FTJ arrives from South Africa

Second republican president Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba but abbreviated FTJ (in red neck tie) is escorted by his pastor Reverand Steven Mwale (right) and private secratry Emmanuel Mwamba (behind in glasses) to the lobby on his arrival from his medical review in South Africa on Monday.

Dr CHiluba was in a jovial mood and dressed in an ash grey suit.

He was very glad to address journalists. He started his apeech by delivering an easter sermon where he preached peace, love and unity among mankind.

His man is very eloquent in the Bible and spoke extensively about how we are supposed to show love and kindness during the easter period.

Dr Chiluba also answered some questions from reports.

This included his comments his the wrangles in the Patrotic Front, a party he joined after ditching the ruling MMD, the party that took to power.

Dr Chiluba said he would give appropriate comments on the PF after he speaks to the party leader Micheal Sata but he highlighted the fact that every member of a party contributed greatly to the existence of the group.

The PF has expelled five of its Members of Parliamant for various reason including gross indiscipline.

Dr Chiluba also reserved his comments on the allocation of Baobab land for the contrustion of his house by the government. He insisted that he would have to meet the President before rushing to the press.

On the turning of Parliament motel into a brothel by some members of Parliament, Dr CHiluba said these leaders msut show exclusive behaviour because they influenced a lot of people.

It has been reported that some Members of Parliament have been having ilicit sex activities at the motel.

Well-wishers greet Chiluba

well-wishers stretching their hand and jostling to squeeze the hand of Dr Chiluba (far left) at Lusaka international airport.

Chiluba talks

Dr Chiluba delivering an easter sermon at Lusaka international airport.

Chiluba prays????

Dr Chiluba wait for the airport public address system to switch off when he was addressing journalists at Lusaka international airport.

Chiluba arrives

President Chiluba talks to journalist at Lusaka international aiport on his return from South Africa where he had gone for his medical review. On the left is his pastor Reverand Steven Mwale.

A trip to Livingstone

I have just returned from Livingstone, southern Zambia. This district on the border with Zimbabwe is often referred to as the tourist capital of Zambia. It is about 600 kilo metres from the capital, Lusaka and takes about seven hours drive. There are also flights to Livingstone from Lusaka and other districts. But there are also direct international flights to this city.
Livingstoneis where you find several species of wild animals and one of the eight wonders of the world, the Mighty Victoria Falls. There are other attractions such as museums, traditional dances and sites of historical nature.
Livingstone plays a major role in Zambia's economy as a result of the natural resources therein.
I would like to publish some of the areas I considered crucial and affect the people of Zambia and Livingstone in particular.
I caught up with my friend from the British Council Macnon Luwaile and David Haskins fron UK Youth Sport Trust, who were conducting another leadership training programme for youths. This was an inspiring programme considering the amount of empowerment being imparted into the youth. Zambia need youth empowerment programmes now more than ever before realising the fact that young people are not only leaders of today, but the future as well.
Best regards!!

Welcome to Livingstone-the tourist capital

DAVID HUSKINS and children

leade trainer Youth Sport Trust David Haskins doing preparatory work with the children and local trainers prior to the festival.

Dreams and teams

Children bearing the dreams and teams banner during the sports festival.

Eating cookies??

A child tries to grip and lift a packet of cookies from the ground during a competition.

Drummers

Some pupils from David Livingstone High school showcasing their drumming talent. Possessing the drumming talent in some Zambian rural coomunities is a special gift because this skill is treasured. It is unique and expensive. Some some families even brag when their daughter weds a drummer.

Ernest Chanda

Ernest Chanda from the Zambian national broadcaster taking some video shots during the dreams and teams leadershp training in Livingstone.

Dancer

One of the girls shows off her dancing prowess during the dreams and teams sports festival.

Pupils dancing

Some pupils from Linda High school performing traditional dances.

Traditoinal dancer

One of the pupils from Livingstone peforming a typical Zambian traditional dance. At one point, he lights a stick and starts to burn his skin, although he does not actually burn but it is some skill that goes with the dance.

Linda High school pupils

Some pupils from Linda high school in Livingstone writing their end of term examinations on the corridors of their classrooms because of congestion inside the classes.

There is a free education policy of up to grade seven, but this has not helped enhance the education system in Zambia.

Critics say the free education policy need to go up to university in order to give every Zambian child a chance to learn and be a better citizen.

Scenes such as this one from Linda high school are common place in many Zambian schools. That is to say nothing about the availability of teachers, text books, furniture, chalk, and infrastructure. The absence of these facilities has made many children give up on pursuing their careers.

PF youths

PF matchers

Youths from the Patrotic Front matching past President Mwanawasa during the Youth Day celebrations.

Levy talks to Gabriel

President Mwanawasa talks to youth, sport and child development minister Gabriel Namulambe during the Youth Day celebrations in Lusaka.c

cadets match

Some members of the Zambia cadet force in a match past during the Youth Day celebrations.

Cadets

Youths from the Zambia cadet force mounted a parade, fured a gun salute and matched during the Yotuh Day celebrations in Lusaka.

Youths go to lay wreath

Young Ruth Mambwe (left) and John Sakala carry a wreath to lay at the Freedom Statute during Youth Day celebrations in Lusaka.

Levy lays a wreath

President Mwanawasa makes a turn after laying a wreath during the Yotuh Day celebrations in Lusaka.

Youth Day

President Mwanawasa's motorcade leaves the Freedom Statute in Lusaka after Youth day celebrations.

Abuse of workers in Zambia

Abuse of workers in Zambia
Abuse of workers in Zambia This time my thoughts focus on labour matters in Zambia. I have observed that there is wantom abuse of man-power in Zambia in many areas of this economy.This abuse of labour exists in government, parastatals and private companies.Just tis week, 500 workers from Chambishi Copper Smelter were dismissed for staging a protest to press for better salaries and conditions of service. They fought running battles with the Chinese employers. The gutted a dump truck and a guard house. My heart also grew large because some senior government representatives came out in open and said the the protesting workers got what they asked for.But the company management has now clarified that the irate workers have not been dismissed. A representative has stated that the workers have simply been asked to exculpate themselves why they took part in the violent clashes.The ministry of labour has been prompted to summon all human resource managers from the Copperbelt and Northwestern provinces to meeting in Lusaka where they would be handed instructions on labour matters.In Zambia abuse of labour especially by foreign employers has heightened and the authorities need to flex their mucles to put an abrupt end to this.I get worried when government officials seem to treat these abusers with kid gloves like has been the case especially with those Asians hailing from China.I accompanied the minister of lanour and social security Ronald Mukuma to some factories in Lusaka.We visited Spar supermarket, Printech printing firm and a Zambian of Asian origin Hardyl Ghataura who runs a firm called Akaal engineering.The man makes so much money at his company, but that is not consumerate with the working conditions under which his workers operate.The latrin is in a deplorable state. The workers have no protective gear such as hard hats, safety boots and glasses from the blinding flames in the welding rooms.I feel the government, who are at the centre of ensuring minimum standards in the safety of workers must not just talk and warn such employers, the government must close down such factories without taking into consideration the economic losses that would follow.Such employers must be told and I am sure they are aware that they cannot succeed without the same workers they abuse.

Akaal worker

Would you say this worker is operating under acceptable conditions?

Akaal worker

Mukuma inspects Akaal workshop

Labour and social security minister Ronald Mukuma inspects Akaal engineering factory where he learnt of apalling working conditions. The minister is disturbed about the situation such as the man standing on is left, who is operating a machine without acceptable protective clothing.

Welder without glasses

Francis, a fabricator at Akaal engineering is oblivious of the halth risk about the absence of protective eye glasses in his work. He is also in the dark about his rights as a worker and as a human being. Most workers are aware of their rights but the scarecity of employment and rough economic terrain leaves them with no option to take apart from such conditions.

Some employers ahev taken advantage of few employment opportunities and economic hardships to abuse the Zambian labour market.

Fabricator

Fabricator Nsangu Miti churning out a canopy without protective glasses. He uses a hand to shield off the blinding flames from the welding machine.

Akaal workers

These workers are painters from Akaal engineering. They operate without gas masks and safety boots. The absence of these items is a major health risk and a gross violation of workers and human rights. These workers are not insured and they get paid peanuts.

SAFETY BOOT??????????

Is this a safety boot? This is a safety shoe that one of the workers at Akaal engineering was wearing in the workshop. I think this boot is not safe for the employee. It is actually a hazard to the man.

Worker without gas mask

A worker at Akaal engineering painting a canopy without a gas mask.

Mukuma talks to Ghataura

Labour minister Ronald Mukuma (centre) meets Akaal Ghataura (right) at his office.

Chingangu and his belt

Joseph Chngangu shows off the African Boxing Union championship belt.

Chingangu is declared winner

Chingangu being declared winner for the African Boxing Union championship as his losing Ghanain counterpart Isaac Ankrah looks on.

Ankrah's trainer storms the ring

Ghanaian boxer Isaac Ankrah's trainer storms the ring to save his boxer from further pusnishment by Zambia's Joseph Chingangu. Earlier during the weigh-in, Ankrah promised the crowd that he would end Chingangu's career abruptly.

It was interesting and I watched with glee how Ankrah's was punished.

But I observed that Ankrah is a good boxer as well and he could have won that fight, just that Chingangu was a better fighter.

Isaac Ankrah bleeds

Ghana's Isaac Ankrah bleeds and leans against the ropes after a series of punches from Joseph Chingangu.

Chingangu pound Ankrah

Zambia's Joseph "no pressure" Chingangu pounds Ghana's ISaac Ankrah at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka. The bout ended as a knock out.

MC Wabwino

Zambian singer MC Wabwino, despite his enormous weight was able to jump and turn around swiftly to show off his dancing prowess during the boxing bout.

Boxing Fans

Some boxing enthusiasts jostling to take pictures from camera phones when Joseph "no pressure" Chingangu was pounding Ghana's Isaac Ankrah in Lusaka.

Bikiloni and others

Bikiloni (left), the clown and MC Wabwino (right), a musician entertaining the audience before the bout between Ghana's Isaac Ankrah and Zambia's Joseph Chingangu.

Sumaili Vs Mulenga

Sumaili Vs Mulenga

Sumaili Vs Mulenga

Sumaili Vs Mulenga