Monday, March 7, 2011
C/Belt MMD youths denounce violence
By ALEX NJOVU
COPPERBELT MMD youth chairman Evans Chibanda has called on young people countrywide not to be used by disgruntled politicians to fuel violence during this year’s general elections.
Mr Chibanda said youths are future leaders who need to grow up into responsible citizens.
He urged young people to desist from practising politics of insults and warned politicians against using young people to achieve their selfish agenda.
“Even with the current challenges of high levels of unemployment among young people, there is no need whatsoever to engage in violence because the solution does not lie in violence. We need to work together to protect the peace Zambia has enjoyed since independence,” he said.
Mr Chibanda was speaking during the Kitwe district MMD youth orientation workshop held at Kitwe Boys High School at the weekend.
He said youths should not allow themselves to be used by overzealous politicians to fan violence in communities.
He said it is important for Zambians to remain united even as the country prepares to hold the general elections.
“We should only be used as conduits of development, peace and knowledge, not political tools. We should not be used to fuel violence in communities. we don’t have any other Zambia to run to. So we have to guard the peace that we are enjoying,” he said.
Mr Chibanda said it is important for young people to be above politics of violence by preaching peace in communities during this year’s elections, regardless of their political affiliation.
He urged MMD youths to intensify their campaigns and ensure that they recruit more people to join the ruling party.
He said President Banda has proved that he is a good leader who cares about the welfare of Zambians.
“We have a good leader in President Banda and the country is safe in his hands. He cares a lot about the welfare of Zambians. This is why he is taking development to all parts of the country,” he said.
Mr Chibanda said opposition political leaders have got nothing to offer to the Zambian people and predicted that the ruling party would win this year’s general elections without difficulties.
He said the ruling party has gained ground on the Copperbelt and that it will win the parliamentary seats it lost to the opposition Patriotic Front during the last general elections.
Mr Chibanda said cadres from various opposition political parties are rejoining the MMD because of the commitment shown by President Banda to develop the country.
And MMD Kitwe district chairman Tom Lungu commended President Banda for enhancing development in the country.
Mr Lungu said President Banda’s Government has managed to create wealth in the country and that new mining companies are opening up because of the government’s commitment to attracting foreign direct investment.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Police hunt for rape, murder suspects
By ALEX NJOVU
Copperbelt police commanding officer Antonneil Mutentwa and Mufulira town clerk Charles Mwandila confirmed the incident in separate interviews yesterday.
Mr Mutentwa said the body of the girl was found on top of a grave by passers-by who later alerted police.
He said the body of the deceased is lying in the Kamuchanga Hospital mortuary in Mufulira.
Mr Mutentwa described the incident as sad and said police will not rest until the perpetrators of the crime are found.
He appealed to members of the public to work with police in bringing the culprits to book.
And Mr Mwandila said the incident has caused fear and trauma among the local people.
He said scores of Mufulira residents on Tuesday went to the cemetery to have a glimpse of the body.
Mr Mwandila said police have intensified investigations into the murder.
“Our town is peaceful and when things like this happen, people live in fear,” Mr Mwandila said.
State appreciates NGOs role Kunda
From ALEX NJOVU in Mufulira
GOVERNMENT has assured service organisations that it will continue creating and sustaining an enabling environment for them to carry out their programmes for the betterment of Zambians.
He said this is because no government in the world has been able to single handedly satisfy all the social needs of its people.
Mr Kunda was speaking on Saturday in Mufulira at the induction dinner ceremony of Mwila Mutimushi as the 52nd president of the Rotary Club of Mufulira for the year 2010-2011.
He said service organisations play an important role in filling the gaps and supplementing Government’s efforts in the provision of social services to the less privileged sectors of the community.
“Rotary International, to which the Rotary Club of Mufulira is affiliated, is one of the service organisations that have demonstrated loyalty and consistency in the provision of support to the community in Zambia and the world at large.
“Rotary readily initiates projects which demonstrate its mission to alleviate human suffering and improve the quality of life of the people. The polio immunisation is one such project. The eradication of polio in the world in the near future, as per World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, is no mean achievement,” he said.
Mr Kunda said annually Rotary clubs participate in the polio plus campaigns and that this shows that Rotary International and its partners are worthy partners in development.
He said Government is pleased that the Mufulira Rotary Club has continued initiating and carrying out projects which benefit communities in Mufulira such as combating illiteracy, the provision of clean, safe drinking water and improved sanitation.
Mr Kunda said the club has also been consistent in assisting the aged through support to Chibolya old people’s home.
“You have also contributed to the reduction in child mortality, international goodwill and understanding. Many of these projects have helped the nations strive towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“Although yours is a small club with only 24 members, you have managed to do many projects. You have involved the community to work alongside you thus achieving the ideals of community participation,” Mr Kunda said.
He said Government appreciates the role being played by the Rotary Club of Mufulira for the community.
He said the club has implemented several projects which are impacting positively on the lives of the people.
“As you celebrate your Golden Jubilee, I would like to assure you that Government and indeed the whole nation appreciates greatly your endeavours towards uplifting the quality of human life and the promotion of peace and understanding among people of all nations,” he said.
And Mufulira Rotary Club past president Dr Frederick Kaoma said about K50million was spent on the implementation of various development projects in Mufulira.
He said the club has continued contributing to the development of the education and health sectors of the country by implementing programmes that are benefiting the people.
District 9210 comprises Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Northern Mozambique.
And president-elect Mr Mutimushi said the club will continue working with the government in the development process of the country.
He said Government and Rotary clubs are social partners in empowering various communities.
Mr Mutimushi said his executive committee will work towards implementing viable projects which will impact positively on the lives of the people in Mufulira and surrounding areas.
CEC stakes $120m on power project 21.12.09
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
By ALEX NJOVU
COPPERBELT Energy Company (CEC) is to spend US$120 million on the development of the Kabompo Gorge hydro-electric project on Kabompo River in North Western Province.
Managing director for operations Neil Croucher says the project will be completed in 2013.
Mr Croucher says the company is committed to developing strategic partnerships with technical and financial resources to realise a shared vision of energy infrastructure development in Zambia and surrounding territories.
He said the company has in the past implanted several developmental projects such as US$ 35 million investment to connect Konkola Copper Mine’s Nchanga smelter and Konkola Deep Mining Project (KDMP) to the CEC system.
“Other projects include the US$ 11 million investment to connect First Quantum’s Frontier mine to the CEC system and US$10 million investment to replace and refurbish CEC system assets,” Mr Croucher said.
Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Lubinda Imasiku has commended Copperbelt Energy Corporation for its continued contribution to the country’s economy.
Speaking when he toured the electricity firm in Kitwe last Friday, Mr Imasiku said he was impressed with the operations of the company. He said its plans to develop the hydro power plant on Kabompo River will go a long way in reducing power outages that the region has been experiencing.
“We would like to encourage you to continue with your plans to construct the Kabompo gorge hydro scheme. It is a viable project which needs the support of all the stakeholders in the country,” Mr Imasiku SAID.
He said government is happy that CEC has been consistent in supplying power to mining companies.
Mr Imasiku pointed out that mining houses have continued contributing positively to the development of the country’s economy.
“We have never received complaints from mining companies about power outages and we are very happy about this and you have proved that you are a real partner in the development of the country,
“We would like to encourage you to continue implementing viable projects which are meant at developing the electricity sector in the country and in the region,” Mr Imasiku said.
Samfya chiefs act to save dwindling fish
By ALEX NJOVU
Senior Chief Mwewa announced the fish ban during a meeting with Zambia National Marketeers Association (ZANAMA) chairman-general Elvis Nkandu at his palace.
He said people who catch endangered fish species will be arrested and fined K300,000.
Chief Mwewa appealed to Mr Nkandu to sensitise his members on the punitive measurers to help enforce them.
Senior Chief Mwewa said it has also been decided that traders and villagers who buy small or endangered fish species will be arrested.
He said all the chiefs in the district met with Zambia Police Service officials and resolved not to wait for the council to pass a by-law, but use their powers because of the gravity of the matter.
To make the fish ban more effective, the sale of one-inch fishing nets in the district has been banned.
Senior Chief Mwewa said in an interview that chiefs and other stakeholders have been worried about the depletion of fish stocks as a result of illegal methods of fishing.
Mr Nkandu promised that ZANAMA members will be sensitised on the matter, and commended the traditional rulers for their conservation crusade.
Meanwhile, Senior Chief Mwewa has bemoaned the influx of illegal miners of manganese in his chiefdom.
Senior Chief Mwewa complained that some unscrupulous people obtained prospecting licences in Lusaka and went into mining without following procedure.
He said although his chiefdom is endowed with deposits of manganese, poverty levels are high.
Senior Chief Mwewa said a petition will soon be submitted to Government to ensure that the local people benefit from natural resources in the area.
He appealed to Government to construct a tarred road to link Luapula and Northern provinces through Luwingu.
Senior Chief Mwewa said villagers in Kasaba area are willing to erect a self-help bridge between Kasaba and Luwingu if Government helps them with culverts.
He said a good road will bring development to the area.
‘Gemstone sector lack investment capital’
By ALEX NJOVU
Mr Kalesha said there was very little investment in the gemstone sector because Government had not marketed the industry to potential investors.
“There are investors out there who are willing to pump their money into the development of the sector if only government can come up with guidelines on how to market the gemstone industry.
“Some of our members lack capital investment while others still don’t have the necessary equipment needed in the mining of precious stones,” Mr Kalesha said in Luanshya.
He called on government to put in place regional associations throughout the country that would enable miners’ have access to association equipment.
“Government should provide plant-hire schemes around the country so that miners can be able to access equipment as associations,” he said.
Mr Kalesha also stressed that miners were having difficulties in accessing loans from financial lending institutions because commercial banks had allegedly been misinformed that gemstone mining was a risky business.
He charged that currently there was a company directly involved in the gemstone industry, which was misinforming banks, that the industry was a risky business; in order to reduce competition.
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