Two nabbed over theft of K740 million FRA maize

By ALEX NJOVU

POLICE on the Copperbelt have arrested two truck drivers who allegedly diverted 11,200 by 50 kilogramme bags of maize belonging to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) worth more than K740 million.
Acting Copperbelt police commanding officer Milner Muyambango confirmed the incident in Kitwe on Monday.
“We have arrested two truck drivers who diverted two trucks carrying maize belonging to FRA and the trucks crossed Kasumbalesa border post where they disappeared,” he said.
Mr Muyambango said the two men are allegedly working with some officials from FRA to steal maize from the agency.
He named the suspects as Chela Chileshe and Lucas Nkoma, both of Ndola. Mr Muyambango said the two were arrested when they tried to divert about 1,900 bags of maize at a road block in Chambishi.
“They were transporting maize from Lupama satellite depot to the main depot in Chambishi when they were arrested. The officials from Lupama called the main depot officials to find out whether they had received the consignment, but to their surprise they were told that no maize had been delivered. That is when the police officers were involved and a road block was mounted and the two men were arrested,” he said.
Mr Muyambango said the duo has been charged with theft of goods in transit and  will appear in court soon.
He said police managed to recover the 1,900 bags of maize while the other consignment has not been found.
Meanwhile, police on the Copperbelt are looking for unknown people who allegedly stole copper that was in transit from Shemaf mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Muyambango said the truck carrying the copper was found abandoned near Luanshya turnoff and that the driver is at large.
He said the police are being helped in their investigations by the driver’s helper.
“We have not arrested the lorry boy. He is just helping us with information that we need to bring the culprits to book. The driver is the one who is at large,” Mr Muyambango said.

President Sata sworn as Zambia's 5th republican president.

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata was on September 23, 2011 sworn in as Zambia’s fifth President at a momentous ceremony witnessed by thousands of people at the Supreme Court buildings in Lusaka.
There was jubilation from the people who thronged the Supreme Court when Chief Justice Ernest Sakala swore in Mr Sata and handed him the instruments of power.
“I, Michael Chilufya Sata, having been constitutionally elected to the office of President of the Republic of Zambia, do swear that I will faithfully and diligently discharge my duties and perform my functions in this high office, that I will uphold and defend the constitution and laws of Zambia, that I will dedicate my abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Zambia without fear, favour or ill-will, help me God,” President Sata declared.
The crowd inside and outside the court premises broke into deafening celebrations, amid singing and dancing, during the ceremony.
Earlier, the President arrived to a thunderous welcome at the Supreme Court, accompanied by his predecessor, Rupiah Banda, first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, First Lady Christine Kaseba, PF and MMD officials.
Heads of State and government in the region also arrived, alongside Mr Sata.
These are the presidents of Malawi Bingu wa Mutharika and Botswana’s General Ian Khama.
Other foreign dignitaries were Vice-President of Zimbabwe Joyce Mujuru, Tanzania’s Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia Marco Hausiku, Deputy Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo Daniel Koyagialo and Defence Minister of South Africa Lindiwe Sisulu.
The rest were President of the National Assembly of Angola Antonia Paulo Kassoma and Mozambique’s Minister of Transport and Communications Paulo Zucula.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, judges, defence and security chiefs, the clergy and diplomats accredited to Zambia attended the ceremony.
Business came to a standstill in Lusaka as thousands of people trooped to the Supreme Court for the inauguration ceremony, only to find it packed beyond capacity.
Many people watched the proceedings from outside the court premises, while others opted to go back home to get a better glimpse of President Sata as the ceremony was broadcast live on television.
People braved the heat when word went round that the swearing-in ceremony, which was due to start at 10:30 hours, had been moved to 14:00 hours.
Police struggled to move the crowds in order to create a security cordon for the President and other dignitaries.
Reinforcement from police on horses could not help matters as the court premises were filled to the brim.
Journalists struggled to find space to do their work. Court workers and many other people watched the proceedings from windows of their offices.
Others still watched the proceedings from the roof-top of the court buildings.

State gives NWSC K 20 bn for rehabilitation

By ALEX NJOVU

GOVERNMENT has given Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) a K20.5 billion grant for the rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure.
Speaking during a tour of infrastructure in Chambishi on September 12, NWSC managing director Diana Makwaba commended Government for its commitment to providing clean and safe water.
“We have received a grant of K20.5 billion from the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for the improvement of water and sanitation infrastructure in Kitwe, Kalulushi and Chambishi. The rehabilitation of the infrastructure has already commenced in all the areas,” Mrs Makwaba said.
NWSC supplies water to Kitwe, Kalulushi and Chambishi on the Copperbelt.
She said part of the money will be used to build 500 toilets in Kitwe’s Buchi and Kamitondo townships.
She said the rehabilitation of infrastructure in Chamboli township is underway and over 1,000 people will benefit from the project expected to be completed next month.
“We will spend K7.5 billion on resuscitating water infrastructure at the Chambishi water intake plant on Kafue River and install meters on 1,800 properties.
Currently, we are buying water from Chambishi metals to supply to Chambishi residents but once we are done with the works at the water intake, we will be able to supply our own water to the residents,” Mrs Makwaba said.
She said the water utility company will also improve water supply to Ipusukilo and Chipata townships where it has built 10 water kiosks.
“We will carry out metering to 3,500 individual households in Wusakile and replace 12 kilometres of dilapidated water network pipes in Chamboli township. Initially we received US$63 million from the African Development Bank through the government for the improvement of water infrastructure in the areas we operate from.
“Once all these works are completed, the provision of quality water to members of the public will improve. We would like to thank the government for its commitment to developing the water sector,” she said.
And NWSC community mobilisation and social specialist Mwangala Chiwala said the project has received overwhelming response from the public.
Ms Chiwala said the construction of toilets in Buchi and Kamitondo townships will help to improve sanitation in the areas.
“The project is receiving good response from members of the public. The works are progressing well,” she said.
Ms Chiwala called on residents to desist from vandalising the infrastructure.
Meanwhile, NANCY SIAME reports that Government has given Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company (KWSC) K19 billion for emergency water and sanitation interventions in three districts on the Copperbelt Province.
The government in collaboration with the Japanese government has also given the water utility company US$25 million to improve water supply in Ndola.
KWSC managing director Ian Banda said the K19 billion is part of the K93 billion which has been given to all water utility companies across the country.
“We have never received such support from Government. We requested for K19 billion and Government fully funded our request to improve the water and sanitation system in the areas we operate from,” Mr Banda said.
He was speaking at the monitoring of water supply and sanitation emergency works in Ndola on Monday.  Mr Banda said the two phases which started in May this year will take at least six weeks to be completed.
The water utility company requested Government to fund the improvement of water supply and sanitation system in Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti districts.

Simasiku proposes accidents reduction plan

By ALEX NJOVU

 
ZAMBIA’S Ambassador to Japan Godfrey Simasiku has called for stiffer laws against traffic offenders to help reduce the number of fatal road accidents in the country.
In this regard, the ambassador said he had made recommendations to President Mwanawasa on how Government can reduce fatal road traffic accidents on the Zambian roads.
According to a statement issued by the Zambian embassy in Tokyo yesterday, Ambassador Simasiku disclosed this when a Zambian delegation from the Zambian school of driving paid a courtesy call on him at the embassy.
Mr Simasiku said the recommendations have also been submitted to Minister of Transport and Communications Dora Siliya.
The Zambian delegation is in Japan on a road safety tour at the invitation of the Koyama driving school, one of the biggest driving schools in Japan.
“I have personally submitted recommendations to President Mwanawasa and Minister of Transport recommendations on Japanese experience that led to very low fatal accidents over the past 10 years,” Mr Simasiku said.
He urged the Zambian delegation being led by the country’s Goodwill Ambassador, Cherise Makubale to present the report of the tour to government, which could help in enhancing relevant traffic laws in the country.
“Causing death by dangerous driving in Japan has stiff jail sentences of up to 20 years, where fines are imposed they are up to half a million dollars and passengers who agree to be driven by drunken drivers are also fined,” Mr Simasiku said.
And speaking on behalf of the delegation Zambian school of driving managing instructor Mike Kumalo said there was need to improve driving standards in Zambia to avoid fatal road traffic accidents.
Mr Kumalo said driving schools in Zambia had a long way to go in order to attain required international driving standards.
The Zambian delegation took time to see how both government and the private driving schools conduct road safety awareness programs throughout Japan.

Japan assures Africa of continued aid

 

From ALEX NJOVU in Tokyo, Japan

 
JAPAN has assured African countries including Zambia of continued financial aid despite the world global crisis.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistant director for African department Kemmiya Misa said her country will not abandon the African continent despite the financial crisis which has affected most countries in the world.
Ms Misa also said Japan through JICA spent about US$ 94 million on the implementation of various developmental projects in Zambia.
She said this yesterday during a press briefing at the JICA headquarters in Tokyo. 
Ms Misa said Africa remains an important partner to Japan and that her country was determined to foster development in all sectors of the economies of the continent.
She said it will not make sense to “ divorce” the African continent because of the problems that have been created by the credit crunch.
“We will not abandon or stop our aid programmes in Africa because of the financial crisis. We will continue with our projects targeted at improving the lives of people in Africa,” Ms Misa said.
She said most of the programmes that Japan is funding in Africa are aimed at reducing poverty in communities.
Ms Misa said poverty reduction is a key development goal shared by the international community and that it was also essential for eliminating terrorism and other causes of instability in the world.
“ Therefore, Japan will give high priorities to providing assistance to such sectors as education, health care and welfare, water and sanitation and agriculture and will support human and social development in the developing countries,” she said.
Ms Misa said the Japanese were committed to initiating viable projects in Africa that will impact positively on the economic development of Africa.

Japan showers praise on Zambian government

From ALEX NJOVU in Tokyo, Japan

 

JAPAN has praised the Zambian Government for its prudent use of Japanese financial contribution.
Second country assistant for planning division for international cooperation bureau in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hideki Uyama said political instability is one of the factors that were hindering development in most African countries.
He was speaking when he addressed journalists from four African countries who are on a tour of selected places in Japan at the Ministry of Foreign affairs’ invitation.
Mr Uyama said Japan is impressed with the way the Zambian government is implementing development projects funded by its government.
He said the Zambian government has demonstrated transparency and accountability in the manner it is using donor funds from Japan.
“We have never received negative reports about the Zambian government abusing or misapplying funds that we give them. We are impressed with the way the donor funds are used by the Zambian government. We can only encourage them to continue implementing projects that are aimed at improving the lives of their people,” Mr Uyama said
He urged the Zambian government to continue implementing policies that are aimed at eradicating poverty in communities.
Mr Uyama said the Japanese government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has implemented several development projects in most African countries which are benefiting the local people.
He said the Japanese government monitors its projects in Africa through JICA
He said Japan is interested in the development process of Africa but that it will never interfere in the local politics of any particular country.
Mr Uyama bragged that unlike other donors, the Japanese government was giving aid to African countries without conditions.
“Japan is committed to helping Africa attain the Millennium Development Goals. We are enjoying cordial relations with most African countries and we are committed to developing Africa in general,” he said.
He said despite its current financial position created by the global crisis, the Japanese government will continue supporting African countries in different ways including attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“We have doubled our assistance for foreign investment from the Japanese private sector to Africa up to US$3.4 billion by the end of 2012. We have also doubled concession loans to Africa to US$ 1.8 billion by 2012. We also want to increase the number of countries that should have accesses to concession loans from Japan,” he said.
Mr Uyama also stressed that political instability hinders development in most African countries.

2 cops nabbed for partisan politics

By ALEX NJOVU TWO police officers have been arrested and detained for practising partisan politics, Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has confirmed. “We have arrested two police officers, one from Eastern Province and the other one is from Southern Province for engaging in politics. Investigations are still going on and when we are through, action will be taken,” Mr Kabonde told a consultative meeting with political parties at Kitwe’s Moba Hotel in Kitwe. Under the Zambia Police Service Act, it is a criminal offence for any police officer to engage in active politics, Mr Kabonde said, and warned that he will dismiss any officer found on the wrong side of the law. “It is a serious offence for police officers to wear the attire of any political party. Please, when you see any officer flashing a symbol of any political party, let me know, and I will fire them. I will dismiss them instantly because it is unprofessional and unethical for an officer to engage in politics,” he appealed to members of the public. And Zambia Police Service director of medical services Antonneil Mutentwa said the Police Service is concerned with the negative attitudes being displayed by political parties towards each other, citing it as a breeding ground for clashes. “We would not be having the problem of violence and insults among politicians if they worked in harmony. They should learn to collaborate because at the end of the day, we are all Zambians. It is also a source of concern to us for political parties to fail to adhere to the requirements of the Public Order Act,” Mr Mutentwa said. The former Copperbelt police commanding officer called on politicians to desist from making unsubstantiated allegations against each other, saying the Police Service would not attend to such claims. “We are calling on politicians to condemn their cadres who engage in violence. Law-abiding citizens will be protected while those who dare the law will be put away in the police cells,” Mr Mutentwa said. And police in Chingola have detained four people in connection with the theft of 168 lamps belonging to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). Mr Malama, who confirmed the arrests in an interview, said the lamps “were stolen from a vehicle on Monday, and four suspects have so far been arrested”. Of the 168, 40 lamps have so far been recovered after a “woman detective masqueraded as a customer and bought one lamp at the shop of one of the suspects”. He said the suspects will appear in court soon.