two new mines to be opened in zambia

MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT MINISTER MAXWELL MWALE HAS SAID TWO MORE NEW MINES WILL BE OPENED ON THE COPPERBELT BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

MR. MWALE SAYS BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE ZHONGHUI MINE WILL BE OPENED IN ITIMPI AREA IN KITWE WHILE NON FERROUS CORPORATION AFRICA (NFCA) SOUTH EASTERN WILL OPEN ANOTHER ONE IN CHILILABOMBWE AREA.

HE SAYS  NFCA WAS EXPECTED TO MAKE AN INITIAL INVESTMENT OF US$700 MILLION.

HE STRESSED THAT THE COUNTRY SHOULD CONTINUE TAKING ADVANTAGES OF THE POSITIVE GLOBAL ECONOMIC TRENDS AND SHOULD NOT TAKE PEACE AND POLITICAL STABILITY FOR GRANTED.

MR. MWALE SAID THE OPENING OF THE $1.5 BILLION WORTH TRIDENT MINE IN KALUMBILA AREA NEAR SOLWEZI WAS AS A RESULT OF THE GOOD GOVERNMENT POLICIES.

HE SAYS THE OPENING OF THE NEW MINES IS EXPECTED TO ADD MORE VALUE TO THE NATIONAL TREASURY THROUGH INCREASED TAXES AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO JOB CREATION.

THE MINISTER ADDED THAT THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR COPPER ON THE WORLD MARKET IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRASTIC GROWTH IN MINING IN ZAMBIA.

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COPPER OUTPUT IN ZAMBIA WILL DOUBLE TO MORE THAN TWO MILLION TONNES BY 2015

COPPER OUTPUT IN ZAMBIA WILL DOUBLE TO MORE THAN TWO MILLION TONNES BY 2015 FROM AROUND 900,000TONNES THIS YEAR, AS NEW MINES BEGIN PRODUCTION AND EXISTING MINING OPERATIONS ARE EXPANDED.

FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING MINISTER DR SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE SAID MINES AND EXPANSION PROJECTS BY CANADA'S FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS, BRAZIL'S VALE, CANADIAN-BASED EQUINOX MINERALS, LONDON-LISTED VEDANTA AND SWISS-BASED GLENCORE INTERNATIONAL AG WOULD BOOST COPPER PRODUCTION.

DR MUSOKOTWANE ADDED THAT COPPER PRODUCTION WAS EXPECTED TO RISE TO THE TARGETED ONE METRIC TONNES BY NEXT YEAR.
HE SAID THERE ARE NEW MINES STILL TO OPEN, AND THAT SHOULD HELP RAISE PRODUCTION.

ON FRIDAY FIRST QUANTUM LAUNCHED THE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF A US$1 BILLION COPPER MINE IN NORTH-WESTERN ZAMBIA, WHICH IS DUE TO START OPERATIONS IN 2014 WITH PEAK PRODUCTION ESTIMATED AT 300,000TONNE PER ANNUM.

VEDANTA'S KONKOLA COPPER MINES PLANS TO INVEST US$1 BILLION IN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS ON EXPANSION AND UPGRADES IN A BID TO BECOME A MAJOR GLOBAL COPPER PRODUCER, ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAID IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

AND DR MUSOKOTWANE SAID GOVERNMENT DID NOT INTEND CHANGING CURRENT MINING POLICIES STRESSING THAT IT WILL MAINTAIN THE EXISTING POLICIES IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ATTRACTING INVESTORS.

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Patient advocates calls for greater involvement in the design and delivery of strategies to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases

Patient advocates have called for greater involvement in the design and delivery of strategies to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases and chronic diseases.

This was at the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) African Regional Network Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa which draw participants from 18 patient groups from nine African countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The meeting participants shared challenges and solutions to overcome them whilst committing to working in partnership with all stakeholders.

Participants said it is urgent that effective strategies are put in place to protect people from the threat of chronic disease to their health and quality of life stressing that there are many challenges to improving healthcare for people in Africa and efforts have been met with varying degrees of success.

They further said in 2011, there is an important opportunity for political leaders and key stakeholders to renew their commitment and efforts to meet the ever-growing threat of non-communicable diseases to the social and economic development of people in Africa.

Participants expressed frustration that health policies and initiatives rarely include patient involvement stating that they  can help ensure healthcare services are developed to make the most efficient and appropriate use of limited resources.

In addition, they raised concerns about the inequity of provision of funding and services between chronic conditions which leads to competition between disease areas rather than treating all patients whether they have a common and well known condition, such as cancer, or a rare disease.

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The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has reiterated calls for peaceful campaigns

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has reiterated calls for peaceful campaigns ahead of this year’s general elections.
EFZ Executive Director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza said Zambia cannot afford to trade the peace the country is enjoying, noting that violence is detrimental and has the potential to derail national development.
Reverend Mwanza appealed to politicians to focus on developmental issues and not character assassination or name calling.
The clergyman further advised politicians that will not emerge victorious in the tripartite elections to concede defeat in order to avoid tension and violence in the state.

And Reverend Mwanza has categorically called on mmd Lusaka province chairperson William Banda to desist from carrying out actions that may be provocative to other political players.

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International Monetary Fund says the Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa has largely returned to pre-financial crisis levels

The International Monetary Fund Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa has largely returned to pre-financial crisis levels but monetary tightening has failed to keep pace, with rising fuel and food prices a growing threat.
IMF reiterated its forecast of 5.5 percent GDP growth for the region this year and 5.9 percent in 2012, with low-income countries that make up the bulk of the continent recovering the fastest.
The IMF has said in its latest regional economic outlook that Sub-Saharan Africa's recovery from the crisis-induced slowdown is well under way, with growth in most countries now back fairly close to the high levels of the mid 2000s.
But it warned rising food and fuel prices were about to test the region's resilience of the past few years once again.
The 122-page report said that these price shocks, coupled with the recovery, are likely to lead to higher inflation in most countries and to deteriorating current account deficits in a number of fuel importers.
It said monetary policy remains looser than desirable in many countries in the region while the interest rates have failed to keep pace with the cyclical recovery, and that policy now needs to move ahead of the curve.
Growth forecasts varied, with the poorest countries recovering the fastest - such as Ethiopia, forecast to grow 8.5 percent this year - and middle-income countries lagging behind.
The report assumed an average oil price of $107 per barrel for this year compared to $80 per barrel in 2010, an increase of more than a third which would result in higher import bills for most countries in the region.
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DEC IN ZAMBIA ARREST A PROGRAMME’S MANAGER AT MTHUNZI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR THEFT AND MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING OVER K137 MILLION

THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION HAS ARRESTED A PROGRAMME’S MANAGER AT MTHUNZI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR THEFT AND MONEY LAUNDERING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING OVER K137 MILLION.

PATRICK BANDA, 40, WAS ARRESTED TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE SARAH WHO IS A SIGNATORY TO THE ORGANIZATION`S ACCOUNT.

MTHUNZI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION IS A NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION BASED IN CHIPATA DISTRICT OF EASTERN PROVINCE OFFERING SUPPORT TO HIV/AIDS AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SOCIETY.

MR. BANDA IN HIS CAPACITY AS PROGRAMMES MANAGER TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE AS PROGRAMMES OFFICER STOLE OVER K137 MILLION AND AN ADDITIONAL EURO 200,000 FROM THE ORGANIZATION BY DIVERTING THE MONEY TO PURCHASE PERSONAL PROPERTIES.

DEC PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER JOHN NYAWALI HAS EXPLAINED THAT THE COUPLE FORGED RECEIPTS FROM LOCAL BUSINESS ENTITIES PURPORTING TO HAVE PROCURED THE INTENDED ITEMS WHEN IN FACT NOT.

MR NYAWALI SAYS THE MONEY WAS DONATED TO THE ORGANIZATION BY ZAMBIA NATIONAL AIDS NETWORK AND THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR THE ORGANIZATION’S VARIOUS PROJECTS.

MR NYAWALI SAYS THE COMMISSION HAS SINCE BLOCKED THE ORGANIZATION’S ACCOUNTS TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF DONOR FUNDS AND A HIGH-TECH REFRIGERATED TRUCK TOGETHER WITH A TOYOTA COROLLA BELONGING TO THE COUPLE HAVE BEEN SEIZED.

HE ADDS THAT MR. BANDA TOGETHER WITH HIS WIFE WERE RELEASED ON K200 MILLION BOND AND FURTHER ASKED TO PROVIDE TWO WORKING SURETIES.

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Zambia's centre for policy dialogue predicts that the main opposition leader would carry the day should the general polls be held today

CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DR NEO SIMUTANYI PREDICTS THAT IF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS WERE TO BE HELD TODAY, PATRIOTIC FRONT PRESIDENT MICHAEL SATA WOULD CARRY THE DAY WITH 31 PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THE TOTAL VOTES.

ACCORDING TO THE OPINION POLL CONDUCTED BY CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE FROM 14^TH TO 24^TH APRIL, 2011, MICHAEL SATA WOULD CARRY THE DAY WITH 31%, WHILE HIS CLOSEST RIVAL PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA WOULD AMASS VOTES TOTALING 28% AND HAKAINDE HICHILEMA WOULD HAVE ABOUT 12% OF THE TOTAL VOTES.

BUT THE CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE HAS WARNED THAT AS THE COUNTRY GOES TO THE POLLS THERE ARE MORE ZAMBIANS WHO ARE STILL UNDECIDED LEAVING THE ELECTORAL RACE WIDE OPEN.

BRIEFING THE MEDIA IN LUSAKA TODAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEO SIMUTANYI EXPLAINED THAT A CLOSER EXAMINATION OF ELECTORAL PREFERENCES SUGGESTS THAT THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE SHIFT FROM THE 2006 AND 2008 SCENARIOS, WITH PF AND MICHAEL SATA WHO COMMANDS SUPPORT IN THE TRADITIONAL AREAS OF LUSAKA, COPPERBELT,LUAPULA AND NORTHERN PROVINCES.

DR SIMUTANYI ADDS THAT MMD AND PRESIDENT BANDA’S SUPPORT REMAINS CONCENTRATED IN EASTERN, CENTRAL, NORTH-WESTERN AND WESTERN PROVINCES WHILE THAT OF HAKAINDE HICHILEMA AND UPND CONTINUES TO BE IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE.

HE SAYS  THE SUPPORT TREND FOR ALL MAJOR PARTIES HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 2008 ELECTIONS IN THE AREAS THEY CLAIM TO HAVE SUPPORT.

DR SIMUTANYI HOWEVER WARNS THAT IT IS TOO EARLY FOR ANY PARTY TO CLAIM VICTORY IN LIGHT OF THE THESE RESULTS.

THE OPINION POLL FURTHER SUGGESTS THAT 90% OF ZAMBIANS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE LIKELY TO VOTE IF ELECTIONS WERE CALLED IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND DR SIMUTANYI  HAS ADVISED POLITICAL PLAYERS TO FOCUS THEIR CAMPAIGNS ON ISSUES RAISED BY THE ZAMBIANS DURING THE POLLS LIKE POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, POOR LIVINGS STANDARDS AND QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION.

CENTRE FOR POLICY DIALOGUE CONDUCTED A PUBLIC OPINION POLL OF A NATIONAL SAMPLE REPRESENTATION OF 1,200 REGISTERED ZAMBIAN VOTERS WHICH COVERED ALL THE NINE PROVINCE OF THE COUNTRY IN 19 DISTRICTS.

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