Chingola against Nchanga Rangers at Nchanga stadium.

2007 CAF AFRICA YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS.

GROUP A.

20/01/2007.

Congo-Brazzaville 2(Fabrice Nguessi Ondama 55″ 65″)- Cote d’Ivoire 0.

Gambia 2(Osamn Jallow 63″, Abdoulaye Kenmansally 66″)- Burkina Faso 0.

23/01/2007.

Cote d’Ivoire- Burkina Faso.

Congo-Braz- Gambia.

GROUP B.

21/01/2007.

Nigeria 4(Zenke Terwade 2″ 25″, Echieyile Uwa 5″, Emmanuel Sarki 86″)-Zambia 2(Simon Lupiya 44″, Fwayo Tembo 66″ pen).

Egypt 1(Mustapha Gomaa 62″)-Cameroon 0.

24/01/07.

Cameroon-Zambia.

Egypt-Nigeria.

ACC Closes in On ‘Big Fish’

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THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is geared to rid the civil service of all forms of corruption and warned that within this year, a lot of prominent people who are suspected involvement in the cancerous vice will be prosecuted.

ACC vice-chairperson Christine Mulundika and Director General, Nixon Banda, warned that there would be no “sacred cow” in the anti-corruption drive and culprits should expect a tough time.

Ms Mulundika and Mr Banda said the fight against corruption was for all Zambians as the crime was worse than the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Speaking in Kabwe when they introduced two new commissioners to Central Province heads of Government and civil society yesterday, the two said the commissioners had the capacity to clean up the civil service.

Introducing commissioners, Webby Kalikiti, a lecturer from the University of Zambia and Elizabeth Lupeta, a retired head-teacher, the two said the commission would not relent in its fight.

Mr Banda said the commission would pursue corruption cases regardless of who was involved and promised Zambians that before the end of this year a lot of “big fish will be netted.”

For sometime now, there had been allegations that the commission was selectively clamping down on corruption suspects, which he said was not true.

“This year, you will see quite a lot of big fish being netted in. There have been accusations that we have been selective in our fight but in the next few months you will see a lot of big fish being prosecuted,” Mr Banda said.

The commission was geared to wipe out corrupt practices among civil servants saying it had put in place several measures to achieve that and called on Zambians to join the fight for a better future.

One of the measures embarked on to combat the crime in the civil service was the introduction of the integrity committees in Government wings.

He said that on January 30, Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Joshua Kanganja, would swear in the committee members from various provinces who had been trained.

The committee had already been set up in about eight Government departments and local authorities in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Central Province Minister Sydney Chisanga and Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama.

Speaking in Mr Chisanga’s office, Ms Mulundika said that for sometime now the fight against corruption seemed to have been left to President Mwanawasa and the commission alone.

She said ministers and other senior Government officials should be in the forefront in the drive saying it was high time the officials supported the crusade.

The commission would assume that all those who were quiet about the issue were not in support of the commission and they could be involved in some corrupt practice.

Corruption had an effect on the lives of all Zambians and therefore there was need for concerted efforts in fighting the scourge.

In Mr Lumbama’s office, Mr Banda and Ms Mulundika appealed to the provincial leadership to move the ACC offices away from the main Government offices to make it more independent and accessible to all.

Source: Times of Zambia

Zambia’s Plans for Science get Recognition

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Zambia FlagZambia’s ambitious plan to use science to boost its economic development and reduce poverty has received financial backing from the African Development Bank.
A Ministry of Finance spokesperson, Chileshe Kandeta, announced this month that the bank has approved a loan of 123 billion kwachas (US$30 million) towards the country’s fifth national development plan.

The US$15.5 billion plan, in which science is a key priority, aims to train 300 researchers to post-graduate level and improve basic teaching and working conditions for scientists in a bid to stem the brain drain from Zambia.

The Zambian government has committed US$12 billion towards the plan, of which US$23 million is earmarked for science and technology.

Paul Zambezi, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Vocational Training told SciDev.Net that this is the most the country has ever invested in science and technology, and represents 0.3 per cent of the national budget.

The plan was welcomed by the University of Zambia, which also urged the Ministry of Education to increase researchers’ salaries and their allowances for accommodation and transport.

Under the plan, Zambia will refurbish almost 300 laboratories and lecture theatres atschools and universities in the hope of encouraging scientists to stay in the country.

The University of Zambia’s vice chancellor Robert Serpell told SciDev.Net: “more than 200 scientists have left the country in search of good salaries and better working conditions in the last 15 years.”

The African Development Bank says the Zambian government can do more to combat the brain drain. It has urged Ng’andu Magande, Zambia’s Finance Minister, to consider tax breaks to encourage the private sector to invest in research and development.

But Magande says there are no statistics available to show how much the private sector has already invested in research and development in Zambia.

The funds are expected by the end of January and must be spent by the end of 2007. They have been provided by a group of international donors that include Finland, Germany, Norway and Sweden.

Source: SciDev.Net

Journalists urged to use LINUX

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By Timothy-Kasonde Kasolo in Nairobi

340 computers running on Linux software platform have been provided to Journalists at the on going World Social Forum (WSF) in Nairobi- Kenya so as to empower Journalists to join the Free and Open Source (FOS) movement.

John Kipchumba an IT specialist in charge of the Media Center at WSF says his organization has provided Ubuntu software that is user friendly and has all the best applications that Journalists can use in terms of sending stories to their respective Media Organisations.

“Journalists can feed their stories using Ubuntu software which is usually easy when it comes to multimedia and besides its free, it has everything that a Journalist needs in terms of the applications,” Kipchumba said.

Kipchumba added that he has also provided Journalists with Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) technology so that Journalists with Laptops are able to work from anywhere.

He said the entire Internet connection is coming from Kenyan Data Networks (KDN) comprising of Line of Site (LoS) equipment using Wireless Technology.

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