Germany commits 3 million Euros to zambia

THE GERMANY GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED THREE MILLION EUROS TO THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT FOR STRENGTHENING THE PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT AND IMPLEMENTING THE DECENTRALIZATION POLICY IN THE COUNTRY.

BRIEFING JOURNALISTS IN LUSAKA TODAY AFTER A CLOSED DOOR MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING DR SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, VISITING GERMANY FEDERAL MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT MR. DIRK NIEBEL POINTED OUT THAT ZAMBIA’S CAPACITY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION HAS TO BE STRENGTHENED AT ALL COST.

MR NIEBEL EXPLAINED THAT MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN COMMITTED SHOULD WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPING THE COUNTRY ALSO ADVISED GOVERNMENT TO EXPLOIT ITS POTENTIAL IN TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR SO AS TO GROW THE ECONOMY.

AND ZAMBIA’S MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING DR SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE EXPRESSED HAPPINESS AT THE TRADITIONAL COOPERATION IN THAT HAS EXISTED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY HAS SINCE BEEN ENHANCED.

DR MUSOKOTWANE HOWEVER INDICATED THAT THE GERMANYS DESIRE THAT THE COUNTRY STOPPED BE SO DEPENDANT ON DONOR AID BUT WAS ADVISED TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN AREAS THAT WILL HELP TACKLE THE HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY WHICH ARE STILL PREVALENT IN THE COUNTRY.

AND BANK OF ZAMBIA GOVERNOR DR CALEB FUNDANGA IS HOPEFUL THAT THIS VISIT AND THE COMMITMENTS MADE WILL INSTILL NEW HOPE IN THE ZAMBIANS ECONOMY AND FURTHER BOOST FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT.

THE GERMANY DELEGATION IS IN THE COUNTRY TO CHECK ON PROJECTS AND ALSO EXPLORE THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

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MCC CALLS ON ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO REMAIN DEDICATED TO IMPROVING GOOD GOVERNANCE.

THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION (MCC) EXECUTIVE HAS CALLED ON THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO REMAIN DEDICATED TO IMPROVING GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY.

THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT PASSED ALL THE MCC INDICATORS AND REMAINS ELIGIBLE FOR THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT (MCA) FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE MCA ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA COMPRISE POLICY INDICATORS ON GOOD GOVERNANCE, INVESTING IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION, ECONOMIC FREEDOM THAT ARE COMPILED BY THIRD PARTY INSTITUTIONS.

THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED FOR POSSIBLE COMPACT FUNDING AND THESE ARE GREATER KAFUE NATIONAL PARK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LUSAKA WATER SUPPLY, SANITATION AND DRAINAGE.

BRIEFING JOURNALISTS IN LUSAKA TODAY, VISITING DEPUTY VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION ANDREW MAYOCK HAS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ON THE CONTROL OF CORRUPTION, PROTECTING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY AND CONDUCTING CREDIBLE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.

MR MAYOCK HOWEVER EXPLAINED THAT A LOT OF PAPER WORK STILL HAS TO BE DONE AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAID PROJECTS IS LIKELY TO COMMENCE IN SIX MONTHS TIME.

AND FINANCE MINISTER DR MUSOKOTWANE SAID THAT THE TWO PROJECTS UNDER PREPARATIONS WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON ZAMBIA’S ECONOMY AND THAT THE PREPARATION WORK CAN BE EXPEDITED SO THAT ACTUAL WORKS CAN COMMENCE.

AND MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT ZAMBIA’S NATIONAL COORDINATOR MR ROBERT LIEBENTHAL SAID THE SELECTED PROJECTS WHICH ARE IN THE RANGE OF 200 MILLION DOLLARS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPACT POSITIVELY ON ZAMBIA’S ECONOMIC AND SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCE POVERTY.

THE MCC DELEGATION WHO ARE COMPLETING THEIR FOUR DAY VISIT TO ZAMBIA MET WITH PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA, ACTING MINISTER OF TOURISM FELIX MUTATI, REPRESENTATIVES FROM ZAMBIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITY, LUSAKA WATER AND SEWERAGE COMPANY, LUSAKA CITY COUNCIL AND THE MCA-ZAMBIA STEERING COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS.

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GERMANY MINISTER OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT MR DIRK NIEBEL HAS OBSERVED THAT ZAMBIA IS LIKELY TO ATTAIN ALL THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS BUT IF ONLY IT CONTINUES IMPLEMENTING ALL THE PROGRAMMES IN ALL THE SECTORS ADEQUATELY.

SPEAKING TODAY WHEN HE PAID A COURTESY CALL ON PRESIDENT BANDA AT STATE HOUSE THIS MORNING MR NIEBEL SAYS THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE THE ZAMBIA TO ACHIEVE ALL THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND IN THIS ASPECT IT WILL CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY IN ALL THE SECTORS IT HAS ENGAGED THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT.

AND PRESIDENT BANDA HAS HAILED THE SUPPORT THE GERMANY GOVERNMENT STATING THAT THIS SHOULD CONTINUE AND NOT STOP BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS MAKING THE MANY ECONOMIC STRIDES WITH THE SUPPORT FROM DONORS LIKE THE GERMANYS.

PRESIDENT BANDA POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNTRY HAS MADE HEAD WAYS IN WATER AND SANITATION WHICH HAS SEEN A REDUCTION IN WATER BORN DISEASES AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPLICATE THE SAME DEVELOPMENT TO OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

HE ALSO STATED THAT ZAMBIA IS MAKING MORE IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION WHICH HAS RESULTED IN IT TO BE RATED BY THE TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ON CORRUPTION HAS AN IMPROVED COUNTRY ON THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION.

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DEC suspends as FRANK TAYALI

FRANK TAYALI HAS BEEN SUSPENDED AS DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION OFFICER FOLLOWING HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN CORRUPT PRACTICES.

DEC COMMISSIONER  AARON ZULU  HAS CONFIRMED TAYALI`S SUSPENSION IN HIS LETTER TO TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ZAMBIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOODWELL LUNGUN AND ALSO COPIED TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES.

MR LUNGU HAD WRITTEN TO DEC COMMISSIONER ON DECEMBER 8^TH 2010 IN WHICH HE MENTIONED THAT TAYALI  ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN CORRUPT PRACTICES HENCE SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED  IN ANY FORM OF SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIONS PARTICULARLY THE ON-GOING INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING PF  LEADER MICHAEL SATA.

MR ZULU SAYS FOLLOWING THESE  SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AND BASED ON THE TAPE RECODING MADE AVAILABLE TO HIS OFFICE WHERE  IT IS ALLEGED THAT  TAYALI WAS SOLICITING FOR A BRIBE FROM A SUSPECT, HE HAS SUSPENDED HIM WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO FACILITATE  FOR COMMENCEMENT OF INVESTIGATIONS.

HE HAS EXPLAINED THAT THE DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND HAS SINCE URGED TIZ TO FURTHER REPORT THE ALLEGED CORRUPT ACTIVITIES BY THE OFFICER IN QUESTION TO THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION OR OTHER INVESTIGATIVE WINGS FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY.

AND TIZ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOODWELL LUNGU HAS COMMENDED DEC FOR SWIFTLY TAKING ACTION ON THE REPORTED CORRUPT ACT.

MR LUNGU SAYS THIS WILL HELP INSTIL PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE DEC.

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Dangote group enters Zambia market

A MULTI NATIONAL CONGLOMERATE OF NIGERIA, DANGOTE GROUP OF CAMPANIES PLANS TO INVEST IN THE COUNTRY $400 MILLION FOR SETTING UP A CEMENT MANUFACTURING PLANT ON THE COPPERBELT.

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF DANGOTE GROUP OF CAMPANIES ALIKO DANGOTE NOTES THAT ZAMBIA IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ECONOMIES IN THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN REGION DUE TO ITS GOOD INVESTMENT POLICIES.

MR DANGOTE SAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CEMENT PLANT IN MASAITI ON THE COPPERBELT WILL ENHANCE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE RURAL POPULATION AND ONCE THE PLANT IS IN OPERATION, IT WILL CREATE ABOUT 1,600 JOBS FOR THE ZAMBIANS.

AND COMMERCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRY MINISTER FELIX MUTATI SAYS THE COMING OF DANGOTE IS THE SINGLE LARGEST INVESTMENT THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED IN ZAMBIA OUTSIDE THE MINING SECTOR.

MR MUTATI SAYS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CEMENT MANUFACTURING PLANT WILL START IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR.

AND ZAMBIA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CHAIRPERSON LUKE MBEWE SAYS THE 400MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT BY DANGOTE INDUSTRIES IN ZAMBIA WILL CONVEY A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO OTHER INVESTORS ABOUT ZAMBIA AS A SAFE AND SECURE INVESTMENT DESTINATION IN THE WORLD.

THE TRIO WAS SPEAKING IN LUSAKA TODAY DURING THE SIGNING CEREMONY OF THE INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND PROTECTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND DANGOTE GROUP OF COMPANIES.

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Dec records a statement from kasama mp

THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION HAS RECORDED A STATEMENT FROM KASAMA CENTRAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT GEOFFREY MWAMBA IN CONNECTION WITH THE US$100,000 TRANSACTION AT FINANCE BANK.

THE RECORDING OF A STATEMENT FROM MR. MWAMBA IS PART OF THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED TO THE D.E.C HEADQUARTERS THIS MORNING BY HIS LAWYERS.

THE COMMISSION HAS INSTITUTED INVESTIGATIONS TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH INVOLVING THE TRANSACTIONS AND SEVERAL PEOPLE INCLUDING PF LEADER MICHAEL SATA AND FINANCE BANK EMPLOYEES HAVE SO FAR BEEN INTERVIEWED.

TWO MOTOR VEHICLES VALUED AT US$ 100,000 BELONGING TO SATA’S WIFE DR. CHRISTINE KASEBA HAVE ALSO BEEN SEIZED AS PER LAWFUL PROCEDURE PENDING THE CONCLUSION OF INVESTIGATIONS.

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ZANEC calls for more attention in the education sector

The Zambia education coalition has pointed out that there are a number of challenges that require immediate and continued attention of the government in order to enhance teaching and learning education institutions.

Speaking in the sidelines of the education sector performance today zanec chairperson Barbara chilangwa expressed concern with the expenditure pattern where over 50% of the budget is used at headquarters while the remaining is disbursed to provinces, districts and other beneficiary institutions.

She has since called on the ministry of education to ensure prudence and efficiency in the way the budget is executed.

Mrs. chilangwa however commended government for the 18.6% allocation to the sector in the 2011 national budget adding that this will moreover have to reach 20% as per international recommendation standards.

She adds that the ministry’s performance in policy development initiatives and implementation has been dismal as a number of policy intentions have been pronounced with very little progress made.

Zanec highlighted that teacher retention, examinations malpractice, low learning achievements, support to community schools, youth skills development, abuse and sexual harassment in schools and higher education institutions, among others needs to be addressed immediately.

Zanec chairperson has since noted that there is need to re-energize if Zambia is to meet the education for all goal and the millennium development goal by 2015.

Zanec have further recommended that the ministry of education expeditiously reviews the curriculum so that the country can have school leavers that are prepared either for further studies, formal workplace or vocational careers.

And speaking at the same function the immediate past deputy education minister crispin mushosha said government is committed to implementing all its projects in the education sector.

He noted that government offering to allocate land on a 99 year lease to local or foreign investors to build schools, colleges and universities as a way of fostering partnership in the sector.

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