Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Mufulira Central Member of Parliament Majory Masiye has insisted that the US$ 53, 000 car loans are necessary for individual MPs.

Ms. Masiye has advised public service union to stop politicising the
parliamentarians’ demands for the car loans because they are meant to enhance their
mobility when addressing issues affecting their constituencies.

Ms. Masiye told ZANIS in Mufulira that better incentives would enable the MPs
execute their duties properly.

She stressed the need for the members of public to realise that the MPs would pay
back the loans.

But a Mufulira resident John Kapesa, told ZANIS that it was morally wrong for the
MPs to demand for the controversial  car loans when such colossal sums of money
could be used to improve productivity in key areas of the national economy.

Mr. Kapesa noted that the money alternatively could be spent on recruiting the
unemployed school teachers or improving the conditions of service for public service
employees like nurses and the security forces.

He added that parliament should not be used as a platform for individuals to amass
wealth.

ZANIS

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Zambia) says freedom of information (F.O.I) bill is vital in promoting democracy, transparency and good governance.

Speaking during a MISA consultative workshop for Members of Parliament (MPs) on the need for a freedom of information act in Lusaka today, MISA Zambia Chairperson Fr. Frank Bwalya said it was sad that the F.O.I bill that was drafted 15 years ago has not yet been enacted.

Fr. Bwalya said the Media is saddened with the manner in which government has been
consulting on the F.O.I bill because there were reports that government had circulated
a discussion paper among selected individuals and institutions for their input
ignoring the Media.

He refuted government claims that the F.O.I which became operational in the United
Kingdom is causing problems saying there was evidence that the act has brought benefits to that country and the UK government is happy.

Speaking at the function Lusaka Lawyer Patrick Matibini said the provision of
adequate information would lead the public to participate more effectively although
indirectly to the process of policy making and governance.

Dr. Matibini said access to public or official information enhances the enjoyment of
freedom of expression which is an indispensable element in the successful working of
government.

He said the F.O.I bill is potentially an important tool to redress the imbalance in
power and effective supervision of the executive branch of government by both the
legislature and the public.

And Livingstone Member of Parliament Sakwiba Sikota said the F.O.I bill would present
better opportunities to MPs to get information than even questions raised in
parliament in certain cases.

Mr. Sikota who is also United Liberal Party President said a good F.O.I bill will give
time limits within which information should be made available with adequate
sanctions for obstructing the act because government would not be in a position to
defer answering or providing information as they sometimes do in parliament.

And Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) Vice President Amos Chanda said the absence
of a FOI law places a lot of information necessary for democratic dispensation
outside the public domain.

Mr. Chanda said that the F.O.I is not exclusive to journalists but only seeks to
acquire quality information to pass on to the public so they can make informed
decisions on a wide range of national issues.

He said there is need for a mass movement that must speak for the interests of all
Zambians on the importance of the F.O.I.

ZANIS

The Reformed Church In Zambia (RCZ) says there is need for a well-informed leadership if Church matters were to be administered properly.

Speaking at a one day Seminar Organized by the Synodic Committee at Buchi
Congregation in Kitwe over the weekend, R C Z Rev. Isaac Banda said the Church
needed the leadership that will move with time and teach the truth and support the
government in power.

The participants were drawn from Solwezi, Mansa, Chililabombwe, Mufulira, Kalulushi,
Chamita and Kitwe Congregations.

Rev. Banda said where there was good leadership people sit together and accommodate
other people’s views for the smooth running of congregations.

He said the Church needs the Leaders in order to give guidance, teach and to be
sensitive with the plight of the people they were leading in the

Church.

And speaking at the same seminar Elder Ruben Banda said the church needed financial
discipline and transparency in handling church finances.

He added that at times financial problems arose in churches especially when you have
treasurers who did not know how to handle church money.

He said treasurers running Church Accounts should be Men and Women with the full
spirit, wisdom, faith, High integrity and sincere.

Meanwhile, Rev. Thomas Khosa urged the church to give to the poor and not only
expect to receive handouts from members.

ZANIS

President Mwanawasa says Zambia stands ready to support efforts aimed at reviving a cartel for Copper producing countries in southern Africa.
Mr. Mwanawasa said this is in an effort to create a fair price for the product on the international market.

Mr. Mwanawasa was speaking when former Namibian President Sam Nujoma paid a courtesy call on him at State House today.

President Mwanawasa advised Mr. Nujoma to use his current University geological
studies to lobby leaders of Copper producing countries in the region to revive the
initiative of creating a cartel.

‘Whilst you are studying at university, you should take advantage to prode those in
leadership in thes leading Copper producing countries in the region to create a
cartel because we want to create a fair price for Copper on the market,’ President
Mwanawasa said.

He recalled that when Mr. Nujoma was still president of Namibia, the two countries
brainstormed on the idea of forming a cartel among the countries.

And Mr. Nujoma said there is need for Namibia, Zambia, Angola and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC), that are the leading Copper producers in the region to
form a cartel to ensure that minerals are utilised for the benefit of the people in
the region.

Mr. Nujoma, who is a student of Economic Geology at the University of Namibia, is in
the country on a study tour.

Mr. Nujoma, however, recognised the role that information technology plays in
mineral development and marketing.

He acknowleged that the four copper producing countries were currently supplying the
world with the mineral which is widely used in technolological advancement.

‘This copper thast is coming from this region is used in cables for many
technological equipment, such as radios,’ Mr. Nujoma said.

‘Just after independence, then President Kenneth Kaunda, Zaireæs Mobutu Seseko and
Chile joined hands and formed a cartel, which however did not last,’ Mr. Nujoma
recalled.

Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa says his partnership with Mr. Nujoma, during hies
reign, materialised in development projects aimed at improving the economic stands
of the people in the two countries.

Mr. Mwanawasa said during Mr. Nujoma’s rule, Zambia and Namibia initiated the
Livingstone-Katimamulilo power interconnection project and conceived the idea of a
joint agriculture venture.

He revealed that the joint agriculture project in Sesheke between the two countries
is still on the drawing board and hoped that it would be fully implemented before
his second term of office expires.

Mr. Mwanawasa is happy that Mr, Nujoma has opted study economic geology, in an
effort to continue contributing to efforts of improving the welfare of the people in
the region than heavily involving himself in politics.

Meanwhile, immediately after meeting Mr. Nujoma, President Mwanawasa took time off
his busy schedule to visit the funeral house of his late friend Allan Phiri in
Lusakaæ Olympia Park residential area.

Mr. Phiri, 68, died on Sunday after an illness.

He is survived by a wife and three children.

ZANIS

Outgoing Secretary General for Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Reverend Japhet Ndhlovu has called on all politicians to be mature in order to enhance democratic governance.

He urged politicians to stop practicing petty politics of hatred and vindictiveness
to enhance democratic governance in the country.

Reverend, Ndhlovu said Zambia needs a mature democracy that does not support
impunity as seen practiced by some politicians in the past.

Reverend Ndhlovu further said politicians must struggle to uphold morality, as it is
the only thing that will enable them to stop defending themselves when they go
wrong.

He said Zambians need credibility, honesty, truth and humility from the leaders
running the affairs of the nation.

And Reverend Ndhlovu has said it is possible for Zambia to have a good republican
constitution.

He noted that there is need to develop a constitution where rights of children and
women are enshrined and education treated as a right for all children.

Reverend Ndhlovu pointed out that mature democracy would support genuine, long-term
investment, which will benefit everybody as opposed to tax holidays driven
investment, which only serves the interest of investors.

He was speaking at a farewell worship service organized for him at the Anglican
Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka today.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ndhlovu has thanked the Reformed Church of Zambia for allowing him to
serve as Secretary General of the Churches Association of Zambia for the past five
years.

He said the support given to him availed opportunities for him to stand for the
things that he passionately believed like the betterment of the citizens of Zambia.

Speaking at the same function, CCZ Head of Programmes Abraham Chikasa praised
Reverend Ndhlovu for his tireless efforts in fighting for a new constitution,
women’s rights and debt cancellation for Zambia.

And Retired Archbishop of Lusaka Medado Mazombwe said Reverend Ndhlovu was chosen by
God to teach the word of God and serve the church in all parts of the world.

Archbishop Mazombwe thanked Reverend Ndhlovu for his commitment to serve the
international community through his service in Zambia.

He wished him God’s guidance in his new mission in Kenya.

Government says it is impressed with the construction works at the K315 million Ice Plant in Gwembe.

Speaking during a conducted tour of the Ice Plant construction site at Chipepo Harbour , acting Gwembe District Commissioner, Dorothy Hamvula, said the works were going according to schedule.

”The works being done by both the committee and the contractor are quite impressive, there is need for both the contractor and the committee to work together in order to ensure the success of the project,” she said.

The project, which is funded by the Justice for Solidarity and Poverty Reduction Fund (JSPRF), through the Agriculture Support Program (ASP), is expected to have among other amenities, a fish market, store-room and Ice-block maker.

A check at the contraction site revealed that works at the ice-plant, being carried out by Kwanga-Kwangisha which is still at slab level, is well ahead of schedule.

The project once complete is expected to produce a maximum of fifty ice-blocks per day, with the capacity to store up to 600kf’s of fish.

And the district commissioner questioned the storage capacity, saying that fifty blocks per day was too little.

She noted that there was need to leave enough room for expansion of the ice plant in order to increase the capacity.

And in response to the sentiments raised by the DC, ASP Gwembe District Coordinator,
Victor Ng’andu said the project was meant to serve the locals to store their fish, as opposed to other traders.

Mr. Ng’andu also said the project would be able to pay back the investment in two
years, if well managed.

He also noted that out of the K315 million, a total of K11 million, was a community
contribution towards the project, while K243 million was a grant from JSPRF, which
he said has been spent on the connection of ZESCO power, water reticulation and
buying of materials.

He added that from the community contribution, the monies raised would be used as
operational funds for logistics such as fuel.

The contraction works, which began in December last year, are expected to complete
in March this year, ahead of the official opening slated for April.