A comprehensive strategy for tackling any possible floods underway

Government has revealed that a comprehensive strategy will have to be used in tackling any possible floods that may hit the country this rainy season.

The immediate past deputy minister in the vice president office under the disaster management and mitigation unit Gastone Sichilima said other ministries like the ministry of tourism will have to be engaged so that sensitization programmes are carried out in flood prone areas.

Mr Sichilima added that other measures to be implemented include the deepening of canals in the valleys across the country so that when rivers burst, the ordinary citizens will not be affected as the water will have channels to follow.

He further disclosed that councils in flood prone areas like lusaka, Kabwe, western province have been urged to either re-design or demolish unplanned structures.

And mr Sichilima advised farmers to change their farming circle by planting crops which easily grow and subsequently encourage food security.

Ends////////////

UPND youth chairman Joel Kalusa comes under fire for issuing statements to the media

THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NATIONAL YOUTH CHAIRMAN JOEL KALUSA HAS COME UNDER FIRE FOR ISSUING STATEMENTS ON THE PF-UPND PACT TO THE PRESS.

MR JOEL KALUSA IS QUOTED IN THE PRESS DEMANDING THAT THE PF/UPND PACT LEADERS MR MICHAEL SATA AND MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA SHOULD COME OUT IN THE OPEN ON THEIR STANDING REGARDING THE PACT.

MR KALUSA ALSO DEMANDED THAT JOINT MANIFESTOS BY THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES BE REVEALED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AND MR KALUSA’S BEHAVIOR WHICH WAS DESCRIBED AS UNCALLED HAS SINCE BEEN CHALLENGED TO RESIGN FROM HIS PARTY AS HE FAILED TO FOLLOW PROPER CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION FOR THE PACT TO AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES.
PATRIOTIC FRONT NATIONAL YOUTH CHAIRMAN CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI EXPLAINED THAT THE PF/UPND PACT HAS WORKING GROUPS WHICH ARE ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF ISSUES INCLUDING HARMONIZATION OF THE MANIFESTOES OF THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES.
BUT A KALULUSHI UPND MEMBER DAVID KOMBE ALSO ECHOED STATEMENTS FOR MR KALUSA ON THE NEED FOR HARMONIZATION OF MANIFESTOES OF THE PF/UPND PARTIES.
ENDS////

A new study concludes that production of bio-fuels does not necessarily constitute a threat to food security

A NEW STUDY HAS CONCLUDED THAT PRODUCTION OF BIO-FUELS DOES NOT NECESSARILY CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO FOOD SECURITY,

THE JOINT REPORT BY THE FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA, IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON, AND CAMCO INTERNATIONAL SAID CROPS CAN BE PRODUCED FOR BIO-ENERGY ON A SIGNIFICANT SCALE IN WEST, EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA WITHOUT AFFECTING FOOD PRODUCTION OR NATURAL HABITATS.

THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE REPORT, "MAPPING FOOD AND BIO-ENERGY IN AFRICA," WERE DRAWN FROM A REVIEW OF EXISTING RESEARCH AND CASE STUDIES OF BIO-FUEL PRODUCTION AND POLICY IN ZAMBIA, SENEGAL, MALI, TANZANIA, KENYA, AND MOZAMBIQUE.

AMONG THE REPORT'S FINDINGS IS THAT THERE IS ENOUGH LAND TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE CULTIVATION OF CROPS SUCH AS SUGARCANE, SORGHUM, AND JATROPHA FOR BIO-FUELS WITHOUT DIMINISHING FOOD PRODUCTION.

THE CASE STUDIES FOUND THAT INTEREST IS GROWING ACROSS AFRICA IN BIO-ENERGY TO ADDRESS BOTH INCOME AND ENERGY NEEDS AND IN ADDITION, USING BIODIESEL TO POWER ELECTRICAL GENERATORS WOULD BE A BIG BOOST TO MANY AREAS IN AFRICA, GIVEN THE CHALLENGES FACING THE POWER GRID.
THE REPORT'S LEAD AUTHOR AND RESEARCH FELLOW AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE, LONDON ROCIO DIAZ-CHAVEZ, EXPLAINED THAT  IF APPROACHED WITH THE PROPER POLICIES AND PROCESSES AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF ALL THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, BIO-ENERGY IS NOT ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH FOOD PRODUCTION BUT CAN GREATLY BENEFIT AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA.
SHE ADDED THAT BIO-ENERGY PRODUCTION CAN BRING INVESTMENTS IN LAND; INFRASTRUCTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES THAT COULD HELP UNLOCK AFRICA'S IDLE POTENTIAL AND POSITIVELY INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION.ENDS////

NCC HANDS OVER THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION BILL

THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE (NCC) HAS THIS MORNING OFFICIALLY HANDED OVER THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION BILL 2010 AND THE FINAL REPORT OF THE NCC TO THE GOVERNMENT.
NCC CHAIRPERSON CHIFUMU BANDA HANDED THE TWO DOCUMENTS TO VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE KUNDA IN HIS CAPACITY AS JUSTICE MINISTER.
SPEAKING WHEN HE PRESENTED THE DOCUMENTS, MR. BANDA SAID THE NCC HAS DECIDED TO TAKE ALL THE ADOPTED ARTICLES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR ENACTMENT WHILE THOSE ARTICLES ON WHICH CONSENSUS WAS NOT REACHED WILL BE TAKEN TO THE NATIONAL REFERENDUM.
OTHER THAN THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE FIVE ARTICLES REFERRED TO THE REFERENDUM FOR ZAMBIANS TO DECIDE UPON ARE ARETICLE 64 CLAUSE ONE WHICH PROVIDES FOR PROGRESSIVE REALISATION OF ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS AND ARTICLE 79 CLAUSE ONE WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS FOR PRESIDENTIAL, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.
OTHERS ARE ARTICLE 143 CLAUSE TWO PARAGRAPH ONE WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS AND OTHER FUNCTIONS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ARTICLE 148 CLAUSE 8 PARAGRAPH (A) WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE TENURE OF OFFICE AND VACATION OF OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND ARTICLE 273 CLAUSE (3) PARAGRAPH (A) ON BORROWING BY GOVERNMENT.
IN RECEIVING THE DOCUMENTS, VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE KUNDA SAID IT IS MISLEADING FOR SOME PEOPLE TO SUGGEST THAT THE NCC IN TAKING THE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT THEY TOOK ON ALL PROVISIONS AND IN REJECTING SOME OF THOSE PROVISIONS FAILED THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.
 BILL WILL HAVE TO BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT

MAIN NEWS 13:00 HOURS 30-08-10 RHODASEVEN THOUSAND ZAMBIAN FARMERS WILL SOON BENEFIT FROM THE EIGHT MILLION US DOLLARS FROM THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION.

THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES HAVE SET SIDE 8 MILLION DOLLARS FOR GROWING AND PROCESSING SOYA BEANS.

THE INITIATIVE WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND 2013.

AND ABOUT THIRTY THOUSAND MOZAMBICAN FARMERS WILL ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE SAME FUNDING.

THE FUNDING FROM THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION IS DUE TO BE PRESENTED TODAY IN MAPUTO.
KNOWN AS “PROJECT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOY VALUE CHAIN,” THE IDEA HAS THE INVOLVEMENT OF PARTNERS LINKED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PRODUCER ASSOCIATIONS.

police intensifies its investigations over the flying doctor who was killed

Main news 13:00 hours 06-05-2010 Rhoda

The Zambia police service has intensified its investigations over the flying doctor who was killed last week.

Zambia police spokesperson bonny kapeso said to this effect the police is offering 5 million kwacha as a reward to any person with information that will lead to the arrest of the suspected person.

Unknown people with spears on Wednesday afternoon attacked a team of Zambia flying doctors services officials on a mercy mission in luano valley in mkushi and brutally killed one.

The chief pilot dr major moses masumba was attacked and killed on the spots by four people after he was ambushed together with his co-pilot yichidi ndhlovu and  radio engineer on their back to the air stripe from chinika clinic.

Ends//////////////

ACTESA meeting under way

A high level meeting for the alliance for commodity trade in eastern and southern Africa-actesa has opened in lusaka drawing participates from across the African continent and the international community.

This is the third stakeholder  meeting being sponsored by the world bank, European union, world food programme, Australian government initiative , department for international development, usaid and alliance for green revolution in africa to explore opportunities for enhanced partnership in regional commodity production, trade and value addition.

Various stakeholders at the meeting have called for harmonization of legal regulations on agricultural products as well as value addition on the produce form farmers.

Zambia’s agriculture minister peter daka stressed the issues of food security in the region need concerted effort if it is to be addressed.

Mr daka says food insecurity undermines the overall development process in the region and that it is therefore critical that actesa works to producer an appropriate trade and marketing agenda that will motivate producers to become sustainable and reliable producers for the huge region.

He adds that there is need to ensure that people who produce, or consume the agricultural products have a change in the mind set so that farmers can in the end have value for their money.

Mr daka states that the Africa has to come of age especially on the publicity on poverty levels in the continent but should instead focus on wealth creation.

And comesa secretary general sindiso ngwenya said the agriculture sector in the region still faces a number of challenges such as climate change, pests and diseases, infrastructure, market access especially with the coming in of the private market standards in the eu.

Mr ngwenya adds that there is therefore need to go as a united front in addressing these issues for the good of the whole region and further challenging farmers to embrace value addition to their products.

And actesa steering committee chairman dr Philip kiriro indicated that progress has being made in ensuring that actesa is making grounds since its inception.

Dr kiriro was however hast to note that there is further need for resource mobilization if the programmes they are set are to be achieved.

And the usaid officer representing the cooperating partners dr peter ewell  said the cooperating are  committed to ensuring that this projects succeeds as it will help mitigate the problem of soaring food prices and insecurity.

Meanwhile government in the comesa region and beyond have being challenged to ensure that they embrace the paradigm shift if they issue of food insecurity is to be a thing of the past.

Alliance for commodity trade in eastern and southern Africa-actesa chief executive officer Chris muyunda says there is need to embrace the private sector as they play a critical role in enhancing and adding the agriculture sector.

Dr muyunda adds that there is further need to fully empower women and youths as they form the largest labour force and can turn around the issues of food security regionally.

He states that there is also need to focus on high impact value chain on the agriculture products and called on leaders to move from mere talk to implementation of policies and programmes.

Ends//////////

Zambia's domestic revenues shrinks

Economist and business consultant dennis wood has pointed out that the country’s domestic revenue base has been shrinking as it has failed to grow as expected.

Mr Wood explained that the domestic revenues are below the averaged 17.1% of the fifth national development plan and are now much more below 18%.

Explaining why the country’s debt has been growing so fast, mr wood said government has borrow so that it can finance the programmes and projects that it has embarked on.  

And Mr Bob Sichinga stressed that the minister of finance knows that there is a problem in the country as he has all the necessary figures.

He cautioned Zambians to be alert that the country is in a dilemma as can be explained from the ever increasing “pay as you earn taxes” slapped on ordinary citizens.

Mr Sichinga further explained that all growth that the country has recorded is not generated from revenues of Zambian tax payers but comes as result of donor support.

Ends/////////////

NESAU says trade unions have become weak

The national energy sector and allied workers union has pointed out that the unions in Zambia have become very weak because of the fragmentation among them.

And some critics have mocked the labour movement in the country that they have failed to represent their affiliate due to compromise and lack of bargaining power.

Nesau president Mr Robison Nyirenda has told radio phoenix that is for this reason that his union will soon be merging with power generation and allied workers union of Zambia so that the bargaining power can be enhanced.

Mr Nyirenda said their goal is to have one strong in the entity so that they can have powerful strong representation as workers stating that right now the two unions don’t seem to be strong.

Meanwhile, the union has called on all the companies and retail stores whose employees will be working over time as a result of extended business hours to create incentives for them if productivity is to be upheld.

Ends//////////////

Census still on in some parts of Zambia

The central statistical office is still under taking the census in some parts of the country until the 30^th of this month.

Cso acting director of census and statistics john kalumbi explained that data collection for the 2010 census of population and housing officially came to an end on 16^th November 2010.

Mr kalumbi says all parts of zambia have been reached in order to count the people however due to some unforeseen circumstances a few people in some areas have not yet been counted.

He explained that it is for this reason that enumerators will continue to go round in communities up to the end of 30^th November 2010 to cover the people that have not yet been counted.

Meanwhile, the country’s population growth rate stands at 2.8 percent while the life expectancy at birth is at 51.3 percent.

Ends////////////////

Two former finance ministers calls for the introduction of windfall tax

Two Zambia’s former finance ministers have asked government to reconsider the windfall tax waiver to enable the nation generate revenue to accelerate development and meet social obligations given the increased copper price on international metal market.
Mr Ngandu Magande the immediate former minister of finance said that it is scandalous that the mining sector in Zambia is contributing less than 10% to the gross revenue collections because the government was doing so out of respite.

He regretted that his successor Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane was resisting the re-introduction of windfall tax because it was introduced by people he did not like.

He observed that with the current variable tax many companies would manage to evade tax because the revenue authority did not have a mechanism for auditing the profit and loss accounts for the investors.
He claimed that Dr Musokotwane was confusing himself by adducing that windfall tax was not acceptable in the current government when he had introduced the same tax to the telecommunication sector.
and Ms Edith Nawakwi former finance minister now leaders of opposition Forum for Democracy and Development said that the government should stop making Zambians finance the copper mining sector through failure to implement the windfall tax on mining houses.
Ms Nawakwi said that ordinary Zambians were subsidizing the copper mining sector through the high exchange rates prevailing in the country.

She expressed disappointment that learned officials were supporting the government’s stance on the windfall tax and were failing to acknowledge the benefits that the implementation of the windfall tax would have on the growth of the national economy.
She added that Zambia was bound to lose out on the attractive copper prices on the international commodities market if the government insisted on not effecting windfall tax on mining houses.

She appealed to the government to take a leaf from Chile, which was able to realize about USD 12 billion from its mining activities because of policies that ensured that the country benefits from the sector.
ends//////////////

Zambia not benefites significantly from AGOA trade programme

COMMERCE MINISTER FELIX MUTATI HAS NOTED THAT ZAMBIA HAS NOT BENEFIT SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE AGOA TRADE PROGRAMME WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SINCE ITS INCEPTION 10 YEARS AGO DUE TO LACK OF HARMONIZED TRADE LEGISLATIONS AND TRADE BARRIERS.

SPEAKING DURING THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ORGANIZED CONFERENCE MR. MUTATI SAID THERE WAS A GROWING TRADE IMBALANCE BETWEEN ZAMBIA AND AMERICA.

MR MUTATI STATED THAT THE HOSTING THE AGOA FORUM PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ZAMBIA TO CORRECT THESE IMBALANCES THIS YEAR AND ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS TRADE BARRIERS OF ACCESSING THE AMERICAN MARKET WHICH NEEDS TO BE SIMPLIFIED.

MR. MUTATI NOTED THAT THERE IS NEED FOR THE COUNTRY TO EXPAND ITS REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS THROUGH INTEGRATED REGIONAL NETWORKS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.

MR. MUTATI FURTHER OBSERVED THAT ZAMBIAN PRODUCTS WERE FACING CHALLENGES IN BREAKING THROUGH ONTO THE AMERICAN MARKET BECAUSE THEY LACKED ORIGINALITY AND DUE TO POOR PACKAGING AMONG OTHER THINGS.

HE SAID ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE PRODUCTS LIKE HONEY WHICH WERE NOT MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THE AMERICA MARKET HAD ATTENTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER COUNTRIES, THERE WAS NEED TO IMPROVE TRADE LINKAGES WITH THE US SO THAT THE COUNTRY CAN EXPORT PRODUCTS SUCH AS MEAT WHICH ARE ON DEMAND.

END//////////

by:Augustine Sichula

high court serves father Frank Bwalya with writ of summons

THE HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA HAS SERVED CHANGE LIFE ZAMBIA DIRECTOR FATHER FRANK BWALYA WITH A WRIT OF SUMMONS REQUIRING HIM TO APPEAR BEFORE IT WITHIN 14 DAYS.

THIS IS IN A MATTER WERE HE HAS BEEN SUED BY FORMER PF GENERAL SECRETARY EDWARD MUMBI FOR DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER AFTER FATHER BWALYA IS ALLEGEDLY TO HAVE CALLED MR MUMBI AS A CROCK IN THE MEDIA.

DETAIL OF THE WRIT OF SUMMON WHICH WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO RADIO PHOENIX BY AKM LEGAL PRACTITIONERS TODAY STATES THAT FATHER BWALYA DID ON THE 15^TH OF NOVEMBER APPEAR ON A LIVE RADIO PROGRAM CALLED MONDAY NIGHT “NIGHT LIVE” AT A RADIO STATION CALLED QFM WHERE HE MADE THE DEFAMATORY REMARKS AGAINST MR MUMBI.

IT SAYS IN CONSEQUENCE THE PLAINTIFF BEING MR MUMBI’S REPUTATION AND CAREER HAVE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND HE HAS SUFFERED CONSIDERABLE DISTRESS, EMBARRASSMENT AND RIDICULE.

MR MUMBI IS SEEKING FOR A RETRACTION OF THE STATEMENT WHICH WAS MADE BY FATHER BWALYA THAT HE IS CROCK AND A TOTAL SUM OF 3.5BILLION KWACHA AS COMPENSATION FOR DEFAMING HIS CHARACTER.

END//////

two-thirds faz emergency council meeting underway

IN SPORTS NEWS:THE TWO-THIRDS FAZ EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING IS UNDERWAY AT LUSAKA’S INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL.

HENSCHEL CHITEMBEYE, ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO RESIGNED STARTED BY CONDUCTING A ROLL CALL WITH A GREEN BUFFALOES, ZANACO, POWER DYNAMOS, LUSAKA DYNAMOS, MONZE SWALLOWS, KUMAWA STARS, STAN HAZARD ACADEMY, ZAFCA, ZAVOSOFA AND RAZ ARE ALL PRESENT WITH A NUMBER OF FAZ LIFE MEMBERS.

FAZ DISSOLVED ITSELF ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS OF THE NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL OF ZAMBIA AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS, HENSCHEL CHITEMBEYA, PIVOT SIMWANZA, VIOLET BWALYA AND VICE-PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MUNAILE.

THE DISSOLUTION WAS IN RESPECT OF ARTICLE 27 (3) (III) OF THE FAZ CONSTITUTION THAT RENDERED THE FIVE REMAINING MEMBERS DYSFUNCTIONAL. ARTICLE 27 (3) (III) STATES: SIX MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL FORM A QUORUM.

FOLLOWING THE DISSOLUTION, FAZ CO-OPTED FOUR NEW MEMBERS WHOSE APPOINTMENT WAS DEEMED ILLEGAL BY THE NSCZ AS THEY COULD NOT BE RATIFIED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

THREE OF THE CO-OPTED MEMBERS TURNED DOWN THE OFFER CITING ILLEGALITY.
ACCORDING TO THE FAZ CONSTITUTION, AN EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING CAN ONLY BE SANCTIONED BY TWO BODIES.

ARTICLE 26 (2) (IV) STATES: EMERGENCY  COUNCIL MEETINGS SHALL BE CALLED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY OR IF TWO THIRDS OF MEMBERS SUBMIT A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR IT AND ONLY ITEMS INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA SHALL BE DISCUSSED AS SUCH EMERGENCY MEETINGS.

THE 149 CLUBS THAT HAVE CALLED FOR THE MEETING HAVE LISTED THREE AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE AS FOLLOWS: ELECTIONS OF CHAIRPERSON, CONFIRMATION OF DISSOLUTION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND ELECTIONS. A QUORUM FOR THE TWO THIRDS COMPRISES HALF OF THE MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.

WITH FAZ COMPRISING 219 AFFILIATES AMONG THEM NINE PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS, 147 CLUBS CONSTITUTE TWO THIRDS. SHOULD THE TWO THIRDS TURN UP FOR TODAY’S MEETING IT WOULD RENDER TOMORROW’S MEETING IRRELEVANT AS IT WOULD FALL SHORT OF FORMING A QUORUM TO TRANSACT

END//////////

RB calls for disciplien among court judges

PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA HAS CALLED FOR DISCIPLINE AMONSGT COURT JUDGES IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY EXCUTIVE THEIR DUTIES.

THE PRESIDENT WHO NOTED THAT JUSTICE FOR THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE HAS GREATLY GROWN STATED THAT THE JUDGES BEEING APPOINTED SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE GREAT CONTRIBUTION WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN DOING AND ENSURE THAT JUSTIC IS SAVED.

THE PRESIDENT WAS SPEAKING WHEN HE SWORN IN ONE SUPREME COURT JUDGE, THREE HIGH COURT JUDGES AND CHAIRPERSON AND DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON FOR THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COURT AT STATE HOUSE TODAY.

MR. BANDA HAS APPOINTED MRS. ELIZABETH NKOMBO CHONA MUYOBWE AS SUPREME COURT JUDGE, JUDGY ZULU MULONGOTI AS HIGH COURT JUDGE, ANNE MWEWA SITALI AS HIGH COURT JUDGE AND MARY CHITALU MULUNDA AS HIGH COURT JUDGE RESPECTIVELY.

HE HAS ALSO APPOINTED MWAMBA CHANDA AS CHAIRPERSON FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COURT AND JONES CHIYAMA AS DEPUTY CHAIR PERSON FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COURT.

ends///////////