1. President MICHAEL SATA has dismissed assertions that he decided to award himself a 10 per cent salary increment. The Head of State has explained that salaries and allowances for the President, Vice- President, Chief Whip, Leader of Opposition, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Members of Parliament are determined by the Standing Orders Committee of Parliament. Mr. SATA says the procedure is that once the Standing Orders Committee has determined what increment to award, the Minister of Finance issues a Statutory Instrument. President SATA notes that in fact, this year, the Committee, which includes opposition Members of Parliament met and came up with an increment of 10 per cent taking into account the national resource and notwithstanding the fact that the civil service was awarded increments ranging from 0 per cent to more than 150 per cent.Mr. SATA emphasised that this decision was made at Parliament by both ruling party and opposition Members of Parliament, whose salaries have equally been revised upwards. He urges all opposition Members of Parliament to take time and explain this slight adjustment to their party leaders to avoid shooting themselves in the foot.This is according to a statement released to ZNBC by SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENTPRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS GEORGE CHELLAH. 2. Government has described as cheap politicking, the MMD’s attempts to discredit the 2014 National Budget. Chief Government Spokesperson MWANSA KAPEYA says the 2014 budget has been hailed by many as well focused and highly progressive. Mr. KAPEYA has advised MMD spokesperson MUHABI LUNGU and his party party not to hide behind empty political rhetoric but swallow pride and give credit where it is due.He said in a statement to ZNBC News today that Government has provided a clear development programme through the 2014 national budget which is in line with the PF manifesto. Mr. KAPEYA said the 2014 national budget has set realistic and workable programmes and strategies to deepen and accelerate broad based social and economic development. Among other benchmarks, the budget has prioritized job creation through increased and sustained investment in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, energy and construction sectors. 3. Government is set to complete the delivery of subsidised farm inputs by 31st October this year. Agriculture Minister ROBERT SICHINGA has confirmed that the delivery of farm inputs is targted to be complete by October monthend. Mr. SICHINGA was speaking last night during launch of a Zambia National Farmers Union and National Savings and Credit Bank-NATSAV Bunjimi Asset plus loan facilities, Meanwhile the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia has exceeded its fertiliser production under the farmer input suport program.Mr SICHINGA said the company which was considered as a scrap by the MMD government has managed to produce 71-thousand 363 metric tones of D-Compound fertiliser.He said this is above the government order it tendered to the company for it to produce 70-thousand 727 metric tones of the commodity. 4. A non Governmental Orgainsation has petitioned the Police to state how it concluded the 1994 case of aggravated robbery in which PF Lusaka Provincial Chairman GEOFFREY CHUUMBWE was implicated.Speech for Growth Board Member JOHN MUTEKENYA says there are wide allegations that MR. CHUUMBWE was wanted by the police to assist with investigations in an aggravated robbery case.In a walk in interview at ZNBC, Mass Media Complex, MR. MUTEKENYA also questioned how four fire arms found at MR. CHUUMBWEs house in Lusaka were authorized when he was perceived to be a danger. Zambia Police Service Acting Acting Spokesperson RAE HAMOONGA has promised to get to the root of the matter. But MR. CHUUMBWE has asked the petitioners to go the police to find out about the allegations. In a telephone interview, Mr CHUUMBWE said he is tired of answering to people over the matter. 5. FIRST Lady, CHRISTINE KASEBA says it is harsh reality that most countries in sub-Saharan Africa are still contemplating on how to meet the MDGs, especially on poverty, maternal and child health barely two years before 2015.Dr KASEBA has made the observation in her key note address today, at the ongoing GBC Health Africa Regional Conference 2013, whose theme is Accelerating Action Toward Achieving MDGs, in Midrand, South Africa.She has explained that despite substantial economic growth in Africa over the last few decades, access to affordable health care has remained one of the greatest challenges to sustained economic development.Dr KASEBA has explainedf that Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 11 percent of the worlds population, yet bears 24 percent of the global disease burden and commands less than one percent of global health expenditure.She has further said that sustainable development and social development is intrinsically linked to the wellbeing of communities because healthy communities lead to healthy markets.The first lady has also called for concerted and integrated long term efforts from the private sector to partner with government, saying while it was the major responsibility for governments to provide sound healthcare to citizens, it could not do so alone. 6. Zambias non traditional exports have increased by 49 percent to stand at 2.49 billion dollars in 2013.Zambia Development Agency Director Exports GLYN MICHELO says last year non traditional exports which is all exports other than copper and cobalt accounted for 1.67 billion dollars.Mr MICHELO said this in Lusaka during the opening ceremony for a national workshop on trade facilitation and rules of origin facilitated by the Swedish Trade Board.He said Non traditional exports now account for 30 percent of total exports. 7. POLISH Prime Minister DONALD TUSK is this Saturday expected in the Country on a three day working visit.Mr TUSK who will hold talks with President MICHAEL SATA at State House, will lead a high level delegation of 30 business people.The POLISH Prime Minister will be accompanied his wife MALGOZATA and former Prime Minister and Head of Economic Council KRZYSTOLF JAN BIELECKI, Transport, Construction.Other will be Maritime Economy Minister SLAWOMIR NOWAK and Health Minister BARTOSZ ARLUKOWICZ, Polish Vice Foreign Affairs Minister BEATA STELMACH and Economy Vice Minister ILONA ANANISZYN- KLIK.Others will be Polish Investment Agency President STANISLAW MAJMAN, two MPs and two Secretaries of State at the Prime Ministers office. And Zambias Ambassador to Poland BWALYA CHITI who is resident in Germany said MR. TUSKs visit is a sign of warm business and economic cooperation that exists between Zambia and Poland. 8. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has described Zambia as a great side. Scolari says the Chipolopolo are a good team with a healthy competitive spirit. According to mtnfootball, the Brazil coach was speaking after Brazil beat Zambia 2-0 in a friendly at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing China yesterday. And interim Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle has praised his sides performance despite their loss to five-time World champions Brazil. Beaumelle says the Chipolopolo boys showed a lot of determination and heart. He says Zambia showed the world and Africa that they belong to the higher level of football.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 15:17:58 +0000
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