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are all affected by AIDS pandemicLocal News Up-Date, February 20, 2010
Activists foretells land crisis in Africa
By Nchimunya Vanessa Mweemba
A land rights activist has warned that Africans risk being squatters in
their own countries due to big multi-national companies buying off huge
tracks of land for investment.
Chanda Mwamba, who is the Provincial Coordinator of Women Land Rights
Project in Southern Province, says selling off huge tracks of land to
foreign investors is robbing indigenous people of the right to own and use
land.
Mr Mwamba told Radio Chikuni News Wednesday that the practice is also likely
to affect agriculture and worsen poverty among the indigenous people.
He has since advised governments to ensure that local people are prioritised
during land allocation.
Meanwhile Mr Mwamba has called for increased ownership and use of land by
women if real development is to occur.
He said societies can only develop if women are given equal opportunities in
land ownership and use.
Many land activists fear that large scale land acquisition by foreign
companies in Africa threatens the livelihoods of the indegenous people who
are robbed of land for agricultural purposes,a situation they feel will lead
to untold hunger and poverty.
A 15 year old disabled girl dies in lightning -related inferno
By Civic Mainda Mukuwa
A 15 year old girl of Kakuba village in Pemba was burnt to death Thursday,
after the house she was sleeping in went ablaze after being struck by
lightning.
Confirming the incident to Radio Chikuni News, Moses Haamakoli who is also
headman Moonde of Kakuba village, said his daughter Barbara Haamakoli, who
is disabled, died in the inferno which was caused by lightning that struck
the house during a heavy downpour.
Mr. Haamakoli said the incident occurred Thursday around 16:00hours when
Barbara was left in the care of her young brothers Moses and Kebby.
He said when the house was hit by lightning and then went ablaze, Moses and
Kebby managed to escape unhurt while Barbara who is disabled died in the
inferno as the two brothers failed to save her.
When the elders came a few hours later they found that Barbara has been
burnt to death and they only managed to retrieve her charred body.
Mr Haamakoli said household goods valued at K7 million were burnt to ashes.
Many people across the globe die in Lightning-related fires.
FODEP unhappy with plan to pay K5 bn in allowances to Lusaka based NCC MPs
By Nchimunya Vanessa Mweemba
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has expressed its displeasure
on the proposal to pay facilitation allowances amounting to K5 billion to
Lusaka based parliamentarians attending the National Constitution Conference
(NCC).
FODEP information Officer McDonald Chipenzi says the proposal is both
ill-conceived and a clear manifestation of imprudent financial management of
public resources.
Mr Chipenzi also says the proposal demonstrates the misplacement of
priorities by those entrusted with the management of public resources.
He says the move by government to change its earlier decision not to pay
Lusaka based parliamentarians facilitation allowance is an undemocratic and
undermines the democratic process in the country.
Mr Chipenzi has advised cabinet to reject the proposal and instead channel
the resources to developmental programmes.
This is contained in a press released to Radio Chikuni News Monday.
Recently Vice President George Kunda who is also the justice minister
recommended to Cabinet to pay about K5 billion to Lusaka-based
parliamentarians, most of whom are ministers, attending the National
Constitutional Conference (NCC) as facilitation allowance.
RB hails ZCTU for embracing dialogue with government
Nchimunya Vanessa Mweemba
President Rupiah Banda has praised the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) for deciding to engage in dialogue with government on national
issues.
Mr Banda says the spirit of dialogue should be encouraged.
President said this Tuesday when he met the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) delegation at State House to discuss labour matters and various
issues of national importance.
Mr Banda met the ZCTU delegation lead by its president Leonard Hikaumba and
his deputy Sam Phiri.
The 2011 general elections were also top on the agenda and the need to
promote peace and ensure security in the country in the run up to the
tripartite elections.
This is contained in a press statement released to Radio Chikuni News
Wednesday by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public
Relations, Dickson Jere.
Misa denies fraudulent dealings
By Nchimunya Vanessa Mweemba
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zambia has refuted media
reports alleging fraud involving K70 Million kwacha.
Misa Zambia Vice Chairperson Felistus Chipako says investigations by the
national governing council have found no evidence of any fraudulent dealings
by the institute.
In a press statement to Radio Chikuni News Monday, Ms Chipako described the
allegations of fraud in the media as unfortunate and regrettable.
She explained that Misa Zambia received K70 million from Save the Children
Sweden, meant to facilitate the holding of activities to commemorate the
anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child.
There were speculations of alleged fraud involving k70 million in the media
recently by Misa Zambia emanating from a project sponsored by Save the
Children Sweden.
