NATIONAL MILLING LIMITED FURTHER REDUCES MEALIE MEAL PRICES

Peter Cottan

The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has commended National Milling Corporation (NMC) for further reducing the price of mealie meal saying the move is a step in the right direction and will immensely benefit consumers in the country.

ZACA Acting Executive Director Samuel Simutunda said NMC has truly taken a leading role in passing on the benefits of the favorable economic activities currently prevailing in the nation such as the bumper harvest and the lower cost of maize to pass on the benefit to ordinary people in communities.

Mr Simutunda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that though the reduction of K2000 in the price of a 25 kg bag of breakfast mealie meal may seem minimal, it was of great economic value to consumers in the country.

He said his association had expected a substantial reduction in mealie meal prices but that the hike in electricity tariffs and the increases in the price of fuel earlier in the year have justified the small reduction.

The ZACA chief has however expressed disappointment at some milling companies that have remained adamant and do not want to reduce the price of the commodity despite obtaining maize grain at lower costs.

Mr. Simutunda said it was unfortunate that some millers do not want to pass on the benefit of the bumper harvest to persons on the ground saying this was not only unfair but was tantamount to duping ordinary citizens.

He said as much as the country was operating in a liberalized economy where business firms would not be dictated on the pricing of goods and services they render to the public, they should not take advantage of that privilege to disadvantage consumers.

Mr. Simutunda has since urged millers that have not tried to reduce mealie meal prices to emulate the gesture by NMC and slash the price of the commodity in order to benefit consumers.

NMC has announced a further reduction in the price of breakfast mealie meal by K2, 000 per 25 kilogramme bag with effect from yesterday. The country’s largest milling company early in the year reduced prices on the staple food by K 2000 on its breakfast and Roller meal brands, a move that made other milling company’s to follow suit.

The Milling Company has today effected the reduction in the price of breakfast mealie meal by K2, 000 in all Shoprite, Spar and Pick n Pay supermarkets.

NMC Managing Director Peter Cottan said yesterday that the price reduction has also been effected in all the 60 NMC depots around the country.

ZANIS

GOVT TAKEN TO TASK OVER THE NON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL CHILD POLICY

Patriotic Front (PF) Matero Member of Parliament (MP) Faustina Sinyangwe has bemoaned the non-implementation of the National Child Policy (NCP) by government.

Mrs. Sinyangwe says the Policy is just on paper because the Ministry of sport, Youth and Child Development has abandoned it.

The parliamentarian says if the policy was embodied in the republican constitution it would compel government to adhere to it unlike the current situation where children lack necessary values in society.

She said there are still high levels of child related challenges in the country such as child poverty, child health and nutrition, education, child labour and sexual exploitation, child alcohol and drug abuse among others which government needs to address.

Mrs. Sinyangwe, who is also an educationist, was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

The MP said parents were doing enough to raise their children at the early childhood stage but they are frustrated by government which is not adequately addressing to the challenges faced by children.

Mrs. Sinyangwe who is also an educationist said there is need to invest more in children by implementing what is stipulated in the NCP in order to improve the welfare facing the children.

In 1994, Government formulated and approved the NCP that focuses on improving the living conditions of Zambian children in ensuring that programmes of economic development and social mobilization directly addresses the needs of children.

The various social economic challenges the country has under gone in recent years has seen the average Zambian child to continue existing under extreme hardships with most of them not accessing health, education and recreation services, which are all dictated by the United Nations Assembly.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sinyangwe is happy that government has started rehabilitating the Zingalume road . She hoped that Chingwere and Matero-Salima road would also be attended too after the completing the Zingalume M-8 roads.

She disclosed that the road rehabilitation is expected to cost K12 billion.

She commended President Rupiah Banda for hearing her plea to repair the three major roads in Matero Constituency.

And Mrs. Sinyangwe has further hailed the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company for improving the water reticulation system following a K75 million injection pumped by government.

She said people in Madimba area never had proper toilets and piped water but government has since arrested the situation to the delight of Mrs. Sinyangwe.

ZANIS

RUBBER PLANT SEEDLINGS WORTH MILLIONS OF KWACHA DESTROYED IN AN INFERNO IN KAWAMBWA

HUNDREDS of rubber plants worth millions of kwacha have been destroyed at the plantation in Kawambwa district after unknown people set fire at the plantation recently.
And Kawambwa District forestry office says it needs about 4,000 rubber seedlings to replace those destroyed in an inferno.
District forestry officer (DFO), Absalom Sakala confirmed the development in Kawambwa yesterday when he visited the plantation to assess the situation.
The rubber trees badly burnt include 1,600 and 680 plants that were planted in 2009 and 2005 respectively.
Mr. Sakala says the incident is bad because his office will have to look for thousands of seedlings to replace those that have been destroyed by fire instead of expanding hectarage.
He said it is sad that even some plants that were planted five years ago and had started growing have been burnt because of some people’s bad attitude in the area.
Mr. Sakala said the plants once looked after properly can create employment among the people and bring development to the area.
The forestry officer has appealed to the community in the area to change their attitude and support the project instead of destroying.
Mr. Sakala said rubber growing is potential in the area while the quality of the product is good.
Meanwhile, thousands of rubber plants have gone to waste at the nursery in tea estate area because they have not been transplanted since they were brought in 2005.
Rubber nursery caretaker, Andrew Yengayenga told ZANIS in Kawambwa yesterday that the plants have not been transplanted since 2005 after some officials from rubber plantation office on the Copperbelt brought them.
Mr. Yengayenga said many rubber plants have since died while those that are still at the nursery cannot grow properly because they are closer to one another.
At least 130,000 hectares of land has been allocated for rubber tree growing in Kawambwa district.
And 510 rubber trees that were planted in 1990 have fully grown up and are ready for harvest.

FRA OWES KAWAMBWA FARMERS K3 BILLION

THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) owes farmers in Kawambwa District K3 billion for about 45,000 x 50 kilogramme bags of white maize that have so far been bought in the district.
Senior Agriculture Officer (SAO), Samson Chipeta disclosed the development to in an interview in Kawambwa yesterday.
Mr. Chipeta says FRA has only paid K 77 million to 12 farmers since the maize marketing exercise began in July this year.
He said the amount of money paid to farmers is equivalent to about 1,200 x 50 kg bags of white maize.
He said because of the delay to release enough funds, many farmers in the area have started storming his office to air their grievances.
Mr. Chipeta said the situation is worrying because agriculture is an income for the farmers and they need to be paid on time to ease their sufferings.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chipeta has complained at the delay by the transporters to deliver maize from satellite depots to the main depot.
He said his office carried out a survey yesterday and discovered that there is a lot of maize not yet collected at various satellite depots in the district because of the transporters’ slow pace.
And main depot manager, Michael Nonde also confirmed in a separate interview that farmers have not been paid their money up to now and urged them to be patient.
Mr. Nonde also said there is slow pace of maize collection from satellite depots in the area because there are few trucks.

He said there is need to increase the number of trucks especially bigger ones in order to speed up the process and enhance the marketing exercise.

SADC TRIBUNAL TO BE REVIEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region has recommended that the SADC Tribunal should be reviewed every six months.

The two-day SADC 30th Jubilee Summit that ended here on Tuesday issued a communiqué, which addressed the issue of the Zimbabwean government’s insistence on not honouring court rulings of the SADC Tribunal.

The Summit was expected to discuss this matter extensively this week, after the SADC Tribunal ruled last month that Zimbabwe’s failure to register a previous ruling at its High Court should be referred to the SADC Summit.

The Government of Zimbabwe had refused to accept the ruling of the SADC Tribunal in favour of two white farmers, Louis Fick and Michael Campbell, who were dispossessed of their land in a case that has been in court since 2008.

In July this year, Judge Jamu Mutambo of the SADC Tribunal granted the relief sought by Fick and Campbell to have the matter referred to the just-ended SADC Summit after the Zimbabwean government failed to comply with a previous order of the Tribunal.

The Zimbabwean government, through its Justice and Legal Affairs’ Minister Patrick Chinamasa, rejected the ruling in favour of the farmers on the basis that the country’s land reform programme is irreversible.

Zimbabwe also refused to recognise the judgments of the Tribunal, arguing that the protocol that created the SADC body has not yet been ratified by a two-thirds majority of SADC member States for it to have legal effect.

Only five out of the current 14 member states have actually ratified the protocol thus far, and Zimbabwe is not among those five.

The High Court in Zimbabwe also passed a decision in January this year not to register the SADC Tribunal judgment in that country. The SADC Tribunal is based in Namibia.

CSO FINDINGS UNDERUTILIZED - EXPERT

Musokotwane revamped ICPT

Department of National Planning Acting Deputy director, Esnart Mpokoshya says population statistics provided by Central Statistics Office (CSO) is underutilized in developmental areas of the country’s economy.

Ms. Mpokoshya says information by the CSO would help grow the economy once well utilized as issues of unemployment and entrepreneurship would be captured in all developmental aspects.

The Deputy Director said this during a meeting aimed at formulating an Inter-agency Technical Committee on Population (ICTP) in Chipata yesterday.

She said population count provides information that may influence decision making on developmental issues.

Ms Mpokoshya advised government and the private sector to address climate change, gender, education and health related issues by relating it to population.

She stated that it is for this reason that the ministry of Finance and National Planning decided to revamp the ICPT which would help enhance development in relation to population.

The ICPT is expected to provide technical advice to policy makers and facilitate coordination of population related matters among others.

CHINESE INVESTOR CALLS FOR SUPPORT

A Chinese investor in Choma has appealed to residents to support the investment which is meant to better the social and economic conditions of the local people through job creation.

General Manager for Rainbow Purified Waters Company, Xu Ying, said it is important for local people to guard the investment jealously because it has the potential to improve their lives.

Speaking during a conducted tour of the company premises, he said the plant was one of the few manufacturing companies in Zambia in the area of water purification with state-of-the-art equipment that produces the purest water by microfiltration, reverse osmosis and ozonation.
Mr Ying said the main purpose of establishing the plant in Choma was not only for profit making, but also enhancing the economy of Southern Province and Choma in particular.
He said the company will help create employment for the people of Choma and augment Government efforts in eradicating poverty.
Mr Ying said the investment would empower small business men and women who would be afforded an opportunity to dealing in wholesale and retail water trading.
He said the company would also contribute to the national treasury and help broaden the Government tax base.
The plant currently has a production capacity of processing one thousand litres of water per hour and thus eight thousand litres of water per day. It produces water in 500ml bottles packaged in cases of 15 bottles per case as well as 20litres water jars and water dispensers.

Mr Ying said the company intends setting up a plastic recycling plant in Choma and that this venture will create employment for the local community and become a sustainable source of income for some households.

He said the venture would also help to manage waste in the local communities, thus reducing environmental degradation and pollution.
 “I wish to encourage the general public, especially the Choma people to support this project in all manners possible. We wish to encourage institutions especially schools to bring in the students for educational tours,” he said.

Rainbow purified Water Company limited is supported and chaired by a South African based Zambian businessman, James Ndambo of Africa Union Holdings together with a Chinese firm, Sino-Australia Trade Development.

ZANIS

OBAMA CONFERS AGOA MINISTERS AMONG THEM MUTATI

Barack Obama

United States of America President Barrack Obama has urged African governments to make their economies more competitive by lowering the trade barriers between each other alongside with improving infrastructure and combating corruption.

Mr. Obama applauded trade growth between the US and the Sub-Saharan African under AGOA.

Mr. Obama said this in Washington when he conferred with African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum Ministers among them, Zambia’s Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati and other high level ministers who met the US President.

Felix Mutati

This is contained in a press statement released by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in United States of America Ben Kangwa and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Obama however, noted that his new policy on global development will compliment AGOA by focusing on economic growth and good governance.

The US President disclosed that he will target investments where the conditions for growth are right in the quest to create a conducive environment for emerging markets in the next generation.

Mr. Obama underscored the need for private savings, investment and trade reiterating his commitment to an ambitious Doha Round that would benefit low income countries including countries in the Sub-Saharan region.

The AGOA Forum of Ministers opened on August 2 in Washington DC with US and African officials pledging to make US trade preference programme work even better to stimulate economic growth and development on both sides

ZANIS.

NAMIBIAN WOMAN ARRESTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

John Nyawali

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 34- year old Namibian businesswoman for trafficking in pure grade cocaine weighing over  1kg.

DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali says Olivia Shilunga was arrested at the Lusaka International Airport on her arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil aboard South African Airways Flight Number 062.

In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Nyawali, said that Ms. Shilunga, a resident of Ellem Street Soweto in Katutula, Windhoek had swallowed 75 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.1 kilograms and inserted another pellet weighing over 100 grams into her private parts.

He said Ms. Shilunga was detained and admitted to the University Teaching Hospital upon arrival where she expelled cocaine from her bowels after undergoing medical treatment to induce the expulsion.

Ms. Shilunga had failed to naturally release them due to some medical complications she developed.

Mr. Nyawali said that Ms. Shula becomes the ninth woman arrested at the Lusaka International Airport in the last eight months for trafficking in cocaine and the fourth to use a rare method of concealing drugs in private parts.

Meanwhile, DEC has also arrested a 24-year old Zimbabwean female student for trafficking in loose cannabis concealed in three ordinary tobacco cigarette sticks.

Mr. Nyawali said that Karen Chitsiko, a Projects Planning and Development student at Zimbabwe Development College, was arrested at Lusaka International Airport on her arrival from Harare, Zimbabwe aboard a Zambezi airline flight.

On the other hand, DEC has arrested 35 people countrywide in the last four days for being in possession of different quantities of cannabis with a total weight of 200 kilograms.  

Mr. Nyawali said the Commission was happy with the support it was receiving from members of the public in the fight against drug trafficking.

He said the commission would ensure that the country was not used as both a transit and consumer and consumer destination for illicit drugs.

ZANIS

COMDEV HAILED FOR SPONSORING FASHION SHOW IN KATETE

Vending is one source of livelihood in Katete

A senior civil servant in Katete district in eastern province has commended Ministry of Community Development and Social Services for sponsoring a Kum’mawa fashion show, the first of its kind.

The show is aimed at assisting the withdrawal of young people from engaging into unscrupulous behavior.

Katete District Commissioner (DC) Elemani Mwanza stated that the fashion show was special and a unique strategy for the district and the region as a whole which would assist young people and other age groups engage in useful skills which would promote self employment.

Speaking during the Kum’mawa Fashion Show held at Mphangwe motel in Katete district, over the weekend, Mr. Mwanza said the forum would facilitate different designers express their talents in fashion and designing.

“This will also give them an opportunity to expand their market both locally and internationally as the show concept is primed to take advantage of an expanding and profitable industry in promoting Zambia fashion through show casing,” Mr. Mwanza added.

He named the outfits displayed as office wear, casual, wedding dresses, traditional wear and many others, made from Chitenge materials.

Mr. Mwanza said such initiatives would stop young people from roaming the streets and engage themselves in meaningful and profitable ventures such as tailoring and designing to contribute towards poverty reduction.

He has since urged the people in the district to support the designers by purchasing the outfits they would be making for continued sustenance.

The DC stated that the Ministry of Community and Social Services was committed to support activities that were aimed at promoting culture and talents.

He said women also participated by exhibiting traditional foods in conformity to operational definition of culture as it was clear and true that a person without culture was like a tree without roots.

‘’I believe most of you present here have bought from these women selling ready prepared traditional food and your support will contribute to their economic empowerment,’’ Mr. Mwanza said.

The show was organized by the department of Community and cultural Services of Chipata district.

ZANIS

ZAMBIA'S PRESIDENT TO OFFICIALLY OPEN BOTSWANA'S IHS IN SEROWE

President Rupiah Banda

His Excellency, Mr. Rupiah Banda, President of the Republic of Zambia, will on Monday (today) leave for Botswana for a two-day official visit at the invitation of His Excellency, Lieutenant-General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, President of the Republic of Botswana.

The President is expected to arrive in Gaborone on Monday afternoon and he will later in the evening be hosted for dinner by his counterpart. On Tuesday, President Banda will officially open the Serowe Institute of Health Sciences in Serowe, Botswana.

President Banda will be accompanied to Botswana by Health Minister Hon. Kapembwa Simbao, MP, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Lucy Mungomba and other senior Government Officials.

President Khama Ian Khama invited President Banda for a two-day official in July when the Botswana leader came to officially open the Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola. This will be the first time President Banda will be visiting the neighboring Botswana since he became President of Zambia in 2008.

The President and his delegation will return on Tuesday.

WHAT DRAWS YOU TO A PARTICULAR MATE

Many people have faced, or are facing, challenges when choosing a mate or potential life partner.

And they have probably realised that it is not as easy as choosing a favourite drink or a holiday destination.

This is because a relationship is a complex affair in which a number of factors come into play.

There are several assumptions to help expound on this complex issue.

The first assumption is that there is a hunter and a hunted in a relationship, or, as some people put it, predator and prey.

What this means is that the hunter or predator decides on the “prey” to catch, depending on his taste.

However, there is debate on who the real hunter or the hunted is.

Men take pride in their supposed ability to easily capture the most suitable mate, while women say that they know how to position themselves in such a way that the right man cannot fail to notice them.

The second assumption is based on similarity. As an often repeated saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

This simply means that one’s taste is dependent on commonality, so we choose a partner whose tastes closely resemble our own.

The third assumption is the extreme opposite of the second one. It is borrowed from the magnetic field theory, which states that unlike poles attract, while like poles repel.

It depicts a symbiotic relationship where one person relates with another (or others) in search of something that completes what is missing in his or her life. The fourth assumption is derived from the saying, “The river follows its course.”

This is somehow beyond one’s control since it is predetermined.

For instance, in some cultures, a partner is chosen for an individual when he or she is young and he/she has no say in the matter.

Another factor that plays a role in preference is physical appearance.

For some people, factors such as skin colour, dressing style, height, posture, looks, level of intelligence, mannerisms, and other observable qualities are important.

And today, a person’s financial capacity plays a major role in determining preference.
This is because finances determine where you live, hang out, how you dress, where you spend your holidays, and even what you eat.

These assumptions, plus a host of other factors, work together to determine a person’s taste and preference.

Many people are unaware of this and it takes an awareness creation forum — perhaps even an article like this one — to make them conscious of the characteristics they look for in a partner.

Most people have deep-rooted values, beliefs, and prejudices derived from their cultural and religious backgrounds, which dictate the kind of people they should associate with.

But whatever your preference, it is important to choose wisely.

When you are young and still dating, it is advisable to use the sampling method, where you meet as many people as possible and then gradually eliminate those who are unsuitable. This the best way to tell what you want

The writer is a counselling psychologist

www.nation.co.ke

INCREASED UNLICENSED TRADERS WORRY PUBLIC HEALTH PROSECUTOR

Street vending in Lusaka, Zambia

Public Health Prosecutor Michael Musenga has expressed concern with the increasing number of people appearing in courts because of trading without licenses.

Mr. Musenga has since urged Local Authorities in the country to intensify their inspections and ensure that people conducting various business activities were issued with trading licenses and complied with the law.

Mr. Musenga said that, it was saddening to see the country losing a lot of revenue from business houses that did not acquire trade licenses.

He noted that despite many business people having been educated on the importance of obtaining trade permits, businesses have continued to be conducted without trading certificates.

Mr. Musenga explained that there was need for local authorities in the country to ensure that all businesses being conducted were accounted for as a way of enhancing the country’s revenue collection and the general safety of people.

He pointed out that unlicensed traders could be dangerous to consumers because they were capable of selling expired and counterfeit products as their main interest was to make money.

Mr. Musenga disclosed that in a two days inspection exercise carried out in Kanyama more than 50 people were found trading without licenses and have since being summoned to appear in court.

He further said that people should to be reminded that doing business without a license was a serous offence under the laws of Zambia.

He also advised local authorities not to merely issue licenses but to also ensure that people issued with permits complied with the requirements of the licenses.

UGANDA 'S GULU DISTRICT TO START FORCED IMMUNISATIONS

Uganda’s Gulu district administration will resort to forcing women to immunize their children as a means of preventing child deaths from the killer diseases.
The acting district chairman Kitara Makmot said the health of the children who are tomorrow’s future leaders and generation will not be left to the parents alone.
The killer diseases among children include; polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping cough, measles and Tuberculosis. New unborn babies are also currently safe guarded from contracting HIV/AIDS from mother by the use of Nevirapine. A single dose of nevirapine given to both mother and child reduced the rate of HIV transmission by almost 50% compared with a very short course of zidovudine (AZT) prophylaxis.
“The point where we have reached needs government intervention. It is sad to see children still dying due to preventable diseases like malaria and malnutrition. We shall as a district now force parents to immunize their children,” said Makmot.
He was addressing people during the launch of the World Vision Uganda Child Health campaign at Kaunda grounds in Gulu at the weekend. The campaign that climaxes in Kampala on August 12 has seen the Child Health Van traverse Bundibugyo, Rakai, Mpigi, Kibaale, Hoima, West Nile, Soroti and Butalejja.
The five year campaign seeks to reduce preventable diseases like malaria and malnutrition by sensitizing the community on preventative measurers.
Makmot said parents must exhibit a high degree of responsibility to ensure proper health of their children. “It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children and immunized, but we shall now be hard and force them.
He acknowledged the fact that delayed delivery of drugs compounds the health problem.
“It is true Gulu district also faces the challenges of inadequate drugs. But apart from the drugs delaying to be delivered, the few that are delivered are stolen by unscrupulous people,” he said.
Gulu social services chairman Charles Okwakalwak said the stealing of drugs in the district was rampant.
“The fight against this vice is proving difficult because the same public that complains due to shortage of drugs also complain when the “drug thieves” are arrested.
“When we arrest those who steal drugs, their relatives compromise CID, and judges handling the case leaving us with little success,” he said.
He wondered why the justice system would be lenient to people to steal drugs intended to benefit the community.
Okwakalwak also urged the community to exhibit a good degree of hygiene. “Why for heavens sake should you eat without washing your hands. I don’t care whether you wash your hands after eating but please wash your hands with soap before handling of eating food,” he pleaded.
Gulu district health officer Dr. Paul Onek urged the locals to take the health of their children more seriously. “We don’t take the health of our children very seriously. When a child dies, its normal, but when a politician dies its big news,” he said.
He reiterated the importance of having a clean house, latrine, kitchen and bathroom and a foundation for keeping diseases away.
“Now that World Vision has launched this campaign, lets support it to reduce malaria deaths in Gulu,” he said.
Over 70,000 children are infected with malaria in Gulu annually 85 percent under the age of five.
New Vision - Uganda

CITIZENS URGED TO LOOK OUT FOR MEASLES SYMPTOMS

Eularia Syamujaye

The general public in Eastern Province has been urged to be on a look out for measles symptoms in unsuspecting patients.

Provincial Medical Officer, Dr. Kennedy Malama, said people should be on alert to identify measles whilst in its early stage and ensure treatment is done.

Dr. Malama was speaking during the Provincial Epidemic Preparedness Committee meeting held at Luangwa House in Chipata.

He said the symptoms of measles were fever, skin rush with reddish soars and soar eyes, adding that, immediately people saw the symptoms, they should seek medical attention from health institutions.

Dr. Malama noted that if the disease was not treated quickly, it affected the brain, lungs and intestines, saying it may eventually lead to death.

‘’The symptoms should be known so that people do not delay in seeking medical attention. The rush with reddish sores starts from the back of the neck and spreads to the face and later the disease goes to the brain, the lungs and intestines,’’ he said.

Dr. Malama also cautioned people not to be using herbal medicines to treat measles, adding that, some herbs were very strong and they damaged vital organs in human bodies such as kidneys, resulting in death.

He was responding to the concerns raised by Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Syamujaye, who said some people especially in villages were still using traditional way of treating measles where mothers secluded the sick children by taking them to the bush and gave them treatment.

‘’There is need for all to take children to health centers unlike using herbal medicine which may be strong and damage vital organs like kidneys and may also lead to death,’’ Dr. Malama said.

He said measles was with the people of the province and there was need to give the disease all the attention it deserved.

The Doctor said he was proud that the province reached at least 95 percent of the target but there was still more to be done.

He observed that the region recorded 1, 025 cases of measles and there was need to reach out to remote places to immunize children with the support from district leaders.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Health and Research at Ministry of Health, Dr. Victor Mukonka, commended the Provincial Epidemic Preparedness Committee for responding quickly to epidemics.

Dr. Mukonka said the province reacted very quickly and contained the situation in a shortest time.

He however said the province still had a problem with measles which he said was a preventable disease, saying, through immunization, the battle could be won.

Dr. Mukonka said there should be routine immunization and leaders at various levels should help mobilize communities to end the problem.

‘’For many years we have not seen cases of measles and new cases mean that children have not been vaccinated for a long time,’’ he said.

RB TO LAUNCH USAID FUNDED MFUMBENI FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN

President Rupiah Banda

President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Chipata where he is tomorrow expected to officially launch the first 2010 to 2015 Mfumbeni five- year Strategic Plan for development in Senior Chief Nzamane’s chiefdom in Chipata district of Eastern Province.

The President arrived at Chipata airport at 17:15 hours and was accompanied by Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala and Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere and other Government officials.

On arrival, President Banda was received by Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda, MMD Provincial Chairperson Kennedy Zulu and several other government and party officials.

A tight schedule on the launch of the Strategic Plan lies ahead President Banda who will be guest of honor at the event.

The Mfumbeni Strategic Plan is a five- year development plan initiated by Senior Chief Nzamane of the Ngoni speaking people of Chipata district.

The Plan has been sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is aimed at promoting all sectors of development in the area.

Mfumbeni Strategic Plan Chairperson, Festus Ndhlovu said that the Plan would also seek to explore possible solutions to problems affecting villagers in the area.

This is in line with Governments Decentralization Policy where development starts at grassroots level, Mr. Ndhlovu said.

He further stated that the Plan would equally ensure that all developmental projects were well coordinated in accordance with the needs of the people

ZANIS

SHOPRITE DECRIES BRAIN DRAIN IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Shoprite Group of Companies has urged African countries to continue investing in human resource development for the continent to benefit more on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015

The Group’s Top stars producer Mynie Grove was speaking during the 2010 singing and performance talent competition in Lusaka last night.

Ms Grove has commended African governments for making remarkable progress in attaining most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

She urged African countries to consolidate gains from the just ended 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa such as the One Goal campaign which is aimed at renewing commitments in attaining education for all by 2015.

Ms Grove has cited brain drain as the greatest cause of social, political and economic malaise in most African countries.

She said time has come for the continent to devise strategies that will guard against brain drain if poverty alleviation programmes are to be a success.

And speaking after emerging winner of the semi final, Shoprite Ndola Branch Manager Jameson Simemba said his group is ready for the Gala awards night in Cape Town slated for October this year.

Mr Simemba thanked management for hosting the competition for all Shoprite employees as a way of enhancing the social bonds that already exists among the Shoprite Group family.

Winners of the competition are used in the company’s corporate advertisements and other corporate events.

Shoprite employees from Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania took part in the semi final of the competition which is an annual event.