DEC public relations officer Theresa Katongo says Mr Mumba, 59, residing at House No. 12 Nkamba Street, Kabundi South in Chingola has been arrested for being in possession of $3,800 US Dollar counterfeit notes and 7,320 pounds counterfeit notes.

Ms Katongo says Mr Mumba who was also found in possession of paraphernalia used in making counterfeit notes was apprehended in Lusaka’s North-mead area.

Meanwhile, the Commission in the last five (05) days has arrested more than twenty (20) people countrywide for trafficking in various quantities of cannabis.

Among those arrested is Patrick Kakoma, 40, of Masala Township in Ndola for trafficking in 3.8kg of cannabis, Bisonga Shiku, 33, a peasant farmer of Mitumba area in Kasempa District for trafficking in 2kg of cannabis and Sikalenga Mathews, 25, of Masala in Ndola for trafficking in 2.2kg of cannabis.

Others arrested and jointly charged are Kennedy Mukau, 37, and Peggy Mulenga, 36, both of Masala Township in Ndola for trafficking in 5.3kg of cannabis.

—Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Director for transmission Christopher Mubemba says his company has put in place measures to ensure that it serves its customers to their satisfaction.

Mr Mubemba said the company has experienced tremendous increase in electricity demand which it has put on its agenda to provide adequate services to the Zambian people.

He said this last night during a media cocktail held at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka.

Mr Mubemba also paid great tribute to various media organizations for their role in reporting on ZESCO’s vital projects and operations going on across the country.

He said the media plays an important role in information dissemination adding that their contribution cannot be over emphasized.

Mr Mubemba stated that the nation is recording tremendous growth in the economy especially in the mining, agriculture, residential developments and other vital commercial entities which needs to be serviced by ZESCO.

He emphasized that customers should always ensure that they use electricity in a prudent manner to avoid wastage.

He noted that load shedding has been a cry of many in this country for the last six years a situation he said has been received with mixed feeling by the consumers.

He added that this is the reason why the company has embarked on the construction of new generation plants to increase the capacity.

Mr Mubemba said the first machine at Kariba North Bank Extension projects will be commissioned in December by President Michael Sata.

He said the new project will bring an additional 180 megawatts of power during this month saying that the additional 180 megawatts will be done in February 2014 at Kariba North Bank Extension.

Mr Mubemba stated that ZESCO is fully convinced that once all the projects going on in the country which are aimed at increasing electricity capacity are completed, there will be minimal interruptions of power in the nation.

He further implored the media houses to continue highlighting some of the achievements the company is doing in the country for the benefit of the citizens.

–Government says it will put in more effort to ensure the Social Cash Transfer works to the advantage of the vulnerable people throughout the country.

Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health Director of Planning, Simmy Chapula said government is in a hurry to scale up the Social Cash Transfer programme by 2014 so that it can be present in 50 districts.

Speaking during a sensitization meeting in Chavuma district today, Mr Chapula said though economic growth does not usually translate into poverty reduction he noted that the introduction of Social Cash Transfer will reduce poverty and hunger in communities.

He said government together with its cooperating partners has invested more funds so that the programme continues to promote human development through improved nutrition, health, education and gender equality among the beneficiaries.

Mr Chapula urged civil servants and stakeholders to support the Social Cash transfer scheme so that even hard to reach areas are serviced in line with government’s vision.

The Social Cash Transfer is a social protection intervention in which the poor of the poorest receive actual cash for self-sustainability.

SOURCE- $Times_of_Zambia

Feeling of being ignored by federal government among residents of Western Province fuelling separatist sentiment.

Tell anyone in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, you’re going to Mongu, capital of the Western Province, and they’ll tell you a variation of “it’s a very long way”.

Indeed it is - about seven hours by car - but that doesn’t explain the lack of development there.

The main street through town is barely paved: it’s rundown and in need of investment. It’s plain for anyone to see.

Residents have seen other parts of Zambia progress and feel their hometown just hasn’t kept up.

The feeling they’ve been neglected, looked down upon, even ignored by central government is fuelling separatist sentiment.

There’s genuine anger at current president Michael Sata because, while he was campaigning for office, he promised to find a resolution, but as president he’s failed to.

Within Barotseland, now known as Western Province, the majority of people want independence but the rising tide of discontent stops at its borders.

While they have several outspoken supporters in the capital, on the whole, their bid for separation has no traction across the rest of the country. So what chance do they have?

I’d have to say I think it’s only a remote possibility.

The government says it can’t relinquish control of the province because if it did others might follow suit. So the only way it might be possible is through force, which they have said they’d be prepared to use.

But that would require real fury on the streets, mass anti-government protests, resources, lots of weapons and people willing to use them.

With their leaders free, the separatists will undoubtably feel emboldened. But they will be watched very closely, for anything perceived to be “wrongdoing” is almost guaranteed to land them behind bars again.

Yet I can’t help but feel that they have some momentum now, that despite all the odds, regardless of their chances of success, these are people who would rather try and fail then never try at all.

READ MORE ON aljazeera

Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Mwansa Kapeya says government has learnt with deep shock and sorrow the death of 14 people in a fatal road accident.

The accident involving an eastern bound bus took place at Luangwa bridge on the Great East road last night.

Mr Kapeya who is also government spokes person says a Scania Marcopolo bus registration number ABA 4611 belonging to Ronsil Transport which was heading to Eastern province fell into a ditch at Luangwa bridge around 19:30 hours last night resulting in the death of the 14 people among them six females and eight males including the driver.

In a statement made available to ZANIS this afternoon, Mr Kapeya emphasized that government is deeply concerned over the frequency of road fatalities.

He has since assured that government will put in place appropriate measures to make Zambian roads safer.

The Information Minister has also conveyed condolences on behalf of the government and the Zambian people to the bereaved families and wished the injured a quick recovery.

He also wished the nation God’s strength and comfort during this tragic and painful loss.

Recently, the KCM payroll system was marred with irregularities and salary discrepancies of its mineworkers, with stakeholders and the government blaming the new Systems Application Products-Human Capital Management (SAP-HCM) technology that was introduced by management.

Mineworkers from different Integrated Business Units (IBUs) of KCM complained that they were getting little money as salary, sometimes just half of their usual salaries due to irregularities in the payroll system.

In a statement made available to Qfm news today, KCM acting vice-president for Human Capital Management, Eve Banda, says the refund was with effect from November 2013 and the balance of Pay As you Earn (PAYE) would no longer be deducted.

Ms Banda says the PAYE deducted under the Code 526D from employees in the month of October 2013 had been refunded to all affected employees

In September, deputy minister of Mines Richard Musukwa said KCM was expected to show seriousness regarding the issue of pay anomalies, as it was a responsibility of the company to demonstrate competence and proficiency in the management of salaries for its employees.

qfm

THE Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ) quadrilateral conference yesterday opened in Kabwe with Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba calling on labour unions to engage in a collective bargaining that will get the best for their members.
Mr Hikaumba said during the official opening that the union mother body’s research department stood ready to help the labour unions with necessary information that would help them negotiate for better conditions of service.
The ZCTU leader hailed ZUJ for successfully concluding negotiations with employers in the past and urged the leadership to consider recruiting more members from private media houses that were emerging.
The ZCTU was initially worried with the lagging behind of ZUJ in many activities of the labour movement as well as the K285,000 debt owed to the Zambia Daily Mail but is currently happy that the amount has been reduced to K5,000.
Mr Hikaumba urged the new leadership that would be ushered in today to consider forging links with other unions representing journalists like ZUBID in order to have a strong and effective voice.

Times of Zambia

SOME nurses have resumed work while others have continued with the strike despite warning by the Government, Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation (ZUNO) has said.
Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde on Thursday warned striking nurses to resume work or face dismissal, saying an illegal strike was not only dismissible but contrary to the laws of Zambia.
ZUNO president Thom Yung’ana said nurses at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital resumed work yesterday following Dr Kasonde’s directive.
Mr Yung’ana said some nurses at the University Teaching Hospital were still striking while others went back to work on Thursday evening and Friday morning.
He said majority of the nurses who were protesting had started working, adding that the number was declining.
Mr Yung’ana said the union on Friday had a meeting with the nurses to encourage them to end the strike action and start working but some refused to go back for work until Government met their demands.
“Some have started to comply with the directive while others are still striking,” Mr Yung’ana said.

times

The nurses and midwives on 22nd November, 2013 stopped work demanding, among other things, that Government rectifies disparities in the new salaries and conditions of service recently awarded to civil servants.

UTH Public Relations Officer, Mwenya Mulenga, has confirmed the development to QFM News in a telephone interview that some nurses started reporting for work yesterday.

Mr. Mulenga says today, the Zambia Union of Nurses (ZUNO) will have a meeting with the Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) to discuss the way forward for those who have not resumed work.

Health Minister Dr. Joseph Kasonde on Thursday gave the striking nurses and other health workers until 17:00 hours to resume work or be charged for absenteeism.

qfm

A clergyman in Chipata has castigated some charismatic pastors who discourage people that are on Anti-retroviral therapy from taking their drugs.

Eastern Province Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Chairperson, Bishop Wedston Banda, said the charismatic pastors were not doing good to people living with HIV by asking them to stop taking medication and concentrate on prayers.

Bishop Banda said only God can heal people that were sick and not any person, adding that the role of the pastors was to offer prayers to people.

He was speaking during an Inter-faith memorial prayer service for the candle light on the eve of the World AIDS Day held at Bread of Life Church in Chipata on Saturday.

Bishop Banda wondered whether the same charismatic pastors were members of the EFZ because they never even attended meetings for the clergy under EFZ.

“Those that practice charismatic prayers discourage people on ARVs from taking their drugs. Their actions do not portray the beliefs of EFZ because we believe that only God has the power to heal,” he said.

And EFZ Regional Vice Chairperson, Michael Njovu challenged people to show love to one another.

Reverend Njovu said there was need to show love especially to the sick by caring for them regardless of their status.

He said those that were HIV negative were supposed to care for those who were HIV positive.

And Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Chileshe Mulenga said churches have a long tradition of pastoral, Education and Health care, saying they were well placed to play a crucial role of in HIV prevention and care at community level.

Dr Mulenga was speaking in a speech read for him by his Acting Assistant Secretary, Beenzu Chikuba.

He commended religious mother bodies for coming together to pray so that the HIV and AIDS pandemic could be put to a halt.

UTH public relations officer Mwenya Mulenga told Qfm News in an interview that the two were discharged yesterday.

Mr. Mulenga says the seven accident victims still admitted to the hospital are in a stable though painful condition.

He says the seven sustained various injuries from the accident and are still under serious observation so that they can be stabilized more.

Mr. Mulenga adds that of the nine that were admitted four were females one male and three children.

Fourteen people died on spot when the bus they were traveling plunged into a ditch in Luangwa district.

The accident happened on Saturday around 19:28 hours at the Luangwa bridge in Luangwa.

qfm

Kalulushi residents have taken Nkana Water and Sewage Company task for the erratic supply of water in the district.
One of the residents, Stanely Chipamba a Kalulushi business man said since yesterday there had been no water in the area, adding that being a rainy season he fears there could be an outbreak of water borne disease as people fetch the commodity in unhygienic sources.

Mr Chipampa said the area is facing a life threatening situation especially for school going children and the business community whose shops in town were using communal toilets a situation that would result in having water borne disease due to poor sanitation.

Mr Chipamba however, said though, of late the company had been efficient in their supply of water to the district which was being rationed to the residents from 05.30 hours to 12.00 hours in the afternoon and from 17.00 hours to 22.00 hours, it was better according to the Zambian standard than the current scenario.

And another resident, Mulenga Chileshe said it was really inconveniencing for her and her family at home because without water they could not do any work.

Ms Chileshe said her house is in a mess while toilets at her work place were equal in a bad state.

But efforts to get Nkana Water and Sewerage Manager failed as she was not in her office at press time.

Amnesty International has commended the Zambian government for locally integrating 4,000 Rwandan refugees into local communities.

Amnesty Associate Member on the Refugee Help Desk, Rhoda Nsama, said government’s decision to integrate the refugees was a move in the right direction after hosting over 6,000 of them for the last 19 years.

Speaking at a tree presentation and planting ceremony at parliament building today, Ambassador Nsama said her organisation was grateful to government and Members of Parliament for the gesture of integrating the refugees.

The former Rwandan Refugees donated seedlings of trees to MPs to be planted in all the 150 constituencies in Zambia, and will embark on planting 4,000 trees every year in the next five years as part of their contribution to improve the environment.

And receiving the trees on behalf of the MPs, Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs Ronnie Shikapwashya thanked the Rwandan Community for the gesture of supporting the country’s environment.

Lieutenant General Shikapwashya who is also Kembe Member of Parliament said Zambia, like many other countries suffers from deforestation. He expressed hope that each MP will plant the trees in their constituencies.

The former refugees have since appealed to the Forestry Department to identify and allocate areas where they can plant trees for the next five years.

Chairperson of Ex- Rwandan Refugees Community in Zambia Egide Kazuba Rwasibo said all the 4000 Rwandese will plant a tree each year under the theme “Cut 1 Plant 2”, and hoped that Zambians will emulate and appreciate the tree planting project.

Mr. Rwasibo noted that hosting large numbers of refugees has had an impact on the country’s environment and thus remedial measures needed to be taken to help the situation.

He also thanked the government for the humanitarian gesture of integrating them into the local communities and hoped that the peace and freedom they have been enjoying will be sustained.

The former refugees presented certificates and books on the environment to be given to each MP.

A resident of Zambezi district’s Chileng’a compound Godfrey Kalukangu has applauded government under the leadership of President Michael Sata on the massive infrastructure development currently going on in the country.

Mr Kalukangu says the construction of schools, hospitals and upgrading of clinics into first class hospitals is a clear indication that the current government is working.

He added that the Patriotic Front (PF) government should also be praised for the good economic policies that it has put in place in the last two years it has been in office.

He told ZANIS in Zambezi today that people in the district need to work with the government of the day despite their different political affiliations if the area is to develop.

Mr Kalukangu noted that most Zambezi residents do not have access to the PF manifesto which he said was an important document for all citizens in the country.

He therefore, appealed to the traditional leaders in the district to sensitize their subjects on the importance of the PF manifesto.

Mr Kalukangu further appealed to the local people to desist from blaming government on the unfulfilled promises they made during campaigns adding that there is still three more years remaining.

A Forestry officer, Kebby Kambule, says the planting of 250,000 tress will help serve the degrading forest environment in Gwembe valley.

Speaking during a preparatory meeting ahead of the flagging off of the Zambezi Valley Environment and Climate change Awareness Expedition, Mr Kambule said there is need to plant more trees so as to serve Gewembe valley from environment degradation.

He explained that the Zambezi valley Environmental and Climate Change awareness expedition walk is aimed at raising awareness on the need to plant more trees and serve the environment from further degradation.

Mr Kambule stressed that the environment can only be served if more trees were planted.

The forester said the expedition walk will cover a total distance of 300 km passing through the most environmentally degraded sites of the Zambezi valley.

He further revealed that 250,000 tree seedlings are expected to be planted during the undertaking of the expenditure.

Mr Kambule expressed optimisms that once the 250,000 trees are planted forests in Gwembe valley will be restored.

Zambia Disabilities HIV/AIDS Human Rights Programme (ZAMDHARP) has commended government for the support rendered to the organisation.

Programmes Director Elijah Ngwale said the Ministry of Community Development has done a lot of positive projects with his organisation which will go a long way in their programmes.

Mr. Ngwale said this ahead of the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) which falls tomorrow December on 3 dubbed “ break barriers, open doors; for an inclusive society for all.”

Mr. Ngwale who is also Committee Member of IDPD preparations said the preparations for the IDPD are progressing well and the national event will take place in the show grounds.

He said this year’s event is being organised by the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) and the organising committee is on course with preparations.

Mr. Ngwale thanked government for domesticating the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

He further applauded government for enacting the persons with disability Act no. six of 2012 saying this will help the disabled have a voice.

Mr. Ngwale noted that this is an important landmark in the history of the country as they celebrate this year’s IDPD with full support from government.

He has since thanked government for mainstreaming issues of persons with disabilities and the existing national and international programmes, among them, the social cash transfer, Decentralisation Policy, Revised Six National Development Plan and National AIDS Framework.

President Michael Sata is on Wednesday December 4 expected in Siavonga district.

The purpose of his visit is to commission the ZESCO extension project
generator number five (5) at Kariba North-bank Power Station.

Siavonga District Commissioner Brave Mweetwa confirmed the development
to ZANIS in a statement today.

Mr. Mweetwa said that the President is expected to land in the district at around 09:00hrs.