You can’t have my land -Chief Musele tells First Quantum minerals
Thursday, March 17, 2011, 14:53
Senior Chief Musele of the Lunda people of Solwezi district in North western Province has said he would not sign the surface rights for the development of the Trident project by First Quantum Minerals if the 750 square kilometres being asked for is not revised.
Senior Chief Musele said he would not go ahead and sign because the land being asked for by the mining company is too much and suggested that they take up only 500 square kilometres.
He expressed fear that if the mine was given that much land his people would have no where to settle and do their farming activities from because the whole
area would be taken up.
The traditional leader was speaking during a meeting organised by the Environmental Council of Zambia at Wanyinwa Basic School in Solwezi on Wednesday.
Senior Chief Musele bemoaned gaps in the way information flowed between the two parties, citing the non availability of the map which clearly stated boundaries and where the mining activity starts and ends.
He added that information on a number of families to be affected by the mining activities through displacement had also not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, the senior chief has appealed to the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) to consider translating the Environmental Impact Assessment draft report for the Trident project into local languages to enable locals have a clear understanding of its contents.
The chief also appealed for more time from ECZ to enable him study the draft report thoroughly.
Speaking at the same meeting, acting Senior Chief Sailung’a of Mwinilunga district observed that development brought about both a negative and positive impact on the people and environment hence the need to work out modalities on how to mitigate the negative impact.
Senior Chief Sailung’a said the coming of the Trident project would tamper with nature as trees and rivers that have been sustaining people’s livelihoods would be disturbed adding that the mine should try to protect these in every way possible.
ZANIS
Labels: CHIEF MUSELE, FIRST QUANTUM MINING, LAND RIGHTS, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Solwezi farmers demand refund for undelivered fertiliser
By Ndinawe Simpelwe
Tue 08 Mar. 2011, 03:59 CAT
SOME farmers in Solwezi are demanding refunds from Nyiombo Investments for the non-delivery of fertiliser. The farmers in the district have not yet received their fertiliser for the 2010-2011 farming season.
In an interview, representative of the affected farmers John Kabaso said they had not received the fertiliser despite paying money to their cooperatives.
They complained that most of their maize had gone to waste because of a lack of fertiliser.
“We are afraid that there will be food insecurity in the area because our maize has gone to waste. It is not possible to save the crops now,” Kabaso said.
He said the farmers have asked their cooperatives to request for refunds from Nyiombo so that they could use the money on other income generating ventures.
Kabaso said they were disappointed with Nyiombo Investments for not delivering fertilisers on time because they were geared to produce enough maize for the district.
He appealed to the government to ensure they contracted capable firms to deliver farmers' inputs so that food security was achieved throughout the country.
“As small-scale farmers we are disappointed because we saw a bumper harvest coming from Solwezi but all that has been hampered by the failure to deliver fertiliser. In future government should ensure that they award contracts to capable organisations who can meet the demand,” said Kabaso.
Government had contracted Nyiombo Investments and Omnia to deliver fertiliser to small scale farmers in the country for the 2010/2011 farming season.
But several farmers across the country have complained of not having received fertiliser for this farming season. Nyiombo has not given its official position on the matter yet as efforts to get a comment from senior management have proved futile.
Labels: FERTILIZER, FISP, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Solwezi pupils riot after truck kills grade 12 girl, leaves 6 injured
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Sat 06 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
A Solwezi Technical High School Grade 12 has died while six others are nursing injuries after a Toyota light truck registration number ACJ 7115 belonging to JC Bousfield of Chingola rammed into them as they were on a road run along Kansanshi Road near Kansanshi Mine main gate.
Meanwhile, police led by North Western Province commanding officer Fabian Katiba, had to be swiftly deployed to the school to cordon off the area and quell the disturbance in which five JCB trucks including the van that had hit the pupils were extensively damaged.
The trucks with damaged windscreens, deflated tires, smashed head lights and indicators and shattered side mirrors, were all stoned in front of the school as the passed.
The deceased girl, Beatrice Malisawa, was part of a group of pupils who had left the school around 04:00hours on a road run to prepare for inter-house athletics for the upcoming provincial inter schools event in March.
According to Treaty Lupeto, one of the pupils admitted to the hospital, the incident happened when one of the girls fainted and a group of colleagues surrounded her to try and help her into a vehicle the pupils had asked help from to ferry their friend back to school.
Treaty narrated that in the process they saw a light truck from about 10 metres flashing headlights in full beam heading towards the mine.
“When we were helping our friend who had fainted somewhere about 200 metres from the Kansanshi main boom (main entrance), we just saw a vehicle approaching our direction with headlights in full beam. The lights were flashed suddenly from about 10 meters, so we had little time to move, because if we had seen the lights from a good distance we could have stayed away. So this vehicle came and hit into us. Myself, I was not hit directly but I fell from the impact of the vehicle on others”, he said.
He added that after the accident, the driver of the vehicle ran away, but left the van with a running engine. The pupils then reorganised themselves and put their injured friends in the van and one of them then drove it to the hospital (which is within 2 kilometres) on the same road as the school before driving back to the school.
One teacher, who sought anonymity and was present at the time the pupils returned from the hospital, said the students then brought the light truck into the school premises and started stoning it while others wanted to set it ablaze.
They then decided to move it out and parked it across the road, blocking traffic from both sides.
It was at this point that they started stoning the loaded trucks coming from Kansanshi mine.
Initially, the pupils had resorted to only stoning vehicles belonging to JCB, in the process sparing a FQM bus, ABL 6517 which eventually got stuck on the side track after the driver took flight and bolted to avoid the rampaging pupils.
But after calm had, apparently, been restored around 08:00 hours, another group of pupils mobilised themselves in the school football pitch, went behind the school and ambushed a First Quantum Minerals bus, ABL 6495 with mine workers on it near Mushitala Basic School, smashing almost all the windows.
Police had to fire warning shots and teargas to disperse the pupils.
And police have instituted investigations to identify the ringleaders of the riot that ensued after the accident.
Labels: SOLWEZI COUNCIL, STUDENTS
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Solwezi street lighting project nears completion
By David Chongo in Solwezi
Wed 27 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
WORK on the installation of the K1 billion street lightning project being undertaken by Solwezi Municipal Council is almost complete.
Council public relations manager Mulimbi Mulaliki said most of the work on the programme had been done and Solwezi town should have streetlights working in three weeks time.
"Ninety per cent of the work is done. What we are waiting for is power to be connected and we should have lights working in the next three weeks," he said.
Mulaliki said the local authority was satisfied with the work of the contractor on the K1 billion project adding that when the current project is completed, the council would then embark on phase two of the project that would target the compounds.
He appealed to members of the public not to vandalise the infrastructure but preserve it for their own benefit.
"We are appealing to the public not to vandalise the facilities because these are supposed to benefit them. As a local authority, we are not doing this for ourselves but for the benefit of the people of Solwezi," said Mulaliki.
The works are being carried out by Saloba Contractors of Kitwe and covers a stretch of about 3 kilometres.
Civil engineering supervisor for the project Ospher Chibela said the installation of the 108-pole lighting system should have been finished weeks before but were delayed by heavy rains in the district.
"What's remaining is only a few parts and for Zesco to connect us to the power supply," said Chibela.
Labels: MULIMBI MULALIKI, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Solwezi goes to the polls tomorrow
By Joseph Mwenda
Wed 18 Nov. 2009, 15:20 CAT
All is set for the Solwezi central parliamentary by-elections tomorrow despite the persistent violence that has marred the campaigns.
Residents will be electing their new leader to replace Benny Tetamashimba who died after an illness two months ago.
Four candidates are in the race for the Solwezi Central seat and its from these that electorates will chose one as their area member of parliament.
Ruling MMD is in the race with Albert Chifita, a carrer teacher. He has worked as district inspector of schools in Serenje, assistant secretary at the Ministry of Defence before joining Mulungushi Textiles.
Watson Lumba is the PF/UPND alliance candidate. He is an accountant by profession and a board member at Saint John’s Medical Center in the area.
The Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA) has floated Muhammed Kalela, a human resources practitioner. He worked for the then Indeco Limited and Lonrho Zambia.
The fourth candidate is an Independent, Thomas Kafula, a miner at Kansanshi Mining PLC.
Meanwhile, Anti-Voter Apathy (AVAP) director Bonnie Tembo has said political parties vying for the Solwezi Central parliamentary seat have failed to seize an opportunity to address issues affecting residents in the area.
And Tembo told the Post On-line this afternoon that his organisation has gathered evidence of vote buying by the ruling MMD in Solwezi ahead of Thursday's by-elections.
Speaking in an interview, Tembo said AVAP was concerned with the persistent violence in the campaigns ahead of the by-election.
“AVAP is concerned with the spark of violence in Solwezi and this has been caused by the desperation of political parties.”
“These parties have failed to seize an opportunity to address issues affecting residents in Solwezi, things to do with water and sanitation, education, health and washed away bridges. Instead, they are busy with verbal attacks on each other,” he said.
Tembo said even Vice-President George Kunda had also been using bad language in his campaign massages.
“I am just from monitoring an MMD rally addressed by the Vice-President who is calling PF leader Michael Sata a thug, he is calling HH a corrupt man. And then you saw that picture were cadre s were displaying placards saying “MMD for sale K100...) and so on, so when the opposing supporters see that they start drinking beer and start stoning each other,” he said.
Tembo further observed that by nature of MMD distributing food materials to the electorates, the November 19, 2009 by-elections may not be fair or credible.
“Our monitors are just returning from Mulenga village where the MMD was distributing fertilizer in exchange for voters' cards. They are being told that the cards will be kept safe until time for voting.”
“Another observer was among residents who attended a meeting by the MMD who gave out K5, 000 notes to all the people who attended. We have that money and we are keeping it,” he said.
Tembo said the electoral code of conduct had been heavily abused in the Solwezi campaigns.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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MMD cadres disrupt UPND-PF pact rally in Solwezi
By Zumani Katasefa and Speedwell Mupuchi
Fri 06 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
MMD cadres on Wednesday allegedly disrupted a UPND and PF pact campaign rally at Chisalala Middle Basic School in chief Kapijimpanga’s area in Solwezi.
UPND vice-president Richard Kapita complained yesterday that it was not fair for the MMD to disrupt the meeting when UPND had already obtained a police permit for the venue.
“We had obtained a police permit for that venue and the MMD were very much aware about that. These are some of the things that encourage violence,” he said.
Kapita said the head teacher of Chisalala Middle Basic School where the meeting was supposed to take place told UPND leaders that they were not supposed to hold the meeting at that school because the venue was reserved for MMD.
He said people who had gone to attend the meeting were turned away and that the meeting was only held after MMD left the area.
“But only a few people attended the meeting, most of them turned away because they feared that violence may break out,” he said.
Kapita said the UPND had complained to relevant authorities over the behaviour of the police.
He said UPND was aware that the MMD planned to bribe villagers in Kyabakanga and Kainamfumu with bags of fertiliser so that they could vote for MMD candidate Albert Chifita.
“But we are not going to allow them, we are going to stop that,” Kapita said.
He said UPND cadres were on alert, adding that they would fight any electoral malpractices by the MMD in the Solwezi Central by-election.
Meanwhile, UPND Copperbelt Province youth vice-chairman Kelly Jibinga said UPND and PF youths from the Copperbelt on Tuesday left for Solwezi to beef up their campaigns.
“We sent a group of 60 youths, we are yet to send more on Friday today,” he said.
Four candidates are taking part in the Solwezi Central by-election.
The aspiring candidates are Albert Chifita from MMD, UPND’s Watson Lumba, Muhhamed Kalela of Forum for Democratic Alternatives and an independent candidate Thomas Kafula.
And suspected MMD cadres in Solwezi’s Kyawama Township on Sunday allegedly assaulted two UPND cadres.
Kapita said a medical report had been obtained.
He said the cadres were attacked when they were campaigning for the party’s candidate, Lumba.
“I can confirm that two of our members were attacked and assaulted by MMD thugs, this happened in Kyawama township where they were doing their campaigns. You know Kyawama has 10,000 registered voters, so it is a battle ground,” he said.
Kapita said despite the violence from the MMD, the people of Solwezi were geared for change.
“Mangani home affairs minister issued a wrong statement that the opposition was perpetrating violence in Solwezi, yet it is the MMD thugs who are behind this violence. Mangani should understand that people of Solwezi have decided to bring change in Solwezi,” he said.
He said the move by the government to deploy about 70,000 police officers from Kamfinsa would not intimidate the people of Solwezi who he said would go ahead and vote out the MMD.
“We are reliably informed that the MMD have brought four buses of MMD youths from Lusaka to come and cause violence here in Solwezi. This must not be encouraged. We are going to defend ourselves in the field,” he said.
Kapita further alleged the MMD want to use chiefs from Mwinilunga, Zambezi, Kasempa and Chavuma and district commissioners to help in campaigning for Chifita.
He advised chiefs to stay away from politics adding that they should not allow themselves to be used by politicians.
“We respect our chiefs, they should not allow themselves to be used by politics, so we advise them to stay away,” said Kapita.
North Western Province police commanding officer Fabian Katiba said he was not aware about the assault of the UPND cadres.
MMD campaign manager Kabinga Pande said the MMD campaign was in full swing.
“We have deployed our people in the campaign, nothing like money has not been sent,” Pande said dispelling reports that the MMD campaign had suffered a setback because State House had not sent money for the campaign. “Everything is in full swing. We are happy with the response from the voters who have assured us of votes. We trust the people of Solwezi, they are the same people who have been voting for us, we have been with them.”
Pande said campaigns were going on peacefully and believed such atmosphere would continue into the polling day, on November 29.
Labels: CADRES, MMD, PF-UPND, RICHARD KAPITA, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Teta’s role in disbursing Solwezi land revenue raises suspicion
Written by Margaret Habbuno, Mwala Kalaluka and Mwila Chansa
Monday, May 11, 2009 11:55:10 PM
THE Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Solwezi has questioned
local government minister Benny Tetamashimba’s involvement in
the disbursement of land rate payments made to Solwezi Council by Kansanshi Mine. Solwezi Diocese CCJP coordinator Frederick Nabanda charged in an interview that Tetamashimba’s role in the disbursement of the rate payments from Kansanshi Copper Mine without consulting Solwezi Municipal Council was suspicious.
Nabanda, whose organisation falls under the ambit of Caritas Zambia, said Tetamashimba, who is also Solwezi Central MMD member of parliament, convened a meeting in Lusaka, which was attended by deputy parliamentary whip Humphrey Mwanza, commerce deputy minister Richard Taima and the Solwezi Mayor where they discussed how the K2.5 billion rate payment would be expended.
He said the approach taken by Tetamashimba over the money was causing concern among council officials in Solwezi, as they were aware of the payment.
“As Caritas, our core duty is to ensure that we monitor the expenditure of the Council so that the money is used in the right channel. On March, 9, 2009 in Lusaka, Tetamashimba held a meeting without informing us the people from Solwezi. Why should a minister budget for the Municipal Council?”Nabanda asked.
He said some stakeholders in Solwezi were not happy with the way Tetamashimba was running the affairs of municipal council.
“The current town clerk for Solwezi Mr Zya, his contract ended and the minister decided to reinstate his contact and his defence was that he wanted him to account for the K400, 000,000 but up to now nothing has been done,” Nabanda said.
He said it was unfortunate that Tetamashimba was running the council as though it was a kantemba.
“He is pushing his way through and he doesn’t even allow the Council to make their decision,” he said.
Nabanda said Tetamashimba should have sought permission from the local authority before proceeding with the meeting.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) Chitimukulu ward councilor Macdonald Mulongoti has observed that the delay in installing mayors on the Copperbelt will further hamper development in the province.
Mulongoti accused Tetamashimba of causing development inertia due to his alleged tendency of treating the ministry like “a personal-to-holder thing”.
“The President should find another minister and not Tetamashimba. Councils on the Copperbelt are non functional and this is not good because mayors can’t carry out functions before they are installed,” he said.
Mulongoti said it was sad that after having delayed the mayoral elections unnecessarily, Tetamashimba was now delaying the installation of the elected mayors.
“Only Kalulushi and Mufulira mayors have been installed so one wonders when the others will be installed,” said Mulongoti.
Tetamashimba could however not comment on the two issues as his mobile phone was unreachable by press time.
Labels: BENNY TETAMASHIMBA, CCJP, FREDERICK NABANDA, KANSANSHI MINING PLC, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Govt declares Solwezi as an economic zone
December 3, 2008
Government has declared Solwezi District as an economic zone. Commerce ,Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said this in Solwezi, today, after touring Africa’s largest Copper mine at Lumwana.
Mr Mutati said the the declaration of Solwezi district as an economic zone comes after the increased economic activities in the Northwestern Province, particularly the mine activities.
He said it was government’s hope that the economic zone would help increase direct tax and more employment activities for the local people and beyond.
Government has declared a number of economic zones in the country like the Chambishi and the Lusaka economic zones with the help of bilateral partners like China to boost economic activities in Zambia.
On Lumwana Mines, Mr Mutati said the mine had brought industrialization in the province and the neighbouring Copper belt Province as it would help boost the economy of the nation.
He particularly noted the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO)’s investment in supplying power to the mines saying the installation of power to the mine would speed up the processing of the copper ore rather than manually.
And the mine extracted copper ore which had 41 percent pure copper for the first time the processing plant was installed 12 year ago.
Lumwana Mine managing Director Harry Micheal told Mr Mutati that the copper concentrate mined today had 41 percent copper adding that his team was targeting to mine 45 percent of copper ore.
ZANIS/VP/ENDS/MM
Labels: ECONOMIC ZONES, FELIX MUTATI, NORTHWESTERN PROVINCE, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Solwezi district makes K 800 million from fertiliser sells
November 29, 2008
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in Solwezi district has received more than K800,000,000 from sales of fertilizer and seed under the Fertilizer Support Programme to farmers in the district.
Acting District Marketing and Cooperatives officer Francis Mwansa said in an interview, Friday, that his office has collected K872,908,572 from farmers through maize seed and fertilizer sales in less than two weeks but due erratic supply of fertilizer all stocks has since been exhausted in the shed.
Mr Mwansa said that his office only received 15,352 x 50kg bags (1919 packs) instead of 19,200 x 50 kg bags (2400 packs) resulting in a serious shortage of both urea and basal fertilizer in the district.
He nevertheless, advised the farmers to only deposit money for maize seed so that they are able to plant as they wait for more fertilizer expected to be delivered soon.
He appealed to farmers not to panic as the situation was being handled by higher authorities to ensure that the remaining fertilizer is sent to the district.
By Tuesday this week about 136 registered cooperatives had collected their consignment of fertilizer from Nyiombo depot.
Meanwhile 15 registered cooperatives from Mushindamo block may not benefit from this years fertilizer support programme due to the late submission of the farmers applications forms.
Chairperson for Lwambanga cooperative, Abel Kafwimbi said that he was not happy that his block had been left out in this year’s fertilizer support programme.
Mr Kafwimbi, who is also Vice Chairperson for Mushindamo block, said that the fertilizer got finished and the entire Mushindamo block only managed to get 240 x 50 bags (30 packs) which have not been collected yet.
The cooperatives that submitted late include, Kafifolo, Lubinga, Lifesaver, Lunga source, Kan’gamo, Kyamato, Mushindamo, Masaka, Milembe, Kashiba, Kyafulabunga, Lwamibanga, Kasanfu, Kapako and Minkonk.
However, District Agriculture Committee Chairperson (DAC), Paul Chipoya said the distribution of the fertilizer has been okay.
He said that the number of bags of fertilizer was too low as compared to the number of applicants, adding that farmers bought off all the stocks in the shed resulting to some cooperatives not benefiting.
Mr Chipoya said that Mushindamo block should not blame DAC for not participating due their late submission of applications, but told the 15 cooperatives that in case of any additional fertilizer the DAC may considered them.
Labels: COOPERATIVES, FSP, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Tempers fly over Levy's succession in Solwezi
By Mulimbi Mulaliki, Mwila Chansa, Kelvin Tembo and Maluba Jere
Friday August 29, 2008 [04:00]
THERE was a near punch-up in Solwezi on Wednesday as MMD senior members and ministers from North-Western Province openly differed over endorsing Vice-President Rupiah Banda and finance minister Ng'andu Magande as candidates for the presidential by-election.
During a meeting called for the party in the province to come up with a candidate they would recommend to the national executive committee (NEC) to consider as a preferred candidate, senior party officials from Mwinilunga and Kasempa rejected the endorsement of Vice-President Banda, arguing that he was not capable of succeeding President Mwanawasa.
The members from Mwinilunga, led by provincial chairperson, Harrison Kamuna, walked out of the hall and started to harass provincial executive committee officials for not allowing the party to debate and evaluate candidates who had filed in their nominations.
Senior party officials had endorsed the candidature of Vice-President Banda, who is also acting President, for the presidential by-election but the members from Mwinilunga and Kasempa floated Magande's name arguing that he had managerial skills as exhibited in the way he had managed the economy.
"You can't call us here to come and rubber-stamp your decision, we are not going to accept to support Vice-President Banda. What we need is a manager who can continue with the programmes of development," said Kamuna. "You are being undemocratic, you cannot force us to support a candidate who we know would be difficult to market to the electorate just because you want to safeguard your jobs.
Another official from Mwinilunga said Magande has worked with three different vice-presidents and understands the economy of our country very well.
"We in our constituencies will campaign for Magande," the official said.
And MMD NEC members, who also attended the meeting, endorsed the candidature of Vice-President Banda saying he was mature and had the experience required for maintaining unity and harmony in the party for the forthcoming presidential by-election.
The ministers, deputies, members of parliament, provincial executive committee members and district chairpersons from Solwezi, Kabompo, Mufumbwe, Zambezi and Chavuma resolved that Vice-President Banda be given chance to lead the nation for the next three years.
Among the ministers that signed the resolution paper were Kenneth Konga (energy) Sarah Sayifwanda (agriculture), Ronald Mukuma (labour), and deputy ministers Benny Tetamashimba (local government), Daniel Kalenga (agriculture), Grace Njapau and Misheck Bonshe (home affairs), Richard Taima (sport, youth and child development), Kenneth Chipungu (provincial minister) and Humphrey Mwanza deputy chief whip and provincial chairman James Katoka.
Meanwhile, chief Nsamba of Samfya in Luapula Province advised the MMD not to spark division in their quest to find a successor for late President Mwanawasa.
Chief Nsamba said chiefs in the district had endorsed acting President Rupiah Banda as the right candidate to succeed President Mwanawasa.
Alliance for Zambia Informal Economy Associations (AZIEA) general secretary Lameck Kashiwa stated that the MMD should have a broader picture of succession and not only limit it to maintaining power at all costs.
He stated that there was need for the ruling party to tone down on what he termed antagonistic language about succession as this was destroying the current mourning mood in the country.
Meanwhile, Northern Province minister Lameck Chibombamilimo said Vice-President Banda was in for a rude shock if he was expecting votes from his province.
Chibombamilimo said the same people claiming to support the Vice-President were also supporting Willa Mung'omba.
"People in my province shocked Lupando Mwape, so if the Veep is counting on votes from there, he is in for a rude shock," he said.
Chibombamilimo said Vice-President Banda should not expect hundred per cent votes from Northern Province.
But Mbala member of parliament Gaston Sichilima said he and the people of Northern Province, would support Vice-President Banda's candidature.
Sichilima, who is also MMD Northern Province vice-chairperson, advised other presidential aspirants to withdraw from the race and instead rally behind Acting President Banda, saying it was the only way of ensuring continuity in the programmes embarked on by late President Mwanawasa.
Sichilima said the aspirants needed to be sincere and genuine, adding that the matter of succession should not be trivialised.
"Some of these people who are applying today left the MMD and went and stood as independents, so now they think it is sangwapo. I think these will only disturb government's programmes so I would like to urge the other aspirants to just rally behind Rupiah Banda so he can carry President Mwanawasa's vision forward," said Sichilima.
Labels: MAGANDE, MMD, PRESIDENCY, RUPIAH BANDA, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Solwezi council exposes scam on selling of plots
By Mulimbi Mulaliki in Solwezi
Tuesday July 01, 2008 [04:00]
SOLWEZI Municipal Council workers’ scam of selling illegal plots and producing fake council minutes has been exposed. According to a report released by an adhoc committee that was formed to investigate allegations of malpractices by Solwezi council staff in plot allocation, Solwezi residents in their submission observed that there was no order in the allocation of plots as anyone was able to sell a plot.
The adhoc committee heard how senior council officers formed a cartel, in which they used to produce fake minutes purporting that the council approved the sale of the illegal plots.
“Double allocation of plots to more than one person with authenticated papers, this is clear corruption and it shows that there was no management supervision starting from the town clerk to the directors of departments,” read part of the adhoc committee’s report.
The committee, which was appointed by Solwezi Mayor, Emmanuel Chihili, chaired by Solwezi district administrative officer, Luyanga Kapumo and ratified by a full council meeting, also heard how the local authority on several occasions opted to operate in isolation from both the provincial planning office and North Western Province Planning Authority (NWPPA).
“Faking of minutes is common as a way of allocating plots dubiously, for example in the case of a Mr Mvula Robert who came to Solwezi in March, 2008 but given minutes that showed that he attended interviews on 30th August 2007. All the documents are duly endorsed and date stamped 7th November 2007 before the officer arrived in Solwezi. This is a clear case of abuse of office on the part of the chief officers that are given the mandate to issue these documents. This is an example of plots that have been sold to people without the council benefiting or getting the money,” the adhoc committee’s report read in part.
Labels: CORRUPTION, COUNCILS, LAND, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Chiefs Kapijimpanga, Mumena give traditional land to Solwezi council
By Zumani Katasefa in Solwezi
Thursday November 22, 2007 [03:00]
CHIEFS Kapijimpanga and Mumena of Solwezi have surrendered huge portions of their traditional land to Solwezi Municipal Council for the redesigning of the town. In an interview on Tuesday, Solwezi council town clerk Jim Zya said the chiefs had surrendered part of their traditional lands to allow the redesigning of Solwezi district and for setting up a town in Lumwana..
He, however, said chief Kapijimpanga's traditional advisors had objected to the chief’s gesture, saying that part of the land that had been given out for development was reserved for their kingdom.
Zya said the matter was being discussed and hoped that the chief's advisors would understand the purpose of new infrastructure developments in Solwezi. Zya said once the district was redesigned, the local authority would not allow people to put up their buildings anyhow.
"In the recent past there has been no proper control of how buildings have being constructed,'' he said.
Zya said the local authority would also upgrade some of the existing infrastructures such as schools and business centres. He said the council would also create by-pass roads as the current roads in the district were not able to accommodate the influx of vehicles in the area.
He said the council would further create commercial centres in places such as Mushitala to spread development to the western parts of the Solwezi town.
"With political will that is there, it will be very disappointing for the council to fail to positively respond to the challenges that this district is facing," said Zya.
And chief Mumena said he was happy with the new developments that were taking place in the district, hence his gesture to give part of his traditional land to the local authority to allow the expansion of the district.
He said that he would want to see classic buildings being put in the district and not ramshackle ones.
Labels: CHIEFS, LAND, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Zambia: Finance Ministry Rejects Kansanshi Tax Rebate Request
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
14 September 2007
Lusaka
THE ministry of Finance and National Planning has rejected a request by the Solwezi Municipal Council for a tax rebate on Kansanshi mining activities for the company to develop the district. Finance Minister, Ng'ande Magande said the proposition was contrary to current laws and Government's policy of not giving discretionary blanket tax exemptions to commercial entities. Mr Magande, however, conceded in a letter of September 11, 2007 to Solwezi mayor, Emmanuel Chihili that issues on the need to have orderly infrastructure development in Solwezi were genuine and need immediate attention.
"My view is that these should be tackled within the confines of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and annual national budgets. By copy of this letter, I am reminding and drawing attention to my colleagues in the ministries of Local Government and Housing and Works and Supply over the same issues and see how we can move forward," he said.
The minister said if the proposed infrastructure were brought to the attention of the relevant authorities, ways could be found to reduce some Government imposition.
Mayor Chihili, who is also Kansanshi Foundation Trust coordinator, received Mr Magande's letter some 24 hours after handing over the Foundation's status report to North-Western Province Minister, Kenneth Chipungu.
The report, covering June 2006- June 2007 projects, include the multi-million Kwacha project proposals from the Solwezi Municipal Council for the construction of a modern civic centre.
The other proposals from the local authority included construction of a fire station, construction of centralised sewer treatment plant, procurement of three vans for service delivery and expansion of Solwezi main market.
The report says almost all the projects could be attainable if the Government consented to a joint appeal of Kansanshi and council management to have tax rebates on the mines.
The Kansanshi Foundation Trust, which has spent more than K3 billion since its inception in June 2006, is a non-profit making organisation funded by Kansanshi Mine board to upgrade physical and social infrastructure in Solwezi. "The foundation is the vehicle through which Kansanshi Mining is able to plough back some of its earnings into the community as part of its corporate social responsibility," the report says.
Labels: SOLWEZI COUNCIL, TAXATION
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Solwezi risks becoming big shanty town - Levy
By Chris Mulaliki and Mwala Kalaluka in Solwezi
Tuesday July 31, 2007 [04:00]
PRESIDENT Levy Mwanawasa has expressed worry that Solwezi risks being turned into a big shanty town due to the current poor planning trends obtaining in the town. And President Mwanawasa has said Kansanshi Mine management pays its workers better than any other mine in the country.
Addressing miners at Kansanshi Mine after touring the facility on Sunday, President Mwanawasa said in view of this observation, the government was in the process of instituting a ministerial committee to re-design Solwezi following increased economic activities.
“I want to see beautiful houses being constructed here and you to benefit. The management has assured me that they will help the committee to re-design the town,” President Mwanawasa said.
He said Kansanshi Mine management would support the government-appointed committee with technical and financial resources. And President Mwanawasa has urged Kansanshi Mine workers to learn to engage management in dialogue whenever they had industrial-related problems.
“Kansanshi Copper Mines pays better than any mine in Zambia. That is a fact you know. You can get a lot more through dialogue. It is not encouraging that at every stage you want better conditions of service you resort to striking,” President Mwanawasa said.
He also told the miners that tomorrow he would be meeting Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) to discuss various issues relating to the working situation at the mine.
“I am aware that your conditions of service require improvement. Both the government and the management are engaged in discussions so that you can have improved conditions of service,” President Mwanawasa told the workers who were attentive.
President Mwanawasa said he was delighted that the miners called off their strike action and that he fulfilled his promise of talking to them if they called off their strike.
Two weeks ago, President Mwanawasa accused miners at Kansanshi of using the strike to blackmail management so that it does what they want and he refused to visit the mine until the workers returned to work, which they did after MUZ president Rayford Mbulu addressed them.
President Mwanawasa said it was good that the economic developments in the area were taking place during his time and that a good number of people had been employed.
Meanwhile, none of the workers at the mine run by First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) volunteered to express their grievances to President Mwanawasa after he requested them to do so during the brief meeting.
President Mwanawasa said he was surprised that none of the workers could marshal enough courage to express themselves before him.
“It appears that either you are afraid to express yourselves or you have no complaints to raise,” President Mwanawasa told the workers.
Some union officials from National Miners and Allied Workers Union (NUMAWU) and MUZ were present during the meeting.
And Kansanshi Mine general manager Russel Alley said FQML had managed to pay back the loans it borrowed for the construction of the mine. He said initially the mine had a workforce of 750 but within two years it grew to over 3,000 due to increased production. Alley further said some expansion projects were on going at the mine following favourable copper prices on the London Metal Exchange.
Labels: KANSANSHI MINING PLC, MINERS, MWANAWASA, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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Kansanshi Mining Plc, Solwezi council to sign tax rebates deal
By Chris Mulaliki in Solwezi
Friday July 06, 2007 [04:00]
SOLWEZI Municipal Council is in the process of signing a memorandum of understanding with Kansanshi Mining Plc on tax rebates to ensure meaningful development in the district. Solwezi mayor Emmanuel Chihili told a full council meeting that the local authority and Kansanshi Mining were working on an MOU to be presented to government for approval.
“We are in a process of making a memorandum of understanding between Kansanshi Mining Plc and the council on tax rebates and present it to central government for approval so that more meaningful development is achieved,” Chihili told councillors.
Chihili who is an employee of Kansanshi Mining said concerned by the council over Kansanshi Foundation’s social responsibility had been addressed.
He challenged the council management to present projects it felt could be embarked on next year. And Chihili bemoaned the poor accounting system at the council, as there were no internal controls to safeguard the resources of the local authority.
He said despite the council receiving at least K2.1 billion from various sources, council programmes were not prioritised. Chihili said the external audit report for the period 1st January 2005 to February 28, 2006, revealed that record keeping was poor, revenue collection not closely monitored while payments were also not checked.
“According to the findings, we are told that our accounting system was non-existent for the period under review. Internal controls to safeguard the resources of the council were not put in place,” he said.
Labels: KANSANSHI MINING PLC, SOLWEZI COUNCIL
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