Kitwe clergyman counsels youths

September 5, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

By ALEX NJOVU
A KITWE-BASED clergyman has called on youths to maintain high levels of discipline and to participate in the development of their communities.
Worldwide Ministries senior pastor, Bernard Mafale, said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that it is important for youths to work hard for them to achieve their dreams.
“It is important for our young people to remain disciplined, focused, determined and visionary if they are to grow up as responsible leaders,” Pastor Mafale said.
He said time has come for youths to engage in income generating projects for their livelihood and that the spirit of entrepreneurship should be encouraged among them.
“Today China’s economy is developing at a fast rate because of entrepreneurship, a lot of people in China are engaged in entrepreneurship. Young people need to venture into various income-generating products if they are to contribute positively to the well-being of their communities,” Pastor Mafale said.
He said it is gratifying that government is encouraging youths to be enterprising and to form clubs so that they can access empowerment funds.
Pastor Mafale advised youths against engaging in activities that can ruin their lives.
He also urged the church to continue playing its role of providing spiritual guidance to youths so that they can grow into responsible members of society.
“The only root of making it in life is through hard work, nothing else. People who have made it in life today have put God first in
their lives, they invested a lot of time in school work,” Pastor Mafale said.
He said his church is working with youths from various organisations to encourage them to be self-reliant.

Build school, college in Lufwanyama, Kagem urged

September 19, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Lufwanyama
DEPUTY Minister of Labour Ronald Chitotela has urged Kagem Mine in Lufwanyama to spearhead the construction of a high school and college in the district using resources generated from the gemstone trade.
And Kagem Mine director-in-charge of operations CV Suresh said the mine is discussing with various government agencies on the possibility of introducing body scanners to enhance security at the mine.
Speaking when he toured the mine on Monday, Mr Chitotela said it is important for the mining company to work with other emerald firms in the district to build a high school and a tertiary learning institution as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“I want you to move a step further in your corporate social responsibility and build the people of Lufwanyama a secondary school and a college which will be offering training in mining.
“Yes, you have built community schools and health centres but the people would be very happy if you built something bigger than a primary school. The people of this area have been crying that they don’t benefit from the gemstones which are mined in Lufwanyama, but if the mines work together to construct a secondary school and a college, people will be very happy,” Mr Chitotela said.
He urged Kagem management to come up with programmes that will help to develop communities in which the company operates.
Mr Chitotela said government is committed to improving the welfare of Zambians and that Kagem Mine should supplement such efforts.
He also commended Kagem management for investing huge sums of money in the implementation of capital projects which have helped to develop the mine.
Mr Chitotela commended Kagem Mine for working towards creating jobs for local people.
And Mr Suresh refuted reports that Kagem Mine has already installed a body scanner at the mine. “We have not yet installed a body scanner, we are discussing with various government agencies.  How can we install a body scanner without government’s authority?” Mr Suresh said.

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4 SDA members die in road accident

September 11, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Kitwe
FOUR Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church members yesterday died on the spot in a road traffic accident on the Kitwe-Chingola road, while two others are nursing injuries in the Kitwe Central Hospital.
Copperbelt commissioner of police Mary Tembo said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the accident happened around 07:00 hours in Chambishi.
Ms Tembo identified the dead as Emmy Kakungu, Doreen Chimba, the driver Manasseh Mulombe and Josephine Hang’andu while those admitted to hospital are Davies Kachong and Potiphar Mpumba, all residents of Solwezi.
Ms Tembo said the accident happened when Mr Mulombe, who was driving a Toyota Gaia registration number ACZ 3060, tried to overtake a Toyota Noah registration number ABC 58 and collided head on with an oncoming truck registration number ACC 5285.
“There were six people in the Toyota Gaia and four of them who include three women and the driver died on the spot, while two others are admitted to Kitwe Central Hospital. The Toyota Noah and Gaia are extensively damaged,” Ms Tembo said.
She said the accident victims were on their way to Solwezi from attending a wedding in Monze.
Ms Tembo said the bodies are in the Chambishi Government clinic mortuary.
And speaking from his hospital bed at Kitwe Central Hospital, Mr Kachong said he started screaming for help when the accident happened and expected help from other passengers, not knowing that they had died.
“I was calling for help, as I was seated in the middle. There was no response and when I looked around, I noticed that the other passengers, including the driver, were dead,” Kachong said.

MUZ happy with mining companies’ work

June 18, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

By ALEX NJOVU
THE Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) is happy that mining companies have started implementing development programmes that are helping to eradicate poverty in communities in which they operate.
MUZ president Charles Mukuka said in an interview in Kitwe on Thursday that MUZ is happy that most mining companies are working with government to develop the country as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes.
“We would like to thank our colleagues, the mine owners. We have seen a lot of commitment from them in terms of enhancing development in the country. Their policy on corporate social responsibility is working and we can only advise them to continue on this path,” Mr Mukuka said.
He commended the Konkola North Copper Mine in Chililabombwe for improving water and sanitation services in Konkola township.
“Our people in Konkola used to face many problems when it comes to water supply and sanitation but now the issue has been resolved because the mining company moved in to supply water to the people.
“We would like to also thank other mines like Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), the Chinese mining companies and those in North-Western Province for what they are doing for our people in the communities,” Mr Mukuka said.
Mr Mukuka commended KCM and MCM for embarking on a roads rehabilitation programmes in Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Mufulira.
And Gertrude Phiri, a St. Anthony resident in Kitwe, thanked MCM for rehabilitating the Chibuluma road.
Ms Phiri said Chibuluma road was in a state of disrepair but she is now happy with MCM for rehabilitating the road.
And a Mufulira resident, Peter Daka, hopes that government and MCM will work together to rehabilitate the Sabina-Mufulira road.
“There is need for government and Mopani Copper Mines to work together in completely overhaul the Sabina- Mufulira road including the Ndola-Mufulira road. These roads are of economic importance and they need serious attention. they have outlived their lifespan, hence the need for them to be worked on as soon as possible,” Mr Daka said.

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Kitwe-Chingola road upgrade cheers Kitwe farmers

September 25, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Kitwe
RESIDENTS of Kitwe’s Sabina farming settlement have commended Government for allocating K600 billion to upgrading the Kitwe-Chingola road into a dual carriageway.
The residents are happy that over 600 jobs will be created once the rehabilitation of the road starts.
Musonda Zulu said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that it is important for the Kitwe-Chingola road to be upgraded because he has witnessed many fatal accidents as a result of the poor state of the road.
“We have witnessed deadly accidents on this road. We have a lot of orphans and widows as a result of road traffic accidents and we are happy that government has set aside K600 billion for the rehabilitation of this road,” Mr Zulu said.
He hopes that some residents of Sabina will benefit from the job opportunities which will be available when the project starts.
Mr Zulu said the residents will work closely with government during the construction of the road.
“We are going to give every support to the team which will be rehabilitating the road. This is our road and the money being used is ours, so we are going to ensure that we support the project, whether we are given jobs or not. Vandalism will not be tolerated,” Mr Zulu said.
And Mr Peter Besa said upgrading the Kitwe-Chingola road into a dual carriageway will encourage foreign direct investment on the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces.
Mr Besa said the volume of traffic on the Kitwe-Chingola road has increased and that government has made the right decision to upgrade the road.
“There are a lot of trucks that go as far as North-Western province using this road. There is too much traffic on this road. We know that investment opportunities will increase once the road is rehabilitated. We are happy that government will soon start rehabilitating the road,” Mr Besa said.

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Saw millers force birds to flee Chembe Sanctuary

September 26, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Kalulushi
GOVERNMENT is concerned that thousands of birds have migrated from the Chembe Bird Sanctuary in Kalulushi due to continued noise by saw millers.
Kalulushi district commissioner Joyce Nsamba said, in an interview yesterday, that thousands of birds have fled from the sanctuary because of human noise.
“We are extremely concerned as Government that the Chembe Bird Sanctuary which used to attract a lot of tourists many years ago can no longer do so because bird species have migrated due to the noise caused by saw millers,” Ms Nsamba said.
She said Government is devising a plan to relocate saw millers from the bird sanctuary.
Ms Nsamba said Government is in the process of revamping the area so that it can start attracting tourists from various parts of the world.
She said it is unfortunate that human activities have forced the birds to migrate to other areas within and outside Kalulushi.
“You can even see some of the birds in town and golf course area in Kalulushi. We are happy that Government is in the process of revamping the sanctuary because it has the potential to create jobs for the local people,” she said.
Ms Nsamba said Government is working hand in hand with the local authority in ensuring that saw millers are relocated from the sanctuary.
She said the bird sanctuary has the potential to positively contribute to the economic development of Kalulushi once it is fully operational.
“All we need to do is move out the saw millers, even the people who are conducting illegal fishing in the lake must also be stopped. Any other human activities must be discouraged for us to attract back the bird species,” she said.
Ms Nsamba said Government is committed to developing the tourism sector because it is cardinal to the development of the country.
She said tourism is one of the sectors which have the potential to contribute to employment creation in various communities.
Ms Nsamba said the Chembe Bird Sanctuary is an area of miombo woodland and grassland covering about 450 hectares.
The sanctuary is located on the Kalulushi-Kasempa road and is well signposted.
It was declared a bird sanctuary in 1973. Few years later, it was given the same status as that accorded to a national park.

Police nab ‘killer’ cops

September 7, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

…the cops allegedly shot dead a Sandvik manager
By ALEX NJOVU
POLICE on the Copperbelt have detained two of their colleagues accused of killing a manager of Sandvik Mining and Construction Zambia Limited in Chililabombwe in suspicious circumstances.
Wesley Kalasa Mpundu, 50, was shot dead last Saturday around 05:00 hours while driving to his farm in Chililabombwe.
Sandvik is the single largest supplier of underground mining equipment.
Copperbelt commissioner of police Mary Tembo confirmed the incident in an interview in Kitwe yesterday.
“We have detained the two police officers who allegedly killed Mr Mpundu. They are in police custody and we are about to arrest them. It was unfortunate that a man who was not armed was shot. I would like to apologise to the family and as a police service, we send our condolences to the family of Mr Mpundu,” Ms Tembo said.
He said the police are working with Sandvik management to investigate the matter.
“It is important to note that no-one is above the law, this is why we have detained the two police officers. We regret the death of the man,” Ms Tembo said.
She urged police officers to be careful when dealing with unarmed members of the public.
Copperbelt minister Mwenya Musenge on Wednesday assured Kitwe residents that police officers who allegedly shot dead Mr Mpundu in Chililabombwe would be arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking during Mr Mpundu’s funeral service at United Church of Zambia (UCZ) Riverside congregation in Kitwe, Mr Musenge urged the police to be professional and described the incident as regrettable.
“What has happened is sad…it is regrettable. I have given specific instructions that the matter must be thoroughly investigated. Government is transparent in its dealings and this is why we want the matter to be investigated thoroughly,” Mr Musenge said.
Mr Mpundu is survived by a wife and four children.

DRC, Zambia to fight cross-border crime

September 6, 2012 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: web editor

From ALEX NJOVU in Mokambo City, DRC
A Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) magistrate Felly Masengo says his government will continue promoting peace and security between Zambia and the DRC by fighting cross-border crime.
Mr Masengo told Mufulira district commissioner Beatrice Mithi in Mokambo on Tuesday that crime needs to be fought and warned that car thieves will not be spared.
“We will not allow criminals who steal vehicles and other items from Zambia to bring them to Congo. When we arrest them, we will make sure that justice prevails and the vehicles are taken back to Zambia,” Mr Masengo said.
He warned both DRC and Zambian nationals against engaging in vices that negatively affect the development of the two countries.
“I would like to warn Congolese nationals against engaging in activities which embarrass our beautiful country. When we arrest you with a stolen motor vehicle from Zambia, we will make sure that you are dealt with accordingly,” Mr Masengo said.
He said it is important for citizens of the two countries to support efforts aimed at promoting peace.
Mr Masengo also commended detective chief inspector Albert Chiluwa of the anti-robbery squad in Kitwe for his efforts in ensuring that a Toyota Spacio and a Mitsubishi Pajero stolen from Zambia were recovered.
And Ms Mithi, who led a delegation of security personnel from Mufulira to witness the handover of the two vehicles in Mokambo, commended the DRC government for its commitment peace between the two countries.
Ms Mithi said Zambia and the DRC have enjoyed cordial relations for a long time and commended officials from Mokambo for their commitment in promoting peace between the two countries.
“We have been enjoying cordial relations for a long time and we need to continue working towards cementing our relations. I am happy that the meetings we have been holding on peace and security are bearing fruit,” Ms Mithi said.
She also advised Zambians against engaging in activities that can tarnish the image of the country.
Ms Mithi also said Zambians should not harbour illegal immigrants.
“Some of the foreigners who are harboured by Zambians end up committing serious crimes against our people. Let us desist from such acts because they contribute to the increase in crime,” Ms Mithi said.