President Mwanawasa has sent a message of sympathy to
Botswana President Festus Mogae following his sudden illness.

President Mogae has since been flown to South Africa for an emergency operation in South Africa on a suspected rapture of a tendon in the left shoulder.

This is contained in a Statement signed by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations John Musukuma and released to ZANIS in Lusaka this
evening.

President Mwanawasa learnt of President Mogae’s illness through a letter dated 15 March 2007 from the Zambia High Commissioner to Botswana Ambassador Reuben
Musakabantu.

In his message, Mr Mwanawasa said the news of Mr Mogae’s sudden illness had made the Zambian government very anxious and said he had since instructed Ambassador Musakabantu to keep the Government onstantly informed on his counterpart’s
condition.

The President wished his Botswana counterpart a successful operation and early recovery.

“I have received news that you have suddenly fallen sick and have been flown to South Africa for an emergency operation on a suspected rapture of a tendon in the
left shoulder”.

“This development has made my Government very anxious and l have given instructions to our High Commissioner to keep us constantly informed of your condition. We wish you a successful operation and early recovery”, President Mwanawasa said.

ZANIS

A Lusaka-based clergyman wants President Mwanawasa to
intervene and stop the ongoing demolition of alleged illegal structures by the Lusaka City Council, LCC.

Christ Impact Ministries, Prophet Hastings Mzumara, told ZANIS in an interview that president Mwanawasa should immediately intervene in the matter before thousands of
people are left homeless.

Prophet Mzumara said the move by the local authority to demolish alleged illegal structures is not the best solution to addressing the problem of illegal land allocation.

He advised government, through the ministry of local government and housing, to find an alternative location to accommodate victims of the ongoing demolition exercise.

He regretted that the authorities have swang into action to demolish structures after people have invested huge amounts of money in the construction of affected
structures.

“Human life should be respected and honored because God respect human life,” he said.

ZANIS

Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) agreed on Wednesday to a 20% salary rise with workers, Mine Workers Union of Zambia (Muz) general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe told Reuters.

Munyenyembe said the unions had initially asked for 80% while management had offered 18%.

The production of copper was disrupted two weeks ago at Mopani, the second largest copper producer in the southern African country, when miners downed tools, rejecting the 18% salary rise.

Munyenyembe said the unions agreed to a 20% salary rise due to intimidation from the government although the miners would be unhappy with the outcome. The unions however, do not expect any strike.

“We have agreed to a 20% salary rise because of circumstances beyond us such as the threats by the government to deregister any unions that would cause strikes at the (copper) mines which were issued by the labour minister… we took the threats seriously,” Munyenyembe told Reuters.

The Mopani management also agreed to pay 30 percent tax slapped on workers’ house allowance by the government for all its 10 000 permanent employees, he added.

“This is really not the best deal but we will take it. We were asking for an 80 percent salary increase because that would have made us achieve a living wage for our members and also because the copper mines are making good profits due to higher copper prices,” Munyenyembe said.

He said the lowest paid miners at Mopani were receiving up to $195 dollars in monthly pay before adding overtime pay prior to the new pay agreement.

Mopani said last September it expects to boost copper output to 300 000 t in 2007 from 220 000 last year after upgrading a smelter at Mufulira smelter, about 420 km north of the capital Lusaka. The smelter was upgraded to treat 1-million t of copper concentrate per year from 420 000 t previously.

Mopani, a consortium comprising Canada’s First Quantum Minerals and Swiss firm Glencore International AG, operates the Nkana and Mufulira copper and cobalt mines, which account for almost 30 percent of Zambia’s total metals output.

Glencore International AG, owns a 73,1% stake in Mopani, while First Quantum holds 16.9 percent. The balance is owned by the ZCCM Investments Holdings on behalf of the Zambian government.

Munyenyembe said many highly qualified miners were quitting Mopani and joining new mines run by First Quantum Minerals, which paid better salaries.

“They are losing a number of qualified staff because of low salaries. First Quantum is paying well in their new mines,” Munyenyembe said.

By Reuters

People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Signs of a cheating spouse

1. Find birth-control pills in her medicine cabinet, and you’ve had a vasectomy.
2. Mutual friends start acting strangely toward you. (They either know about the cheating or have been told stories about what a horrible wife or girlfriend you are.)
3. He stops confiding in you and seeking advice from you.
4. He leaves the house in the morning smelling like Irish Spring and returns in the evening smelling like Safeguard.
5. He joins the gym and begins a rigorous workout program.
6. He buys a cell phone and doesn’t let you know.
7. He sets up a separate cell phone account that is billed to his office.
8. He carries condoms, and you are on the pill.
9. Begins to delete all incoming phone calls from the caller ID.
10. Deletes all incoming e-mails when they used to accumulate.
11. He becomes “accusatory,” asking if you are being true to him, usually out of guilt.
12. Raises hypothetical questions such as, “Do you think it’s possible to love more than one person at a time?”
13. He buys himself new underwear.
14. Has a sudden desire to be helpful with the laundry.
15. Has unexplained scratches or bruises on his or her neck or back.
16. Suddenly wants to try new love techniques.
17. He/she fairly suddenly stops having sex with you.
18. He/she suddenly wants more sex, more often.
19. Supposedly works a lot of overtime, but it never shows up on the pay check.
20. Picks fights in order to stomp out of the house.
21. You find out by accident he or she took personal time off from work – but supposedly worked on those days.
22. Spouse’s coworkers are uncomfortable in your presence.
23. Has a sudden preoccupation with his or her appearance.
24. You get calls where the caller hangs up when he or she hears your voice.
25. She sleeps with her purse by the bed.
26. He goes to the store for groceries and comes home 5 hours later.
27. He tells you can get hold of him at a different telephone number.

Causes of cheating

The root of unfaithfulness in marriage has absolutely nothing to do with who we are married to. It has to do with who we are as people.

What causes a spouse to cheat is lack of morals – It takes a person of upright character to withstand the temptations of society.Sometimes a person will commit adultery even when they know it is wrong. It is a lifestyle thing. Monkey see, monkey do.

What to do if you are having problems

Firstly don’t try to make sense out of nonsense.In order to resolve your relationship, contact with “the other person” must be cut off 100%.Make the hard decision i.e either leave the marriage to free your partner, or commit to stay.
Maturity enables you to control your impulses. You must do whatever it takes UNTIL your partner finds the emotional closure.Time heals nothing. It is what you do with the time.
Healing can’t start until hurting stops.You can’t work on the affair while you’re still having it. Remember that it is better to be healthy alone than sick with someone else.
Affair proof your marriage

Your relationship must be based on a solid, underlying friendship. Friends talk, laugh, share, and do things they’re interested in together. Don’t stop being friends just because you’re each other’s spouse.

Your relationship has to meet the needs of the two people involved. Understand what your partner’s needs are so you can meet them. Figure out what your own needs are and communicate them. If your needs are not being met, communicate and negotiate. Don’t let resentment build.

You can’t control your partner’s behavior, but you don’t have to set yourself up to get hurt either. Inoculate yourself against infidelity by making sure you’re attentive, involved and plugged in to your marriage.

How to be plugged in

1. Turn toward your partner — not away. You absolutely cannot fix a problem inside a relationship by turning outward. All that does is create problems.
2. Don’t play games in your head. It is a short step from thought to action.
3. Don’t confuse reality with fantasy. We often forget that there’s a difference between falling in love and being in love. You can’t expect a love that grows to be like it was on the first date.
4. If you want to have a good partner, be a good partner. Put 100 percent into your marriage.
5. Is your marriage in a rut? “Bored people are boring,” Find a passion, get energized, find some time together to rediscover the love and commitment you have for one another.
6. Work on your marriage every single day — not just during the bad times. Wake up each day and ask yourself, “What can I do today that will make my marriage better.”
7. Make a plan together to renegotiate your relationship. If you’ve gotten off track, it’s never too late to get back to a better place.
8. Take care of yourself. Eat healthy, exercise and look your best. Feeling good about yourself will radiate and your spouse will notice.

Central Province Minister, Sydney Chisanga, is concerned that most Railway Systems of Zambia passenger trains lack proper maintenance and are a deplorable state.

Mr. Chisanga observed that most of the trains lack proper seats and lighting
systems, a situation that subject passengers to unconducive conditions.

Mr. Chisanga said government is saddened by complaints from passengers over the poor
conditions of the trains and that it will soon intervene in the matter.

The minister said this in Kabwe yesterday when communications and transport deputy
minister Mubika Mubika paid a courtesy call on him at his Office.

Mr. Chisanga said despite several complaints to RSZ, nothing has been done to
improve the situation.

And Communications and Transport Deputy Minister Mubika Mubika revealed that
government will not allow a situation where public Operators are dehumanising the
travelling public.

Mr. Mubika disclosed that Government will next year set up a Railway Regulatory
Agency of Zambia that will the audit and monitor the performances of RSZ.

The Deputy Minister said the commissioning of the former Zambia Railways to RSZ is
meant to benefit Zambians because government is in a hurry to transform the
transport sector.

He said after budget approval, the Ministry of Communications and Transport will
embark on an on-the-spot check on Railway Systems of Zambia infrastructure and also
address issues of vandalism and low wages in the RSZ.

The Deputy Minister however, tasked the Central Province Administration to write a
comprehensive report that in turn will be handed over to President Levy Mwanawasa.

ZANIS

Government has hailed the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) for its efforts of empowering Zambian youths.

Sports, Youth and Child development Deputy Minister Patricia Mulasikwanda said it
was for this reason that government is committed to continue working with partners
such as the CYP for to ensure full youth development and empowerment.

Ms. Mulasikwanda said the CYP has been instrumental in capacity building for youths.

She added that the programme has been instrumental in the formulation of the youth
policy that guides activities undertaken by government regarding the youths.

She said government has shown commitment to the youths by revising the youth policy
to ensure it reflects the aspirations of the youths today.

Furthermore, the deputy minister said government is making available funds at
different levels to enhance youth entrepreneurship and self-sustainability.

Ms Mulasikwanda said this in a speech read on her behalf by her Youth Coordinator a
Ms Mbangu during the CYP day celebrations at its regional office at the University
of Zambia (UNZA) Great East road campus.

During the celebrations the, school debates where held on the motions: Youth
Empowerment has it been adequately addressed in Zambia.

The celebrations were held under the theme: Respecting differences, promoting
understanding.

Speaking at the same occasion, CYP Regional Director Valencia Mogegeh urged
commonwealth governments to step up their efforts to mainstream youth issues in
their national issues and development plans.

Ms Mogegeh said governments should also apportion requisite resources at levels that
correspond to youth needs relative to national needs.

She said this is the only sure way to take responsibility and ensure accountability
towards youths empowerment.

ZANIS