THE ZAMBIAN 2011-2015 SIXTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROJECTED RESOURCE ESTIMATED AT 132 TRILLION KWACHA.

PRESIDENT RUPIAH BANDA HAS TODAY LAUNCHED THE 2011-2015 SIXTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH THE PROJECTED RESOURCE ENVELOPE FOR THE PLAN ESTIMATED AT 132 TRILLION KWACHA.
ABOUT 103 TRILLION KWACHA OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT WILL BE MET USING DOMESTIC RESOURCES.
SPEAKING DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE PLAN WHICH HAS TAKEN OVER FROM THE FIFTH NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH RAN FROM 2006 TO 2010, PRESIDENT BANDA SAID APART FROM THE PROJECTED AMOUNT, THE PLAN’S IMPLEMENTATION IS EXPECTED TO BE HELPED BY EXTERNAL FINANCING AT A TOTAL COST OF 29 TRILLION KWACHA OR 22 PERCENT WITH A PRUDENT AMOUNT OF EXTERNAL BORROWING.
PRESIDENT BANDA HOWEVER NOTED THAT THERE IS NEED FOR FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF DOMESTIC REVENUE COLLECTIONS AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE OF WHICH THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING MUST COME UP WITH MEASURES AIMED AT ADEQUATE REVENUE COLLECTION AND STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.IN THE SAME VEIN, PRESIDENT BANDA HAS STATED THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL REMAIN THE ENGINE OF GROWTH AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN AS IT WAS WITH THE FNDP.
HE SAID THERE IS THEREFORE NEED FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN BY LEADING THE GROWTH ADDING THAT GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE THE ATMOSPHERE.INSERT…….THE PRIVATE
THE HEAD OF STATE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE PERIOD OF THE SNDP THE PROPORTION OF PEOPLE LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE FROM 37 PERCENT TO 29 PERCENT IN 2015 WHILE RURAL POVERTY IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE FROM 77 PERCENT IN 2006 TO 50 PERCENT IN 2025.
PRESIDENT BANDA HAS STATED THAT THE SNDP WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL BOTTLENECKS IN THE ECONOMY IN ORDER TO ACCELERATE SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION FOR PROSPERITY.

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LEADERSHIP ROW EMERGES IN THE ALLIED WORKERS UNION OF ZAMBIA A NEWLY FORMED AND SPLINTER MINERS UNION BASED IN NORTHWESTERN ZAMBIA

A LEADERSHIP ROW HAS EMERGED IN THE ALLIED WORKERS UNION OF ZAMBIA A NEWLY FORMED AND SPLINTER MINERS UNION BASED IN NORTHWESTERN ZAMBIA IN WHICH SOME EXECUTIVE MEMBERS SLAPPED A SUSPENSION ON ITS INTERIM PRESIDENT FOR BAD CONDUCT LIKELY TO BRING THE NAME OF THE MOVEMENT INTO DISREPUTE.
MEDIA REPORTS SAID THAT MR THOMAS MPASHI THE INTERIM LEADER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM HIS DUTIES WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT FOR WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS BAD CONDUCT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
ACCORDING TO REPORTS, DIFFERENCES DEEPENED IN THE NEWLY FORMED CONSOLIDATED MINERS AND ALLIED WORKERS UNION OF ZAMBIA LEADING TO THE SUSPENSION OF MR MPASHI, WHO HAD EARLIER DROPPED AND REPLACED THEM WITH A NEW TEAM FOR BEING NON MINERS.
MR MPASHI SAID SEVEN MEMBERS WERE DROPPED FOLLOWING RECENT EVENTS IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT SUGGESTING THAT A UNION LEADER MUST ALSO BE EMPLOYED IN THE SAME INDUSTRY IN WHICH HE REPRESENTED OTHER MEMBERS.
MR MPASHI SAID THAT “THIS CHANGE HAS COME WITH THE NEW ‘ACT’ WHICH STATES THAT ONLY (ELIGIBLE) EMPLOYEES IN THE MINES CAN FORM A TRADE UNION TO REPRESENT FELLOW MINERS.”
INITIALLY, CMAWUZ ERRED BY DRAFTING NON MINERS INTO ITS NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BUT REALIZED THE PREDICAMENT AND WANTED TO CORRECT THE ANOMALY.

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VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LONDON LISTED COPPER MINER RAISED COPPER OUTPUT TO 21%

VEDANTA RESOURCES PLC, THE LONDON LISTED COPPER MINER RAISED COPPER OUTPUT TO 21% AT ITS ZAMBIAN UNIT DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF LAST YEAR ON ACCOUNT OF INCREASED PRODUCTION OF THE METAL AT SOME OF ITS OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN NATION.
VEDANTA RESOURCES SAID IN ITS REPORT THAT COPPER OUTPUT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 21% DURING THE QUARTER UNDER REVIEW TO 34,000 METRIC TONS FROM 28,000 REALISED DURING THE SIMILAR PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
THE JUMP IN PRODUCTION OF COPPER, ZAMBIA’S MAIN REVENUE EARNER, WAS BECAUSE OF IMPROVED OPERATIONS AT ITS NCHANGA OPERATIONS WHERE IT OPERATES, AMONG OTHERS, A SMELTER, OPEN PIT AND UNDERGROUND MINING WORKS.
THE REPORT SAID THAT "THIS WAS PRIMARILY ON ACCOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT AT THE NCHANGA OPERATIONS WITH HIGHER PRODUCTION AT THE OPEN PITS AND HIGHER THROUGHPUT AT THE TAILINGS LEACH OPERATIONS.”
IT IS VEDANTA RESOURCES, ZAMBIA’S LEADING COPPER PRODUCER’S PLAN TO CONTINUE WORKING INTENSELY IN IMPROVING PRODUCTION OF THE COUNTRY’S MUCH PRIZED METAL, COPPER THROUGH EFFICIENT OPERATIONS ACROSS ALL UNITS.

IT SAID THAT THE COMPANY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON FURTHER IMPROVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES ACROSS ALL OPERATIONS."
INTEGRATED COPPER PRODUCTION DURING THE NINE MONTH PERIOD WAS 100,000 TONNES, 8% HIGHER THAN THE CORRESPONDING PRIOR PERIOD. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, TOTAL COPPER PRODUCTION INCLUDING CUSTOM OPERATIONS WAS 169,000 TONNES.
MINED METAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER WAS UP 18% TO 26,000 TONNES YEAR ON YEAR AND ROSE 22% IN THE NINE-MONTH PERIOD TO 73,000

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ELECTORAL PLAYING FILED SHOULD BE LEVELLED AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS CHARGES CCZ

THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA HAS SUBMITTED TO THE ZAMBIAN PARLIAMENT THAT THE ZAMBIAN ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD SHOULD BE LEVELLED AHEAD OF THE 2011 ELECTIONS.

THE COUNCIL ALSO SUBMITTED THAT THE ELECTORAL RULES OF ENGAGEMENT SHOULD BE AGREED BEFORE HAND TO AVOID OTHER POLITICAL PLAYERS COMPLAINING.

APPEARING BEFORE THE LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT THIS YEAR THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAMME OF CCZ SUBMITTED THAT THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT SHOULD CLEARLY ASSIGN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING THE ELECTION.

THE PROGRAMME ALSO SUBMITTED THAT THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT SHOULD CLEARLY STIPULATE THE PUNITIVE MEASURES THAT WOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN THE EVENT THAT ONE POLITICAL PARTY BROKE THE ELECTORAL CODE.

REPRESENTING THE CCZ TEAM, THE HEAD OF PROGRAMMES, ABRAHAM CHIKASA TOLD THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE THAT CCZ HAD OBSERVED ABUSE OF THE CODE BY MANY POLITICAL PARTIES ESPECIALLY THE RULING PARTY.

MR CHIKASA STATED THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT THE CODE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE CIVIL SERVICE IS HIGHLY AND OPENLY POLITICISED

HE EXPLAINED THAT SOME PERMANENT SECRETARIES, DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS AND POLICE OFFICERS ABUSE THEIR OFFICES FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES HENCE THERE IS NEED FOR CITIZENS TO BE SENSITISED ON HOW TO APPLY CITIZEN’S ARREST ON THOSE WHO BREACH THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT

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ZAMBIAN GOVERNMENT URGED TO COME UP WITH FINANCIAL MEASURES TO BRING STABILITY TO THE KWACHA

A FINANCIAL ANALYST HAS CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PUT UP MEASURES WHICH WILL WHICH WILL ENSURE STABILITY OF THE KWACHA AS THE COPPER PRICES SHOT UP AND AVOID THE CURRENCY’S VOLATILITY.

SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO PHOENIX FINANCIAL ANALYST MAMBO HAMAUNDU SAYS THE VOLATILITY OF THE KWACHA WILL BRING UNCERTAINTY IN THE MINDS OF THE BUSINESS MEN AND WOMEN WHICH IS LIKELY TO HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY.

MR HAMAUNDU HAS NOTED THAT LATELY THE KWACHA HAS NOT BEEN STABLE DESPITE THE COPPER PRICES BEING HIGH WHICH HAS LEFT MANY BUSINESS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR WONDERING WHAT HAS GONE WRONG AND THE NEXT STEPS TO TAKE IN ENSURING THAT THEIR BUSINESS ARE SAFE FROM THE VOLATILITY OF THE KWACHA.

HE HAS OBSERVED THE ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY PARTLY DEPENDS ON THE STABILITY OF THE CURRENCY IN THE SENSE THAT BUSINESS MEN AND WOMEN ARE SKEPTICAL TO INVEST IN AN ECONOMY WITH A VOLATILE CURRENCY.

MR HAMAUNDU HAS STATED THAT GOVERNMENT MUST QUICKLY FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE VOLATILE CURRENCY AND BRING STABILITY TO THE FINANCIAL SECTOR ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE COPPER PRICES ARE HIGHER THEN BEFORE.

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MOVEMENT FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT NASON MSONI HAS CHARGED THAT PRESIDENT BANDA IS A MISTAKE THE MMD SHOULD CORRECT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

MOVEMENT FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT NASON MSONI HAS CHARGED THAT PRESIDENT BANDA IS A MISTAKE THE MMD SHOULD CORRECT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

ACCORDING TO A PRESS STATEMENT MADE AVAILABLE TODAY TO RADIO PHOENIX MR. MSONI SAYS MEMBERS SHOULD BE VERY HONEST WITH PRESIDENT BANDA BY TELLING HIM THE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES AS IT IS IN HIS INTEREST THAT THE MMD RETAINS POLITICAL POWER BUT WITH SOMEBODY ELSE WHO CAN WIN THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

HE HAS STRESSED OUT THAT CHANGE HAS BECOME INEVITABLE IN ZAMBIA AND THE QUICKER THIS SINKS IN THE BETTER FOR HIM AND THE PARTY ADDING THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY SAD TO SEE PRESIDENT BANDA BEING DRIVEN INTO POLITICAL EXILE CONSIDERING HIS ADVANCED AGE AFTER LOSING THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS.

MR MSONI SAYS FOR  PRESIDENT BANDA TO INSIST THAT HE SHOULD BE A FLAG BEARER OF MMD FOR THE PARTY IN THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IS ACTUALLY RISKING HIS OWN PROSPECTS OF A PEACEFUL AND BETTER RETIREMENT AFTER LEAVING GOVERNMENT.

HE SAYS HE HAS BEEN VINDICATED THAT MANY DISTINGUISHED ZAMBIANS HAVE BY NOW TOLD PRESIDENT BANDA NOT TO RE-CONTEST THE 2011 ELECTIONS BUT FALSEHOODS BEING PEDDLED BY WORKS AND SUPPLY MINISTER MIKE MULONGOTI AS HE IS QUOTED IN THE MEDIA HAVING SAID THAT THE MMD IS BECOMING POPULAR ON THE COPPERBELT IS SELF DELUSION AND MISLEADING.

MR MSONI SAYS PEOPLE CLOSE TO PRESIDENT BANDA WHO ARE NOT TELLING HIM THE TRUTH ARE HIS TRUE ENEMIES’ AS THEY’RE HELL BENT ON BENEFITING ON HIS POLITICAL MISFORTUNE HENCE HE SHOULD RE-THINK HIS POLITICAL AMBITION AGAIN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

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WESTERN PROVINCE ECONOMY GETS AFFECTED BY THE 1964 BAROTSE AGREEMENT VIOLENCE THAT ROCKED THE PROVINCE RECENTLY

WESTERN PROVINCE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( WCCI) HAS URGED RESIDENTS IN THE AREA TO JEALOUSLY GUARD VITAL ECONOMIC INSTALLATIONS SUCH AS ZESCO TRANSMITTERS, WATER UTILITY PLANTS, COUNCIL PROPERTIES AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AS THEIR OWN.

THE WCCI CHAIRMAN GIBBY MUKELABAI SAID THIS IN A STATEMENT MADE AVAILABLE TO PHOENIX IN FROM MONGU TODAY STATING THAT THOSE AGGRIEVED BY ANY SOCIAL- ECONOMIC CAUSES SHOULD NOT VENT THEIR ANGER ON COSTLY PUBLIC INVESTMENTS WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CURRENT DISPUTE.

MR MUKELEBAI HAS EXPLAINED THAT FOLLOWING THE RECENT SECESSION FRACAS IN MONGU, THE ECONOMY OF WESTERN PROVINCE WAS ON THE KNIFE-EDGE AND URGED STAKEHOLDERS TO URGENTLY PUT MEASURES IN PLACE TO REDRESS THE PROBLEM.

HE SAID IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, BUSINESS IN MONGU HAS SLUMPED TO RECORD LOW LEVELS ADDING THAT SHOPS AND MARKETS ARE HURTING WHILE, MAJOR BUSINESSES WERE RELOCATING TO OTHER PROVINCES.

MR MUKELEBAI ALSO STRESSED THAT HOTELS AND GUEST HOUSES AS WELL AS RICE MERCHANTS HAVE BEEN HIT HARD AS POTENTIAL VISITORS AND TRADERS HAVE STOPPED GOING INTO THE PROVINCE FOLLOWING RECENT OCCURRENCES IN THE AREA.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROVINCE IS THE POOREST IN THE COUNTRY SAYING THAT THE ON-GOING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT BEING UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENT IN ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY WILL HELP TRANSFORM THE PROVINCE INTO A KEY ECONOMIC PLAYER.

MR. MUKELABAI CITED PROJECTS SUCH AS THE K1.2 TRILLION MONGU-KALABO ROAD, SENANGA –SESHEKE, KALABO-SIKONGO AND KATUNDA –LUKULU ROADS.

HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BAROTSE ROYAL ESTABLISHMENT TO TAKE URGENT AND DELIBERATE STEPS TO WOO LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTORS TO THE PROVINCE TO HELP CREATE EMPLOYMENT ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUTHS

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