MBALE, eastern Uganda, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Another landslide has hit the eastern Ugandan district of Bududa, destroying crops but with no casualties so far reported, a district official said on Monday.

Wilson Watira, the district chairperson told Xinhua by telephone that the landslide occurred in Bunamutiti parish in Busika Sub County on Sunday.

"There was no life that was killed since the incident occurred only in farmlands where people are not living in," he said.

"We as the district officials are in a meeting trying to estimate the worth of the destruction, but it's over millions of shillings, because it involved crops like coffee, bananas and other several food crops," he said.

He said few houses were flooded with water but no people were killed or injured since most of them had gone to attend Sunday prayers.

This incident occurs in less than two months after a landslide swept away three villages in the same district killing over 300 people and leaving tens of thousands others homeless.

Environmental specialists warn that over 35,000 people in the area located on the slopes of Mountain Elgon are at risk.

"Over 35,000 people in eastern Uganda are seated on a time bomb that is only waiting to burst," Goretti Kitutu, the environmental systems specialists at the National Environmental Management Authority, told Xinhua by telephone on Monday.

She said a 45 km fresh crack along the mountain exposes a serious danger to the local residents who reside in the area.

20100419
alalam

Human Rights Watch slammed on Monday that Somalia the Shebab group has subjected people in the south of the country to killings, cruel punishments, and repressive social control.

The report said that the insurgents, who control most of the country including the majority of the capital Mogadishu, of "implacable repression and brutality."

The 62-page report, based on more than 70 interviews with victims and witnesses, said punishments including amputations and floggings were regularly meted without due process.

HRW also criticized "indiscriminate attacks" in the capital Mogadishu by the transitional government and the African Union peacekeeping force, saying they often played a counterproductive role in the crisis.

"Alongside abuses in Shebab-controlled areas, all sides are responsible for laws-of-war violations that continue unabated in Mogadishu," Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch said.

"There is no easy, obvious way to solve the crisis in Somalia," she added.

"But outside powers should address abuses by all sides instead of ignoring those committed by their allies," she said

Somalia has been plagued by armed conflict since the collapse of its last government in 1991.

afrol News, 19 April - Mozambique has reported the biggest cashew nut production in three years. The once world cashew export leader sees its industry recovering slowly.

According to reports from the country, the season's production has topped 95,000 tonnes, mostly thanks to favourable weather conditions.

The director of the national cashew institute (INCAJU), Filomena Maiópuè was reported in the local press saying the southern part of the country was the most fortunate and suitable to have achieved the bumper crop.

The national cashew nut institute said this year's produce also well within the target of 100,000 tonnes of raw cashew, also adding that the price was also very good for the farmers this year.

Mozambique's cashew season starts in October and ends in March, but due to extended flowering of cashew trees this season as well as the selling period, it is expected that the season will be extended to the end of April.

While this year's cashew crop is among the best during the last decade, production is however still significantly lower than in the peaking 1970s, when Mozambique was the world's leading producer. The civil war and poor maintenance brought the cashew industry to its knees by the mid-90s.

Since then, however, massive investments in cashew production has seen Mozambique's main cash crop to recover slowly.

MBALE, eastern Uganda, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Another landslide has hit the eastern Ugandan district of Bududa, destroying crops but with no casualties so far reported, a district official said on Monday.

Wilson Watira, the district chairperson told Xinhua by telephone that the landslide occurred in Bunamutiti parish in Busika Sub County on Sunday.

"There was no life that was killed since the incident occurred only in farmlands where people are not living in," he said.

"We as the district officials are in a meeting trying to estimate the worth of the destruction, but it's over millions of shillings, because it involved crops like coffee, bananas and other several food crops," he said.

He said few houses were flooded with water but no people were killed or injured since most of them had gone to attend Sunday prayers.

This incident occurs in less than two months after a landslide swept away three villages in the same district killing over 300 people and leaving tens of thousands others homeless.

Environmental specialists warn that over 35,000 people in the area located on the slopes of Mountain Elgon are at risk.

"Over 35,000 people in eastern Uganda are seated on a time bomb that is only waiting to burst," Goretti Kitutu, the environmental systems specialists at the National Environmental Management Authority, told Xinhua by telephone on Monday.

She said a 45 km fresh crack along the mountain exposes a serious danger to the local residents who reside in the area.

afrol News, 19 April - An Angolan stock exchange, predicted for launch later in the year, may have "the makings of an African giant," according to a new assessment. In the region, only the South African stock exchange will be bigger, according to the analysis.

A study by Anthony Lopes Pinto, the chief of the Luanda offices of the Botswana-registered investment company Imara, suggests that the planned bourse - the Bolsa de Valores e Derivativos de Angola or BVDA - "has the potential to become the third largest in sub-Saharan Africa after the South African and Nigerian stock exchanges."

Mr Lopes Pinto holds that "efforts to obtain a sovereign credit rating in order to access international debt markets are well under way, and should reinforce long-term stability and result in a deepening of the market. Diversification of the economy away from oil continues apace and, commendably, the government has recently appointed Ernst & Young to eliminate fiscal inefficiencies."

"With the financial crisis now firmly behind us, we anticipate the opening of the Angolan bourse this year," the financial analyst adds. "This will augment the national savings rate, creating alternatives for Angolan companies in need of growth capital. Such a move will also attract foreign portfolio inflows, which globally have recovered strongly."

Mr Lopes Pinto's assessment of the potential strength of an Angolan bourse considers two scenarios - a top-down macro view and a bottom-up appraisal with tight focus on 14 likely initial public offering (IPO) candidates.

The broad view considers Angola's estimated gross domestic product of US$ 84.9 billion and the capitalisation of African stock exchanges relative to GDP, an average of 42 percent. This calculation suggests that the BVDA could have a market capitalisation of US$ 36 billion, nearly three times the size of Kenya's well-established stock market.

A US$ 36 billion Angolan stock market would still be dwarfed by South Africa's JSE, with its 331 listing companies and total market cap of US$ 801 billion. But it would not be too far behind the Nigerian market, with 195 listings and a capitalisation of US$ 39.67 billion.

In comparison, Angola's southern African neighbours Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia would be stock exchange minnows. Botswana's exchange has a market capitalisation of only US$ 4.18 billion, with Zimbabwe down at just US$ 3.6 billion, though Zambia is a little higher up the market cap league table at US$ 15.23 billion.

After considering macro potential, Imara's Luanda office chief sketches a much more conservative picture based on research of 14 companies that might become initial BVDA members. This snapshot covers 10 banks - with a projected market cap of US$ 3.99 billion -two brewers (US$ 2.90 billion) and two telecoms (US$ 4.39 billion).

Even this minimalist assessment suggests a total market capitalisation of about US$ 11.28 billion would be achievable, the analyst holds. Mr Lopes Pinto adds: "We believe this to be the tip of the iceberg. We understand up to 50 companies have been identified as IPO candidates."

"As this is not an exhaustive list, our conclusions can be viewed as most conservative. Further, our valuations are diluted in large measure by the fact that sub-Saharan equity markets, with the exception of South Africa, still lag the recovery witnessed in emerging markets. Nonetheless, an US$ 11 billion market will still feature prominently in Africa's top ten," Mr Lopes Pinto concludes.

20100419
africa news

The DR Congo heads to the polls next year to elect a new president. On the quiet campaigning already for the top post is a computer scientist and an administrator Dr Bent Francis Mboyo. Speaking to AfricaNews from his USA base he said the time has come for the DRC to experience rapid transformation.
Bent Mboyo
Excerpts of the full interview below:

AfricaNews: Briefly tell us about yourself?
Dr Mboyo: I am a twin born from a small village called "Bikoro" in the province of Equateur in the DRC. I grew up in a village that had no public transportation, electricity and television. Almost 40 years later, the standard of living for many people in Congo, is still the same. I have stayed in the USA for nearly 11 years and married to Kangaj Ruwew from the Katanga province since 1990. I am a father of five - all living in Seattle, Washington, USA....(You can see the following report in Report & Aricles section)

20100419
africanews

The president of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, scored overwhelming victories in a sample of results from national elections. Both European Union and Carter Center observers have said last week's elections did not meet international standards, but stopped short of echoing opposition allegations of widespread rigging.

The presidential and legislative polls, set up under a 2005 peace deal that ended two decades of north-south civil war, were supposed to help transform the troubled oil-producing nation into a democracy.

Bashir won between 70-92 percent of votes cast in presidential ballots in around 35 scattered polling centres, foreign voting posts and one state, said state news agency Suna.

Those figures represent a fraction of the country and have not been confirmed by authorities.

Separately, Sudan's National Elections Commission began to announce the first official results of the contest on Sunday -- 17 state assembly seats from north Sudan all of which went to Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP) with massive majorities.

Senior NCP official Rabie Abdelati told Reuters he was expecting similar results across Sudan.

"This victory is a real victory ... The counting of the votes took place under the sun, not in a dark room. The observers saw everything," he said.

Opposition groups said the huge majorities proved their accusations that the NCP had fiddled with ballot boxes in the north, justifying the decision of many parties to boycott. They say they caught officials exchanging and stuffing ballot boxes at night during the five-day voting process.

20100419
africanews

Two German men have been kidnapped from a beach in Nigeria's oil-producing southeast, a security source said. The men aged 45 and 55, identities were not immediately disclosed. They were abducted after an outing at a beach in oil-producing Abia state, which neighbours the oil hub of Rivers State.

The two "male Germans (were) kidnapped at Azumini Beach strip at Imo River as they were rounding up and heading to their vehicle," the security source said.

Neither the police nor the German embassy was immediately available for comment.

One works in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, while the other came from Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, the latest to rock oil-rich Nigeria in recent months.

20100419
africanews

The 'world's youngest king' assumed his official duties with an apparent air of reluctance Sunday in a quiet town at the foot of Uganda's Rwenzori mountains.

Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, 18, was crowned as head of the Kingdom of Toro in a traditional ceremony in his hilltop palace overlooking his capital of Fort Portal.

Draped in a long embroidered gown of blue and gold, the tall, lean Oyo hardly smiled through much of the ceremony, often staring straight down at the floor.

His symbolic authority covers the area known as the Mountains of the Moon straddling the borders of Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The young king had officially succeeded to the throne at the age of three when his father died of a heart attack in 1995, but coronation takes place only upon reaching adulthood.

His onlooking subjects struggled to express what they expected of their new monarch.

"There was a time the king had administrative power, going right down to the local chiefs. This place was very organised", said John Mugisha, a member of the Butooro clan.

Mugisha, a clarinet player in the police band performing at the coronation, said he regretted the decline of the historic monarchy under the colonial and post-independence governments.

But he was not entirely convinced he wanted the king's former privileges restored.

20100419
africagoodnews

A new piece of kit in the form of a backpack could help small farmers in Kenya increase yields, profits and agricultural know-how in a sustainable way.

The backpacks, weighing 15-42 kg, contain things which help farmers bring a crop to harvest, including tools, a training manual and, in some versions, a collapsible water tank. They are designed for small plots of land and are currently being used in the Mau Forest region.

"The nine month supply for a half acre [0.2 hectares] of land I bought, includes seeds, a plant nutrition system and water drip and it is light enough to be transported on my back" Rosemary Muthomi, one of the users of the system in Meru Green, told IRIN.

Small-scale farms are widespread in Kenya, where the great majority of the population depends on agriculture or fishing. But much of the farming takes place only on a subsistence level on small plots or `shambas', and even in such households, food insecurity is common.

An April 2010 report by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said that although short rains at the end of 2009 improved food security in several areas of Kenya, " recurrent seasons of failed or poor rains, sustained high food prices, environmental degradation, disease outbreaks, and flooding led to deteriorating food security conditions throughout Kenya, straining coping mechanisms, exacerbating pre-existing chronic poverty, and contributing to increased inter-ethnic conflict regarding access to limited land and water resources."

The Backpack Farm Agricultural Programme (BPF), brainchild of Rachel Zedeck and launched in late 2009, also aims to encourage small-scale farmers to form cooperatives so as to increase production and improve marketing.

"Our idea was to enable users to immediately start growing their own food. But the final goal is to ensure small-scale farmers increase their harvests and improve their quality of life and also to give them the technology, at a fraction of commercial costs, for opening up to markets."

"As well as drought-resistant seeds of local crop varieties, we provide fertilizers that do not damage soil and water tables, a cost effective drip irrigation system, and training on green water management [rainwater collection] techniques," she added.

The high cost of most ecologically friendly farm products has limited their use to around 10 percent of Kenyan farmers, according to John W. Njoroge, director of the Kenyan Institute of Organic Farming.

20100419
africagoodnews

A century after the last Ottoman soldier left Libya, Turkey is seeking to make a comeback in Africa, eager to consolidate its status as a regional power and to open new markets.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul's official visits to Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo last month underscored increased efforts by the Islamist-rooted government for closer contacts with the continent, where many share the country's predominantly Muslim faith.

In 2008, Turkey held a first summit of cooperation with African leaders, hoping to organise similar events every five years, and won the status of a "strategic partner" from the African Union.

The number of Turkish embassies on the continent has risen from 12 to 17 in the past two years and preparations are under way to inaugurate 10 more.

"Africa is a region on which we will focus a lot in the coming years and decades," Turkey's deputy prime minister Ali Babacan, who is responsible for the economy, told AFP.

"Turkish business people are really interested in Africa... They go there without encountering any prejudice. They receive a warm welcome."

Turkish exports to Africa have grown by more than seven times in a decade to reach 10.2 billion dollars in 2009, making approximately 10 percent of its total exports, according to official figures.

Imports from African countries have doubled in the same period, reaching 5.5 billion dollars.

Faced with tough competition from Chinese and European traders, Turkish companies rely primarily on textiles as they push for a place on the African market.

Some Turkish brands, such as food and beverages giant Ulker, have already established themselves on the continent.

In Africa, "we have begun to distinguish Turkish goods from Chinese products due to their quality. Turkish goods mean European quality on a cheaper price," said Abdou Diallo, a Senegalese businessman based in Istanbul.

It was almost by chance that Turkey grasped the potential for revived ties with Africa, where the Ottoman Empire once held vast territories from Algeria to Sudan before losing them to European colonial powers, with the last one -- Libya -- occupied by Italy in 1912.

"Turkey discovered Africa when it launched its campaign to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council," conceded a Turkish diplomat, who requested anonymity.

Eager for a stronger say on the global diplomatic scene, Turkey led an active campaign to win the two-year seat on the Security Council, reaching its goal in October 2008 with the solid support of African votes.

"Out of the 53 African countries, 51 voted for Turkey," Babacan recalled.

Since then, efforts at rapprochement with Africa have been stepped up as part of a broader drive to balance Turkish foreign policy, which had focused exclusively on the West since the 1950s, securing the country a membership in NATO and a candidacy status for European Union accession.

"The government has a firm intention to be everywhere and make Turkey a mid-scale power that counts," said Cengiz Aktar, an international relations expert at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University.

However, the scholar raised doubts on how much influence Turkey could ultimately achieve on the continent.

"To speak of a Turkish Africa policy is a little too much... Such a policy lacks an institutional and academic basis as Turks know very little about Africa," he said.

20100419
africagoodnews

Malawi and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed a formulation phase project document for managing climate change in the country to be implemented to a tune of $4.2 million.

The project will be co-financed by Norway, Spain and the Department for International Development (DFID).

The formulation phase project is aimed at enhancing coordination between government and its developing partners in creating a national framework for responding to the challenges climate change poses to Malawi's economic development and food security.

Speaking during a signing ceremony in Lilongwe, Malawi's Minister of Development Planning and Cooperation Abbie Shawa said government is aware of challenges that climate change poses to Malawi, hence the launching of this project.

He cited persistent droughts, flooding and erratic rain patterns as some of the disastrous effects of climate change in the country.

"This project aims at developing a national framework for managing climate change in this country. The government appreciated that sustainable natural resources and environment management provides an important foundation for supporting economic growth and development hence the inclusion of climate change as one of the key priority areas of the development agenda," said Shawa

UNDP resident representative to Malawi Richard Dictus said the formulation phase of the project will put in place an appropriate framework for Malawi to deal with the future climate change risks.

"The national economic development need to be climate change proofed for Malawi to continue to grow and prosper. There is need to climate change proof land utilization, hybrid seed that is drought resistant and upscale to levels that can be managed," he said

He said after the Copenhagen Summit in November last year, there have been considerable amounts of funding promised and Malawi would benefit if a robust framework is in place.

20100419
africanews

An Angolan stock exchange - planned for launch later in the year - will have the makings of an African giant, according to an assessment by the Pan-African Imara financial services group.

In a statement on Monday, Imara said a study by its Angola chief executive Anthony Lopes Pinto suggested that the planned bourse - the Bolsa de Valores e Derivativos de Angola or BVDA - had the potential to become the third largest in sub-Saharan Africa after the South African and Nigerian stock exchanges.

"Efforts to obtain a sovereign credit rating in order to access international debt markets are well under way, and should reinforce long-term stability and result in a deepening of the market."

He said diversification of the economy away from oil continued apace and, commendably, the government had recently appointed Ernst & Young to eliminate fiscal inefficiencies.

"With the financial crisis now firmly behind us, we anticipate the opening of the Angolan bourse this year."

He said this would augment the national savings rate, creating alternatives for Angolan companies in need of growth capital.

"Such a move will also attract foreign portfolio inflows, which globally have recovered strongly."

His assessment of the potential strength of an Angolan bourse considered two scenarios -- a top-down macro view and a bottom-up appraisal with tight focus on 14 likely initial public offering (IPO) candidates.

"The broad view considers Angola's estimated gross domestic product of US84.9 billion and the capitalisation of African stock exchanges relative to GDP (an average of 42 percent)."

This calculation suggested that the BVDA could have a market capitalisation of US36 billion, nearly three times the size of Kenya's well-established stock market.

A US36 billion Angolan stock market would still be dwarfed by South Africa's JSE, with its 331 listing companies and total market cap of US801 billion.

"But it would not be too far behind the Nigerian market, with 195 listings and a capitalisation of US39.67 billion," Lopes Pinto said.

In comparison, Angola's southern African neighbours Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia would be stock exchange minnows.

"Botswana's exchange has a market capitalisation of only US4.18 billion, with Zimbabwe down at just US3.6 billion, though Zambia is a little higher up the market cap league table at US15.23 billion."

After considering macro potential, Imara's Luanda CEO sketched a much more conservative picture based on research of 14 companies that might become initial BVDA members.

This snapshot covered 10 banks (with a projected market cap of US3.99 billion), two brewers (US2.90 billion) and two telecoms (US4.39 billion).

"Even this minimalist assessment suggests a total market capitalisation of about US11.28 billion is achievable."

"We believe this to be the tip of the iceberg. We understand up to 50 companies have been identified as IPO candidates," Lopes Pinto said.

As this was not an exhaustive list, he said his conclusion could be viewed as most conservative.

"Further, our valuations are diluted in large measure by the fact that sub-Saharan equity markets (with the exception of South Africa) still lag the recovery witnessed in emerging markets."

Nonetheless, a US11 billion market would still feature prominently in Africa's top ten, Lopes Pinto said.

Cancellation of flights by Kenya Airways (KA) from Nairobi to destinations in Europe entered the third day as flower farms continued to count losses, running into million of shillings.

The most affected are daily flights to London and Amsterdam.

"Kenya Airways would like to confirm to its passengers, customers and the public all flights to London, Amsterdam and Paris are cancelled," Mr Titus Naikuni Kenya Airways chief executive said on Saturday in a statement.

The closure of the European air space resulting from Icelandic volcanic dust drifting towards Europe has hit the aviation and flower industry in Kenya hard.

The airspace was closed on Saturday in whole or partly in 21 European countries, including Britain Germany, northern France and northern Italy.

It is not yet possible to predict how much the cancellation would cost KA although losses could run into millions of shillings as the Kenya Airports Authority announced grounding of passenger and cargo planes at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Horticulture hit

"British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM and Kenya Airways planes to London have been parked," Mr Dominic Ngigi, KAA spokesperson said in a statement.

As the crisis rages on, the flower industry is losing an estimated Sh150 million ($2 million) daily.

"We have lost over $4 billion by yesterday (Saturday) morning and we are still counting," Jane Ngige, Kenya Flower council chief executive said in an interview with The Standard on Sunday.

There are fears that jobs in the aviation and flower industry would be affected should the situation persist longer than expected.

postzambia

EDUCATION deputy minister Clement Sinyinda on Saturday publicly embarrassed United Nations resident coordinator Mcleod Nyirongo, UNDP country director Viola Morgan and other UN staff by chasing them from the speedboat, which he claimed was his.

The incident happened during the build-up to the Kuomboka ceremony in the morning at Mongu harbour as Nyirongo and Morgan were heading to Lealui to see off the Litunga.

The eight-seater boat was assigned to Nyirongo and Morgan by Western Province deputy permanent secretary Seth Muleya who assured the duo that everything was well.

But when the UN team led by Nyirongo got on the boat, Sinyinda suddenly appeared and demanded that the crew move out of the boat because it belonged to him.

At this point, Kuomboka ceremony Lusaka organising committee chairman Professor Oliver Saasa tried to explain to Sinyinda about Nyirongo and Morgan’s positions and the need for diplomacy on his part.

In response, Sinyinda said, “I know who they are but I’m just expressing myself. So let them get out of my boat.”

Nyirongo and Morgan, who were accompanied by their spouses, then got out of the boat and had to wait for another speedboat.

And on Friday, Western Province permanent secretary Ikanuke Noyoo appealed to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the hostels board to address the issue of inflated accommodation rates during the period of Kuomboka.

Speaking when Nyirongo paid a courtesy call on him at his office, Noyoo said it was unacceptable for lodges and guesthouses to hike rates during the Kuomboka ceremony.

“The hiking of services is just the question of greedy and poor business skills, the other thing also could be that we don’t have industries,” Noyoo said.

Noyoo said over K1 billion was pumped into the province during the Kuomboka ceremony.
Accommodation rates in Mongu during the Kuomboka ceremony ranges between K800,000 and K3 million for rooms which are normally pegged at K100,000 and K500,000 respectively.

Noyoo also said there was low condom use in the province because people had a casual attitude.
And Nyirongo said his visit to the province was focused on HIV and AIDS because he wanted to check on areas where the government could do better.

Nyirongo said in the last four years, the UN had been supporting District AIDS Coordination Advisors (DACA) and the Provincial AIDS Coordination Advisors (PACA).

“We have been told that one of the drivers of HIV and AIDS is culture and as we go round we shall try and focus on these areas to help the government do better,” said Nyirongo.

postzambia

IT does not matter who becomes the PF-UPND pact’s presidential candidate between Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema, UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said yesterday.

And Kapita said unlike Patriotic Front (PF) president Sata and UPND leader Hichilema who genuinely asked for votes from the people, President Rupiah Banda cheated his way to the Republican presidency using late president Levy Mwanawasa’s body and legacy.

Reacting to President Banda’s assertion that Hichilema should not cheat himself that he would be the pact’s 2011 presidential candidate because Sata would stand, Kapita wondered why President Banda was so concerned about the Pact if it was not a threat to him and the MMD.

“If for instance we have made a mistake by going into this pact which was requested for by many noble Zambians, they President Banda and MMD should be happy that they are going to win. Why does it bother him if Sata or Hakainde will be the president?

It is not their business. It is our business and we know how we are going about it,” Kapita said. “Whether Sata becomes president or Hakainde becomes president, it doesn’t matter. But the Pact will go into the next election jointly because this is what we anticipated.”

Kapita said attempts by President Banda and his colleagues to try and put a wedge between Hichilema and Sata would not succeed.

“They are trying to create a wedge, but these are things we discussed at length when we were forming that Pact. We knew the MMD will be shaking, they will be trying to throw things. I mean they have employed people on taxpayers’ money just to do the discrediting of either Sata or Hakainde, PF or UPND to try and discourage our members,” Kapita said. “Unfortunately for them the people are so clever, many have seen through this, and I don’t think the MMD will get a vote in some of these places other than in Eastern Province.”

Kapita said Zambians were already decided, and President Banda’s attempts were very fruitless.
“They even go on to say because ‘Hakainde is campaigning to be president, Sata is campaigning to be president’. It doesn’t surprise us because we agreed we would be different parties working together, and each one of those leaders can be president.

It means therefore they must start campaigning for themselves,” Kapita said. “Hakainde is campaigning to be the Pact president, totally normal. There is nothing wrong with that. Sata is campaigning to be the Pact president, totally normal. There is nothing wrong. The beauty is that each one of them has agreed that they will remain in the Pact whether the other person becomes the president. So that is what is annoying the MMD.”

Kapita said President Banda was a very fortunate person who was picked from his “so-called” farm to become vice-president.

He said President Banda did not go to State House because he was popular with the Zambian voters.
He said President Banda had now thrown the Mwanawasa legacy into the pit because he was now in power.

Kapita said Zambians were very clever and would not allow President Banda to cheat them again.
“And he must stop comparing himself to either Hakainde or Sata because these people genuinely go to ask people for a vote which the MMD has been stealing. This time I can assure you that will not happen,” he said.

Recently in Milanzi, President Banda said Hichilema should not cheat himself that he would contest the elections because Sata would do so.

On the Mufumbwe by-election, Kapita said MMD cadres were perpetrating violence by attacking UPND camps but police had failed to do anything.

Kapita said UPND campaigners were recently arrested and taken to the cells that were far away from Mufumbwe in order to disturb the campaigns.

postzambia

VOTERS in Milanzi Constituency have asked candidates vying for the seat in the forthcoming by-elections to fulfill their promises in the event that they are elected.

And Caritas Zambia has urged the electorate in Milanzi to make their own independent decisions when voting.

During the Meet your Candidate Forum organised by Caritas Zambia in collaboration with the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Chimbundire Basic School in Katete last Saturday, the voters demanded that the candidates fulfill their election promises after being voted into office.

One of the voters, Jackson Makukula said there had been a lot of unfulfilled promises from politicians.
“What guarantee is there that these people will implement what they are saying?” Makukula asked.

Another resident, Damazio Sakala said Milanzi had a lot of problems, which required a dedicated member of Parliament.

Sakala asked the candidates to tell the voters what they should do in the event that the elected parliamentarian did not deliver on his promises.

PF candidate Albert Banda urged the people of Milanzi not to be cheated by the MMD, which he said had failed to deliver to the Zambian people.

“This ruling party has been ruling for almost 20 years but there is nothing happening on the ground. They should not cheat us because even today people in urban areas have seen that they MMD are liars because even State House is in a constituency which is under PF,” Albert said.

He said MMD would have done a lot for the people in 20 years if they were committed.
“Vote for PF-UPND pact so that we can provide checks and balances in parliament,” Albert said.
He said it was unfortunate that Milanzi continued to lag behind in development.

“Milanzi has no enough clinics, the roads are bad. Areas like Kagoro are supposed to be electrified. Many pupils have qualified to grade ten but have been told that there are no grade places and they have been told to look for ten places somewhere, a situation which can ruin the future of the children,” Albert said.

UNIP candidate Musa Banda urged the electorate to pass a vote of no confidence in him in the event that he did not perform to people’s expectation once elected.

Musa said he was determined to continue implementing developmental programmes after being voted into office.

“I have already started working on development projects in Milanzi. I have built teachers’ houses here in Milanzi and I will continue with such programmes after being voted into office. I will not just wait for government to release money for developmental programmes,” Musa said.

He said the people of Milanzi were facing many challenges.
“Farmers are facing a lot of problems. Government can promise five bags but it ends up giving people one bag of fertiliser, which is not good. This area has a serious water problem because people are sharing water sources with animals,” Musa said.

Musa pledged to build a hospital once voted into office.
MMD candidate Whiteson Banda, who first called for a moment of silence in memory of late parliamentarian Reuben Chisanga-Banda, said he would first work on the crop marketing system once voted into power.

He said he would request the government to put markets in all the ten wards of the constituency.
“I will make sure I conclude the projects that were started by the late MP. I will ask government to provide dams in this constituency. Former MPs neglected one thing, they never consulted chiefs but I will make sure I consult these people,” Whiteson said.

He said he would ensure that schools that were near the Zesco power lines like Chumbundire Basic School were electrified.

Whiteson said he would request the government to construct dams and provide medicine in hospitals.
MMD campaign manager Dr Eustarckio Kazonga said the government would build four more health centres to add to the existing seven centres in Milanzi.

When asked by David Miti whether it was possible for the government to build four health centres within the remaining months before next year’s elections, Dr Kazonga said it would be possible because the funds would come from the central government and Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

And a representative from Caritas Zambia David Mwanza urged the people of Milanzi to vote based on the information they had.

Mwanza said Caritas would continue promoting good governance in the country.
Education minister Dora Siliya, agriculture minister Peter Daka and MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba were among the many people that attended the forum.

postzambia

POWER has gone to Rupiah Banda’s head, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata observed yesterday.

In an interview, Sata said it was sad that President Banda was more interested in reminding people that he was the “boma” and attacking him and UPND president Hakainde Hichilema instead of telling the people of Milanzi what the government had done for them or their future plans.

Sata said President Banda was more concerned about holding on to power than delivering development to the people.

“He was just boasting about boma, boma. At least he should have told them what he has done. But power has gone to his head, he will only talk about boma, boma. He will maintain the presidency at all cost using whatever means. I won’t be surprised if sooner or later he calls a state of emergency to remove opposition,” he said.

On President Banda’s assertions that Sata was once in the government and had failed to bring about the development he now promises to achieve once elected, Sata said he does not have a track record of failure like President Banda.

He said he served the country diligently in the specific roles he was appointed to serve, but President Banda’s failures in specific public offices had now been confirmed through his presidency.

“None of us was president before. But now he is the President. Before he was President, he did not reduce fertiliser, but when he became president, he reduced fertiliser. Levy’s government said no to mobile hospitals. When he went to China he said yes to mobile hospitals,” Sata said.

“Rupiah Banda was minister of foreign affairs. He was in charge of NAMBOARD, we are not talking about government. And what I did as minister can be seen. Everybody remembers me as minister of local government, as minister of labour, as governor. But what is Rupiah Banda remembered for?”

Sata said President Banda found solace in travelling aimlessly to other nations in order to run away from addressing the many problems that had beset the nation because he had failed to come to terms with the demands of governing the country.

“He has travelled more than any other president in two years. He has travelled more than President Kaunda in 27 years, more than Frederick Chiluba in 10 years. When he was vice-president, he accepted the defence chiefs, when he became President he fired them,” said Sata.

Last week in Milanzi, President Banda said Sata was a crook who had even failed to build a toilet. President Banda bragged that he was the “boma the government” and physically and psychologically prepared to defeat his opponents.

New Ziana.

Some retailers have reportedly made threatening calls to officials following Government’s ban on meat imports from South Africa, a Cabinet minister said last Friday.

In an interview with New Ziana, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said the ban would remain in place despite the threats to veterinary officers who issue the import permits.

Government banned recently the imports following an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in South Africa.

Minister Made said: "Some senior officers in the veterinary department have been threatened by a local company and one in South Africa."

He, however, refused to name the companies implicated but said a police report had been made.

Police on Friday confirmed receiving such a report from the ministry and said they were carrying out investigations.

Minister Made said meat import permits issued in the last six months would be reviewed owing to irregularities in the process.

"From this position, we are left with no option but to investigate all permits issued in the past six months.

"This will be necessary to see that all regulations governing meat imports are adhered to.

"If anyone wishes to apply we will no longer accept applications brought by persons, they should all be in writing," he said.

Minister Made said the ministry would not entertain physical submissions of application letters.

He said Government was working closely with South African officials to facilitate waiver of the ban.

"From the sixth report from South Africa, authorities are giving us all necessary information to review the ban.

"The veterinary department is also advising us on the matter."

He urged all veterinary officers stationed at border posts to report any threats to the police. — New Ziana.

Herald Reporter

Sweden has extended US$5,5 million to Zimbabwe as part of its contribution to the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) for 2010.

As of April 13, CAP had received US$105 million against the target of US$379 million requested.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony in Harare on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe urged development partners to go beyond humanitarian assistance and consider extending support to sustainable development programmes aimed at doing away with donor dependency syndrome.

"I call upon Sweden and other development partners to assist Zimbabwe in moving away from donor dependency towards sustainable development.

"In this regard, Government is in the process of looking at modalities of implementing public works programmes to replace the current food handouts," DPM Khupe said.

She said the early recovery programme, which addressed issues of donor dependency had the least funding accounting for only US$5.5 million.

Other programmes such as nutrition, water sanitation and hygiene account for US$12 million and US$46 million respectively.

She implored able bodied people to participate in public works programmes for them to receive assistance.

DPM Khupe, however, said food handouts would still be extended to the vulnerable who include the elderly, chronically ill and child headed families.

Turning to the donation, DPM Khupe commended Sweden for its continued humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.

"Sweden has been consistent in supporting humanitarian programmes in Zimbabwe and in the CAP 2009, the country contributed over US$7 million.

"The current donation comes at a time when the country is experiencing reduced crop yields due to the prolonged dry spell that affected some parts of the country. The dry spell has raised concerns as it may affect food security," DPM Khupe said.

She called on the United Nations to consider revision of CAP 2010 requirements upwards especially in the area of food saying indications were that a third of the country’s population might suffer food shortages this year.

Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Sten Rylander, said although humanitarian assistance was still needed in the country, the situation had greatly improved.

"In comparison to previous years, the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe has improved. At the same time, the margins are narrow and the situation remains fragile. There is great need for continued humanitarian assistance and monitoring to maintain the positive gains," Mr Rylander said.

He said the donated US$5,5 million would be channelled in a coordinated manner through the CAP focusing on food security, protection, water and sanitation and early recovery.

The assistance will be channeled through the International Organisation for Migration, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Association of Evangelicals in Africa, World Vision and UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs.

Speaking at the same occasion, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator Ms Elizabeth Lwanga, said this year’s reduced request for funding was an indication that Zimbabwe was in the transitional stage of recovery.

Last year’s CAP request was US$719 million. Last year’s request received 65 percent by December of the total requested funding.

CAP was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2006 to address humanitarian issues and has been in place on an annual basis since then.

This year’s appeal was the first joint venture between the United Nations Agencies and Government.