Zambia, Mozambique sign 8 bilateral agreements
By ZANIS
Thu 19 Aug. 2010, 11:30 CAT
ZAMBIA and Mozambique yesterday signed eight bilateral agreements in various sectors aimed at enhancing living standards of citizens in the two countries. And President Rupiah Banda and his Mozambique counterpart Armando Guebuza have reaffirmed their commitments towards ensuring that the agreements signed benefit the two nations.
According to Zambia News and Information Services, the legal instruments are towards enhancing cooperation in the fields of transport and communications, tourism and civil aviation. The other five are Memoranda of Understanding in various areas.
The MoUs are on mineral resources, education, disaster management and early warning, establishment of cooperation ties between chambers of commerce of the two countries and the last one on exchange of students of National Institute of Mozambique and Diplomacy Institute of Zambia.
Communications and transport minister, Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa signed the instruments on behalf of the Zambian government while Mozambique Minister of Foreign Affairs Oldemiro Baloi and Paulo Zucula, Minister of Communication and Transport for Mozambique signed for their country.
The signing of these instruments at the Office of the President of Mozambique was preceded by private talks by the two presidents and discussions by ministers and government officials from the two countries.
The Zambian delegation led by President Banda were hosted at a state banquet held at the Ponta Vermelha Palace, the official residence of the President of Mozambique.
During the banquet, President Banda said the agreements signed would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries which already share a lot in terms of cultural, political, social and economic relations.
He noted that there was now need for the two nations to increase cooperation in many areas of economic and political development among them the plans by the central banks’ to repatriate their local currencies when trading.
President Banda the latest agreements would undoubtedly increase the two countries’ wealth and consequently improve the living standards of their peoples.
He has also praised President Guebuza for promoting good and democratic governance in his country.
Earlier, President Guebuza congratulated President Banda for being elected to chair a SADC committee on defence and security policy, saying this will help improve peace situation in some countries of the Southern African region.
He paid tribute to the role Zambia and her citizens played in helping liberate a number of countries in the region.
He said Lusaka was and will remain in the political liberation dictionary of many countries in Southern African region because of hosting many freedom fighters from other countries.
President Banda, who arrived in Maputo yesterday morning for a three day state visit, will today travel to Beira to tour facilities at the port in the northern part of the country.
First Lady of Zambia, Thandiwe Banda and her Mozambican counterpart, Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza, also attended the State banquet hosted in President Banda’s honour by President Guebuza.
Labels: MOZAMBIQUE, ZANIS
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Media associations condemn Jere’s behavior
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Saturday, September 26, 2009 6:11:41 PM
MEDIA associations yesterday condemned Dickson Jere for mistreating and sending away Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) photojournalist Emmah Nakapizye from the ongoing UN general assembly in New York, USA.
In a joint media statement, media associations expressed their utmost displeasure at the manner in which Nakapizye had been treated by President Rupiah Banda's press aide Jere.
"We further reiterate that we believe that Ms Nakapizye was carrying out her job as a professional photojournalist and to be treated in such a manner is tantamount to curtailing her freedom of expression and muzzling the press. Further, Mr Jere knows very well that in the absence of respect for the right of freedom of expression, which include rights to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, democracy is compromised," the seven media associations stated.
"Media organisations do need to remind those in public offices that they are public officials and therefore they are accountable to the people and when we carry out stories that do not seem to be palatable to them we are called 'gagged'. The government should not think we shall take this lying down, we shall continue to fight for freedom of information and the media."
The media associations that issued the statement include Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia, Zambia Media Women Association (ZAMWA), United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Press Association of Zambia (PAZA), Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), PANOS and Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Information Disseminators (ZUBID).
And in a separate statement, the Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) stated that it was shocked that Jere allowed his emotions rather than reason to make judgement and "expel" Nakapizye from New York.
The PFC stated that Jere's action did not only amount to gagging the media but also a direct infringement of Nakapizye's freedom of expression.
They stated that Jere's thinking belonged to the Stone Age and authoritarian rule where divergent views or distasteful images would be treated as a taboo to the ruler.
"We do not understand why and how Jere found the photographs of President Banda and opposition FDD [Forum for Democracy and Development] leader Edith Nawakwi at the African Union Summit offending to society or even President Banda himself. What was Jere hiding from the taxpayers in Zambia who sponsored President Banda's trip to the United Nations assembly in New York since he didn't want Nakapizye to capture his images?" the PFC asked.
"As a media watchdog committee, we are keenly watching who will pay back the travel expenses incurred by Ms Nakapizye arising from this reckless and senseless decision. We wish to urge Mr Jere to exercise utmost humility while President Banda can still allow him to walk the corridors of State House."
State House sources disclosed that Jere last week instructed officials in New York to ensure that Nakapizye was sent back home before President Banda arrived there.
"Dickson inquired about the journalists and photographers that were assigned for the New York trip and when he learnt that Emmah was among them, he contacted New York and instructed that the President should not find her there, that she must be put on the next flight back to Zambia. That's how Emmah was sent back and she is in the country right now as we are speaking," said the source.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, EMMAH NAKAPIZYE, PRESS FREEDOM, ZANIS
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Rupiah’s aide expels ZANIS photographer from New York
Written by Staff Reporter
Friday, September 25, 2009 5:13:52 PM
STATE HOUSE special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere has barred ZANIS photographer Emmah Nakapizye from covering President Rupiah Banda at the UN General Assembly in New York.
State House sources disclosed that Jere last week instructed officials in New York to ensure that Nakapizye was sent back home before President Banda arrived there.
“What happened is that Dickson seems to have a problem with Emma ever since she took those pictures of the President with FDD president Edith Nawakwi at the African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia as well as the pictures that were taken of President Banda and his family in Mfuwe,” the source explained.
“Dickson took an issue with Emmah over that claiming that the pictures were maliciously taken. But Emmah tried to explain to her superiors that Ms Nawakwi was part of the Presidential delegation and she was seated with the President and that no one informed her that she was not to photograph certain people in the delegation.”
The source said Nakapizye is viewed by certain quarters, particularly at State House, as being anti-establishment.
“Dickson doesn't want her to be covering the President at all because of those two incidences; the issue of Ms Nawakwi and the Banda family holiday in Mfuwe. But it's now getting too much because just recently Emmah was enlisted on the delegation that was travelling to the UN General Assembly in New York to go and cover the President,” the source said.
“Dickson inquired about the journalists and photographers that were assigned for the New York trip and when he learnt that Emmah was among them, he contacted New York and instructed that the President should not find her there, that she must be put on the next flight back to Zambia. That's how Emmah was sent back and she is in the country right now as we are speaking.”
The sources said there were even plans by ZANIS management to transfer Nakapizye to another district.
“After the AU summit incident of Ms Nawakwi and the Mfuwe one, everybody thought that the dust had settled and Emmah would now be allowed to cover the President. But it's like Dickson has taken it personal,” the source explained.
“Can you believe that there is so much pressure on ZANIS management? The pressure is too much that management is even considering transferring Emmah to some district probably Kafue just because Dickson doesn't want her at Mass Media Complex. This is quite unfair.”
When contacted yesterday, ZANIS director Gilbert Maimbo referred all queries to State House.
“I think the best people to answer that question is State House,” said Maimbo.
Labels: DICKSON JERE, EMMAH NAKAPIZYE, RUPIAH BANDA, ZANIS
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