POLICE in Lusaka have launched a manhunt for the 13 suspects who escaped from lawful custody at Chibolya Police Post.

Police say the suspects were facing various offences ranging from murder, aggravated robbery, theft from motor vehicle, breaking into a building and committing a felony therein, assault and mere theft.

The incident happened today around 08:00 hours.

Police are appealing to members of the public with information leading to the apprehension of the suspects to report to the nearest police station.

THE Treasury has today released K7.5 Million for women and youth empowerment programmes.

Of the funds released, K5 Million has been given to the Ministry of Youth and Sport as Youth Development Fund while the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health has received K2.5 Million as Women Empowerment Funds.

Commenting on the matter Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the Government would continue to focus budget execution on development programmes which translate into tangible realities for the people of Zambia.

Mr. Yamba cited programmes such as those targeted at generation of sufficient and stable jobs; redistribution of income; opportunities in favour of the poor; access to basic services; and a general improvement in the standards of living of the populace.

FORMER ZAMBIA national team coach Patrick Phiri has resigned his position as Green Buffaloes trainer following an offer from the Namibian Football Association where he has been offered a job as technical advisor.

This is according to bolazambia.com monitored by Mwebantu New Media

In an interview with bolazambia.com in Lusaka, the 1999 Under-20 coach who has had spells in the Tanzanian league said he could not say no when the offer came through because it was another opportunity to contribute at a higher level.

“I cannot say much now, but the truth of the matter is that I have received an offer from the Namibian FA who have offered me an appointment as Technical Advisor,” said the soft spoken trainer.

“When the offer came through I talked to my employers here at the army and they were very supportive of me and have given me the go ahead. I could not say no because they told me they had head hunted me and our two countries enjoy very good relations from time immemorial so if we can help it is an honour.”

Phiri who has twice coached the Zambia national team with his last spell in 2008 when he left after the Africa Cup has been part of the Zambian Super Division with stints at Napsa Stars before being sent on forced leave midway through the season but Green Buffaloes offered him a job where he has been since the latter stages of last season.

His highest achievement in the local league was coaching a modest Nkana side in 2001 to the league crown.

Source: Bola Zambia

GOVERNMENT is appalled by reports that Chinese employers at Hua Ling Construction Company allegedly forces their Zambian workers to partake in the eating of dog meat.

This is according to QFM News monitored by Mwebantu New Media.

Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has told QFM News in an interview that government will not condone such unacceptable conduct.

Mr. Shamenda says he will dispatch a team of officers from his ministry to follow up the reports and investigate the matter.

Mr. Shamenda has since encouraged Zambian workers especially those working for private companies to come up with unions to avoid being exploited by employers.

He says belonging to unions will help workers to have their grievances addressed.

Mr Shamenda says it is difficult for his Ministry to know how many foreign employers are exploiting their workers if workers do not belong to unions.

REPORTS claim that a 10 year old girl of Ndola’s Kaloko area has fallen pregnant by a unnamed man. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fell pregnant by a unnamed man,whom the parents are refusing to disclose his name.

According to the Post Newspapers, Kaloko ward councilor Vincent Mulenga confirmed the development and said that the parents to the girl were refusing to disclose who impregnated their daughter. The pregnant teenager is reportedly still attending classes at her local secondary school.

Just recently, the Sunday Mail reported that 19 pupils at Hillside Girls Secondary School in Eastern Province had been put on maternity leave., barely a few weeks after it was revealed that 30 pupils at Kaoma High School in Western Province left school in the first term of 2014 because they had fallen pregnant.

THE case in which UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is facing charges of publishing false news has today again failed to take off.

This followed an application for an adjournment by the State when the matter came up this morning.

The State’s application has been necessitated by a notice of motion filed by Mr Hichilema’s lawyers seeking to raise preliminary issues on the constitutionality of the matter.

The State has submitted before Principal Resident Magistrate Aridah Chulu that it needed time to study the preliminary issues the Defence is raising in order to give its response.

The matter has since been adjourned tomorrow Friday 16th May at 08:30hrs. Mr Hichilema was accompanied to court by party officials who included vice presidents Richard Kapita and Canicius Banda.

A group of UPND cadres was seen outside the court premises singing solidarity songs for their leader as Police officer kept vigil.

SOURCE: QFM NEWS

MMD President Nevers Mumba has laughed off suggestions that his party left the country’s economy in tatters when it was voted out of office in 2011.

Speaking when he featured on Mazabuka community radio station Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Mumba said unlike the MMD who inherited a ruined economy from UNIP in 1991, the PF inherited an economy in good sharp which they have destroyed in record time due to bad governance.

He observed that all the economic structures that the former ruling party created so as to ensure continued prosperity have been destroyed by the PF hence the slowdown in the Zambian economy.

He accused the PF of being the most corrupt government that Zambia has ever had.

Dr Mumba also accused President Sata of using corruption as a political weapon against some senior government officials.

Asked if he had evidence of the alleged corruption in the PF government and if he had reported the cases to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Dr. Mumba said evidence of corruption was everywhere citing the awarding of road contracts to cadres who do not have equipment to work on the roads who later sell the contracts to the Chinese contractors at a profit.

“Evidence of corruption is everywhere because the people they are giving contracts come to us and brag about these things. These people are our brothers, our cousins and friends, so we see evidence of massive corruption every day,” he said.

He added, “We are compiling evidence so that when we take it to the ACC, there will be no shadow of doubt that some individuals in the PF are corrupt.”

And Dr Mumba has accused the PF government of failing to control cattle diseases in the Southern province.

Dr Mumba said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the challenges facing cattle farmers are resolved.

He said the people of Southern Province are being denied access to the other markets for their cattle due to restrictions imposed on the movement of cattle as a result of animal diseases.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader says the PF should not brag about the projections of a bumper harvest because if the country is indeed going to have a bumper harvest it will not be due to the good policies of the PF government but the hard work of the people in Southern Province and the country at large.

Dr. Mumba also encouraged MMD members in the province to forget about the perceived wrangles at the MMD secretariat and concentrate on reorganizing the party in the province and ensure that it bounces back to power in 2016.

He said it was the responsibility of everyone in the party to ensure that the party does not go in to extinction as it is a trend in most African countries once a party loses power.

He urged members to take advantage of the good record that the party left when it lost power and ensure that it is voted back.

Dr. Mumba is in Southern Province to kick start party auditing and mobilization throughout the country as the former ruling party gauges its popularity.

He is accompanied by party Vice National Secretary Edger Kembe.

THE Drug Enforcement Commission has arrested a South African woman for possession of 1.5 kilogrammes of liquid cocaine which was concealed in 47 condoms.

This is according to a press statement issued by DEC, Public Relations Officer, Theresa Katongo and made available to Mwebantu New Media.

Ms. Katongo identified the suspect as Thabisa Mlilwana, 41, a South African AIDS counsellor of Little Falls College residing at No. 27 Barbet Street, Mondeor in Johannesburg has been arrested for trafficking in liquid cocaine concealed in 47 condoms weighing 1.509kg.

“The suspect was intercepted at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on arrival from Brazil aboard Ethiopian Airline. She appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate Court Wednesday, 14th May,2014 pleaded guilty to the charge.” She said.

The woman was travelling from Brazil and had concealed the cocaine as a pregnancy but the DEC officers arrested her on arrival after initially conducting a search in her luggage.

The woman, who admitted the charge and pleaded guilty before the Lusaka Magistrate Court, is expected to be sentenced on Friday.

She is currently in custody at the Lusaka Central Prison.

“The Commission would like to warn drug cartels that it will not be tricked by the mode of concealment in its effort to curb the vice of drug trafficking and abuse but will continue to keep a watchful eye on the cartels. Further, the Commission will ensure that the law takes its course on would be offenders.” Ms Katongo said

Meanwhile, Ms. Katongo said that the Commission has in last five (05) days arrested over twenty (20) people countrywide for trafficking in various quantities of cannabis.

“Those arrested and jointly charged include Simon Mubanga, 23, of Kawama Sikalangwa area in Mufulira and Euginia Mutale, 44, a peasant farmer of the same area for trafficking in 12.8kg of cannabis.” She said.

“And in Luapula Province, the Commission has arrested Enock Lwipwe Chibwe, 30, a peasant farmer of Katakwa village in Samfya District for trafficking in 89 balls of cannabis weighing 10.22kg. All suspects will appear in court soon.” Ms. Katongo said

FULL STATEMENT FROM VEDANTA RESOURCES

Our Chairman, Mr. Anil Agarwal, recently addressed businesspeople in India when he spoke engagingly about the human
side of running a multinational mining business. In an anecdote, he referred to Vedanta’s 2004 acquisition of KCM, our Zambian subsidiary. Unfortunately, one activist has taken a small part of the video of this speech and used it negatively out of context.

In his speech, Mr. Agarwal decided not to mention that since the acquisition, nearly all the returns from KCM have been reinvested back into KCM, as it simply wasn’t relevant to his anecdote. In fact, over nine years of ownership by Vedanta Resources, KCM has made $2.9 billion of capital investment and made just $73 million in dividend payments – a fifth of which is to the Zambian government.

Anil Agarwal, Chairman, said: “In the nine years of ownership by Vedanta Resources, KCM has made nearly $3 billion of capital investment and taken very little out. With our investment, we have invested heavily, extending the mine life, creating jobs and investing in the community. We are now Zambia’s largest employer and second biggest taxpayer.
“We are very thankful to the local communities, and very thankful to the government who have worked with us, and we remain fully committed to KCM and to helping the Zambian people and the Zambian nation develop and grow its natural resources.”

With that investment, the company has dramatically increased the mine life, dramatically increased employment, doubled real salaries there, provided technical and management training for thousands of Zambians, reduced the number of expatriates and continues to be Zambia’s second-biggest mining taxpayer. Furthermore, KCM has invested $120 million in local communities, providing schools, educational programmes, sustainable agricultural initiatives, critical medical programmes and funding for cultural events.

Tom Albanese, CEO, said: “KCM has a long mine life, and we are committed to see it through the near term challenges it currently has. We have made the investments, and now we’re making a commitment in terms of all aspects of the management, the stakeholder relations, the government dialogue, to make this the world-leading Company that it deserves to be. Our reinvestment in the business is not for the next three to six months, it’s being reinvested into the business for the next 50 years.”

Mr. Agarwal and Vedanta Resources continue to believe that KCM has a great future despite short-term operational challenges. He and the company remain fully committed to KCM and to helping the Zambian people and the Zambian nation develop and grow its natural resources.

Roma Balwani
Executive Vice President – Group Communications and CSR

EIGHT people have been reportedly admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an unknown driver hit into a crowd of onlookers at the Lusaka Magistrates court complex this morning.

The incident happened as opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema appeared before the court for publishing false news with intent to alarm the public.

After the driver hit into one group of people who had turned up to offer solidarity to the political leader, he reportedly took another turn and aimed at another group of by-standers resulting in serious injuries.

A MOTHER from Lusaka’s Chawama area has allegedly burnt her 14 year old daughter’s private parts for coming home late.

University Teaching Hospital (UTH) acting Public Relations Officer, Nathalie Mashikolo confirmed the development saying the girl’s mother is said to have poured hot water on her daughter on Monday evening.

Ms. Mashikolo was however quick to stated that the burns are not serious and that the doctors will be able to work on her without any difficulties.

She has since described the condition of the victim as stable.

THE Treasury has today released K87.6 Million of which K60 Million is for the Farmer Input Support Programme, K22.6 Million for the rural roads construction and rehabilitation programme, and K5 Million for the on-going construction of Chiefs Palaces.

And in the executive commentary on budget releases, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has said Government would remain focused on ensuring that the overall objectives of the 2014 budget were achieved.

“The release of funds for the Farmer Input Support Programme is also a clear demonstration of the commitment towards achievement of Governments long-term objective to diversify the Zambian economy; with agriculture as one of the leading sectors,” he said.

“The continued releases of funds for the rural roads programme demonstrates our desire for implementing agencies to rise to the occasion and ensure that the targeted roads are in a proper state of usability, not only for efficient haulage of the expected 3.3 million metric tons bumper harvest for the just ended season, but also in readiness for proficient delivery of inputs for the 2014/2015 farming season,” added Mr. Yamba.

The Secretary to the Treasury appealed to members of the public to keep track of resources that are being released by the Ministry of Finance.

“I make this appeal on account of our strong belief that by sharing information, we will be promoting a tracking system that integrates measures of program performance with the costs associated with development programs.

“This is important for us because by connecting program outcomes with budget releases, our participatory monitoring system which we are promoting through issuance of frequent treasury briefs, will allow the people of Zambia to see how taxpayer’s money is being spent and to examine the results achieved through expenditure by respective Ministries Provinces and Government Spending Agencies,” he said.

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested and jointly charged two (02) Lusaka residents for trafficking in heroin.

This is according to a press statement issued by DEC Public Relations Officer Ms. Theresa Katongo and made available to Mwebantu New Media.

Katongo stated that Carlos Little Njamba, 48, a farmer of House No. 4/12 Ngombe Township has been arrested and jointly charged with Joyce Zainabu Mwaba, 36, of Kanyama Compound for trafficking in 24 sachets of heroin. The two (02) suspects were apprehended near COMESA market after being trailed from Chibolya Compound.

Meanwhile, Ms. Katongo also said that the Commission on the Copperbelt had arrested eighteen (18) people in the last two (02) days for trafficking in various quantities of cannabis weighing over 45kg.

“Those arrested include Justina Maloba, 46, a Peasant farmer of Kabembe farming block in Mufulira for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 25kg, Pascal Chibwe, 27, of House No. 257 Mupambe area in Mufulira for trafficking in 5kg of loose cannabis and Richard Phiri, 27, also of Mufulira for trafficking in 3.8kg of loose cannabis. Others arrested include Mary Zimba, 36, a businesswoman of House No. 9 Lukama road in Chingola for trafficking in 1.2kg of loose cannabis and Jackson Chikontwe, 49, of plot No. 139 Kansuswa in Mufulira for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 2.8kg.” she said.

And in Kalulushi Ms. Katongo said the Commission had arrested Magret Bwalya, 28, of House No. 26 Chibuluma Township for trafficking in 2.2kg of loose cannabis.

“All suspects will appear in court soon.” She said

THE Zambia Daily Mail Limited Board of Directors have appointed Mr Bryson Mumba to the position of Managing Director, with immediate effect. Until now, Mr Mumba has been Acting Managing Director in addition to being Director of Finance.

Meanwhile, the board has appointed the current Director for Editorial Mr Nebat Mbewe as Acting Deputy Managing Director. The appointments were announced by Zambia Daily Mail Acting Board chairperson Tamala Kambikambi.

Ms Kambikambi commented: “Mr Mumba has a record of distinguished service to the Zambia Daily Mail, with a deep knowledge of the business who has contributed immensely to the turn-around the newspaper is going through. With his vast experience in the newspaper business, coupled with a finance background, the board is confident Mr Mumba will successfully drive the execution of the company’s turn-around strategy beyond expectation.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Mumba said: “I am humbled to be given the opportunity to lead the Zambia Daily Mail at such an exciting time. I am particularly delighted that I will be working with a team of experienced media professionals as we continue to transform the newspaper for our wider stakeholders, especially the readers.”

Mr Mumba joined the Zambia Daily in 2008. He has served as Director-Finance for the Company. Prior, Mr Mumba worked for National Road Fund Agency and a number of other organisations within and abroad.

On Mr Mbewe, the board stated that the search for a substantive Deputy Managing Director was on-going. In the meantime, Mr Mbewe had been appointed to act in an interim capacity.

Further, Mr. Samuel Mweshi has been appointed as Acting Director of Finance until a permanent appointment is made.

MOVEMENT for Multiparty Democracy President Nevers Mumba has called on Zambians to scrutinize people aspiring for national leadership and avoid voting for leaders based on family or friendship.

Dr. Mumba said people should be voted into office based on their ability to deliver as opposed to friendships or relationships.

He called on Zambians to avoid making the same mistake they made in 2011 when the voted for President Sata as doing so would only compound the misery that the country is going through as a result of the PF.

“The mistake that we make here in Zambia is to try to elect a President on the basis that they can campaign or they have money or they belong to my tribe that is the biggest mistake we make in choosing a national leader. A national leader should be chosen on the basis of his character and I believe that the reason we are facing gigantic problems today in Zambia is because of the PF. The leaders know no morality, they know no integrity, character to PF does not mean anything,” Dr Mumba said.

Dr Mumba said the PF leadership will lie to people and some people will clap for them and vote for them and the result is the pain that the nation is experiencing today.

Dr Mumba further pledged to change the politics being practiced in Zambia which he described as toxic, un-Christian and unrealistic and unite the people for the purpose of developing the nation.

“I am committed to making sure that we change the politics of Zambia. If we don’t change these toxic, un-Christian and unrealistic politics we are not going to see development because we are spending too much time on doing politics instead of uniting ourselves to develop this country.”

He added, “I will ensure that the politics of corruption, the politics of hatred, the politics of vindictiveness and the politics of insulting one another are left behind and I will insist that we have civil politics where political opponents can talk around a table on matters of national interest.”
Dr Mumba also advised the PF government to concentrate on delivering on their promises as opposed to public relations stunts as people in the country are tied of their lies.

“My advice to the PF is that they should focus more on performance and delivery instead of public relations, Zambians are no longer listening to the PF all their proclamations and their statements, why? Because we have been cheated so many times by this government and everybody knows that they come to power through lies. So whenever there is a small thing they go to the television and announce a bumper harvest, they announce that they are now distributing the inputs for 2013-2014, the of agriculture Minister was on TV flagging off the delivery of inputs from NCZ and the following day NCZ announces that they were canceling the contract to supply the fertilizer.”

Dr Mumba said the PF has never had direction on how to improve the agriculture sector in the country

He urged the government to quickly announce the flow price of maize as some briefcase businessmen have started taking advantage of small scale farmers who are selling their hard earned produce at between K30 and K40.

Meanwhile, calls of goodwill messages flooded both Sky FM and Chikuni Community radio stations where Dr Mumba featured on live phone in programmes.

The callers congratulated Dr Mumba for standing firm against the rebel members who are against his leadership.

One of the callers, Chanda Chimba urged Dr Mumba to continue reorganizing the party so that it bounces back to power in 2016 as the PF has failed.

Some callers wondered how the country will have a bumper harvest when farming inputs were delivered late and most of the farmers in the province were complaining about their poor harvest.

Other callers urged Dr Mumba to partner with other opposition leaders and push for the release of the constitution.

A ZAMBIAN drugs smuggler has been arrested in Ethiopia with condoms stuffed with cocaine weighing half kilogram in her stomach.

This is according to press statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in Ethiopia, Dorcas Chileshe and made available to Mwebantu New Media.

Esther Banda 28, was arrested by Ethiopian Immigration authorities on March 29, 2014. Ms. Chileshe said her office was only informed about the arrest of the woman in question after six weeks.

She said Banda was arrested at Bole International airport in Addis Ababa on arrival from Brazil enroute to Lilongwe, Malawi.

She said Banda is reported to have swallowed a half kilogram of cocaine which she was given by her male friend of Nigerian origin based in Brazil who promised to pay her K1.2 million Malawian Kwacha (about U$$3,200) on arrival in Lilongwe.

Ms. Banda is currently under custody at Kality Prison in Addis Ababa and she will appear in court on May 29, 2014 for judgment.

According to the Zambian Envoy, Ms. Banda disclosed to an Embassy official who visited her at prison that she agreed to travel to Brazil after her male friend promised to help her start business of supplying Brazilian hair but later forced her to swallow cocaine.

In Ethiopia, a drug trafficking offense carries a minimum jail sentence of 10 years.

Four years ago in 2010, a Zambian woman aged 32 was arrested for the same offence in the Horn of Africa after immigration authorities detected the cocaine in her stomach at Bole International airport.

Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia Susan Sikaneta has appealed to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Zambia to collaborate with the Ministry of Gender as well as the church in sensitizing women to beware of men pretending to help them start businesses by sending them abroad.

Ms. Sikaneta said many Zambian women have ended up in jail in foreign countries after being used by men who promise to help them become rich through trading illegal businesses.

Ms. Sikaneta also appealed to DEC officials to consider travelling to Ethiopia to discuss with the immigration authorities on how best they could collaborate to ensure that the arrest is extended to people who wait to receive the drugs at the point of destination.

She observed that as long as the men who are pushing the Zambian women into drug trafficking are not arrested, drug trafficking would continue to increase.

THE Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly will resume sitting on Tuesday 17th June, 2014. Parliament adjourned sine die on 11 March, this year after concluding business.

Clerk of the National Assembly, Doris Mwinga, has announced this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka.

“The Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014, will resume sitting on Tuesday 17th June, 2014,” Ms Mwinga said.

A private member’s motion was moved urging Government to provide a road-map for enactment of the new Constitution but failed to pass through in Parliament.

The motion moved by United Party for National Development (UPND) Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament (MP), Garry Nkombo, was passed to a vote but it saw the ruling bench winning by 69 votes against 42 from the opposition.

The motion urged Government to expedite the process of enacting a new constitution considering that the work of the technical committee had been completed and is ready for submission.

Home Affairs Minister, Ngosa Simbyakula, called for consensus to ensure Zambians had a long-lasting Constitution.

Dr Simbyakula, who is a nominated MP, defended saying the PF Government was doing what was best for the Zambian people regarding the Constitution-making process, and that a road-map was already in place.

The House adjourned sine die after suspending Standing Orders 20 and 21(1) and Standing Order 101 that enable it to complete business on the order paper.

The last session was marred with premature adjournments following the unruly behaviour by the opposition MPs and forced Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini, to prematurely adjourn proceedings of the House on two occasions during that session.

Dr Matibini described the opposition MPs’ action to disrupt proceedings in the House as unruly and disorderly.

Because of disorderly behaviour, Dr Matibini threatened to invoke Standing Order number 70 which could have seen the parliamentarians being led out of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Zambia Police Officers were deployed around Parliament grounds to monitor the situation.

Parliament also unanimously ratified two Supreme Court Judges and five High Court Judges which President Michael Sata appointed to serve as puisne judges.

Those appointed are Justices Evans Mweembani Hamaundu and Albert Mark Wood as Supreme Court Judges while Justices Betty Mwaka Majula Mung’omba, Mrs Chilombo Maka-Phiri, Mr Mwila Chitabo, SC, Mr William Smith Mweemba and Mr Charles Chanda are High court judges.

The House also looked at some government bills.

THE Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has resumed its cross-border operations between Zambia and Tanzania following the declaration by the Labour Division of the High Court of Tanzania that the strike by Tanzanian employees of TAZARA as illegal.

This is according to a press statement issued by Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority, Head Public Relations, Conrad K Simuchile and made available to Mwebantu New Media.

Mr. Simuchile stated that the court issued an order on Monday 26 May 2014 directing the striking employees to immediately resume work and the employees complied with the order by resuming work on Tuesday 27 May 2014.

He added that Freight operations have already commenced, but cross-border passenger services will only resume on Friday 30 May 2014.

“The unionized workers of the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) in the Tanzanian Region (all stations between Dar es Salaam and Tunduma) illegally withdrew their labour on 12 May 2014, demanding unpaid salaries for February (in some cases) and for March and April 2014. As a consequence, TAZARA suspended both freight and passenger operations between Dar es Salaam and Tunduma.” He said

He stated that even though normal operations had continued between Nakonde and New Kapiri-Mposhi on the Zambian side, with passenger trains running between New Kapiri-Mposhi and Nakonde at the border, the cycle was incomplete and TAZARA suffered serious losses due to the illegal strike action.

“Apart from losing the customers’ confidence and inconveniencing members of the public, many of whom are vulnerable groups in rural communities, the Authority estimates that at least US$1.16 million has been foregone in revenues in the last two weeks when employees in Tanzania were on strike, even with the current constricted low levels of production.” He said

THE FIFTH Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly opened on Wednesday at Moon Palace in Cancun, Mexico. Hundreds of delegates including Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Hon. Mwansa Kapeya and Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Hon. Gabriel Namulambe were addressed by high level officials.

This is contained in a press statement made available to Mwebantu New Media by the First Secretary (Press and Public Relations), Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Washington, Patricia Littiya.

Mexico’s Under Secretary for Finance and Public Credit, Mr. Fernando Aportela, welcomed participants to Cancun expressing hope that the 5th Global Environment Assembly would devise the GEF strategy to help countries achieve Green Growth and long term socio-economic development. Delegates then watched a video highlighting GEF projects in Mexico.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairperson of the GEF, Ms Naoko Ishii said the meeting offered an opportunity to celebrate the GEF’s strong in-country engagement, its expanding network and mandate with four new agencies, and its new role as the financial mechanism of the Minimata Convention on Mercury, an environmental agreement that addresses specific human activities which are contributing to widespread mercury pollution.

Two roundtable discussions, after the official opening session, were held simultaneously – one on the Role of Legislation in Protecting the Global Environment and the other on Financing Green Growth. Hon. Minister Kapeya attended the latter to reiterate the Southern Africa Constituency’s commitment on the GEF process.
Speaking to journalists after the roundtable discussion, Minister Kapeya zeroed in on Zambia and sated that the country recognized the concept of a Green Economy as a holistic and programmatic approach that reinforces economic growth, social welfare and environmental protection.

“As such, the Zambian Government considers Green Growth as an agenda for sustainable development, poverty reduction and employment creation,” he emphasized.

The Minister further told journalists that Zambia was keen to develop the country by investing in natural capital in order to reduce poverty alleviation. He added that promoting renewable energy as well as promoting low carbon technologies and enhancing natural resource management were key elements of Green Economy and Green Growth adding that Zambia had made significant progress in Sustainable Land Management.

(Picture by Patricia Littiya)

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has sworn in veteran lawyer Mumba Kapumpa as Ambassador to South Korea , while Salome Mwananshiku was sworn in as High Commissioner to Malawi. Mr Kapumpa was recently elevated to the position of State Counsel by President Michael Sata. Mr Kapumpa has been practicing law since he was called to the bar in 1972.

In a short speech, President Sata urged Mr Kapumpa and Ms Mwananshiku to execute their work diligently.

“I was the first Zambian to go to South Korea, the people you are going to deal with are very intelligent, extra intelligent people and I expect you to be sober according to the constitution,” Mr Sata said.

The Head of State added, “Mrs. Salome, you are going to Malawi, you have a very sensitive woman who is the President of Malawi, Joyce Banda, so as you have already, you see you are the one who has committed yourselves and not me that you are not revealing the constitution so if you are not revealing the constitution so which constitution are you people talking about?”

President Sata concluded, “Zambia has a constitution which you people are taking oath and then somebody is talking about the constitution which constitution are you talking about? So I wish you well, thank you very much.”

(Picture by State House Press Office)