By CHARLES MUSONDA 

THE Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education (ZIALE) Council has refused to enroll five law students from the Zambia Open University.

This is because the students do not qualify for enrolment at ZIALE under the Legal Practitioners Act.

And the Lusaka High Court has granted the students leave to apply for judicial review against the council’s decision not to enroll them.

The students are also seeking a court order to stay and reverse the council’s decision not to admit them to the highest legal training institute in Zambia.

The ZIALE council denied them application forms to enroll as students for the 2009-2010 intake.

The students are aggrieved by the refusal, which they say is irrational, irregular, unlawful, and unjustified.

They are, therefore, seeking an interim order declaring that the grant of leave should operate as a directive reversing the ZIALE Council’s refusal and directing the institute to enroll them pending final determination of the matter.

The students’ lawyer Michael Mundashi argued that when the council carries out its functions, it conducts public functions as opposed to private law functions. 

Mr Mundashi submitted that the ZIALE Council is amenable to judicial review and that the application is properly before court.

“The Legal Practitioners Act only comes into play on admission of a successful student to the bar and not at the stage of enrolment at ZIALE. The ap... Read more »

Over 3,000 unionised public service workers in Mazabuka, Southern Province, will Monday hold a meeting to chart the wayforward following delayed salary negotiations.

Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union (CSAWU) district Vice Chairperson, Kennedy Mutale said the meeting will be held at Nakambala Reformatory Training hall.

He said this followed delays by government and union national leaders to conclude their salary negotiations.

Mr. Mutale said the workers have demanded an immediate strike action.

He said all teachers, health, agriculture and other essential workers would attend the meeting planned for 10:00 hours.

Prior to the meeting, a team of union leaders will go round government departments to ensure no worker reported for work.

Mr. Mutale said civil servants are bitter with the government.

He also warned heads of government departments to desist from intimidating their staff.

The CSAWU district Vice Chairperson said police have granted a permit to the union to hold the meeting.
[znbc]

By STEPHEN PHIRI and CHISHALA MUSONDA
NATIONAL team coach Herve Renard says self-belief is key to Zambia’s qualification for its first-ever World Cup appearance.

Renard said self-belief should start this Saturday when Zambia take on Rwanda in the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

In an interview from Johannesburg yesterday, Renard said the race for a place at the World Cup finals is rough and needed players to believe in themselves. 
“Rwanda and Algeria are strong teams but with self-belief, we can do it,” he said.

Renard said the two-week camping in Johannesburg has refined the players.

“All the players are at their best. The fighting spirit is good and I do not see why we should lose to Rwanda and Algeria,” he said.

Renard also said he was impressed with the input of striker Collins Mbesuma.

“Mbesuma has improved in the last two weeks and we need him to change the strike force when we face Rwanda,” he said.

He also said he will not replace defenders Jimmy Chisenga, Kampamba Chintu and midfielder Isaac Chansa, who have been ruled out due to injuries. 

Meanwhile, midfielder Stoppira Sunzu joined the national team yesterday while defender Emmanuel Mbola was expected last night.

Team manager, Solly Pandor, said Hungary-based defender Misheck Lungu is expected to link up with the team today.

Striker Jacob Mulenga, who has clinched a three-year deal with Dutch first division Utrecht, wil... Read more »

President Rupiah Banda says it is necessary to develop a responsive and relevant education system that will produce industrious learners capable of meaningfully contributing to the development needs and aspirations of the country.

Mr. Banda said such a curriculum is also necessary for the country’s quest of achieving the status of a middle income and prosperous nation by 2030.

The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma during the official opening of the National Curriculum Review Symposium in Lusaka today.

Mr. Banda said the country aspires for sustainable wealth creation and employment generation hence the need for an integrated education curriculum.

He said there must be clear linkages and interconnections in curriculum design from early childhood learning to tertiary level.

The President has further called for a change in the education system and establish effective goals for which learners are educated for.

He added that it is also important to eliminate fragmentation and incoherence in the conceptualization of the country’s curriculum.

Mr. Banda has since urged participants at the symposium to ensure that the meeting serves as a building block for an enduring and holistic curriculum.

And speaking earlier, Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said government will remain committed establishing quality and equitable education at all levels.

Prof Lungwa... Read more »

Government has directed immigration officers at all exit border 


points not to allow Zambians to travel abroad today using the old passports.

Ministry of Home Affairs permanent secretary, Ndiyoyi Mutiti issued the directive during an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

She however said those coming into the country with the old passports should be allowed entry.

Ms Mutiti said it will be against the law for anyone to attempt to use an old passport when traveling abroad because it will no longer be valid.

She said the old passport was not computerised and it will be unfortunate for anybody to use it when leaving the country because it will not respond to the computer system.

Ms Mutiti said the Ministry of Home Affairs did its best to sensitise Zambians about the change of passports.

“No one will be excused to use the old passport when leaving the country because the information has been clear from the time the new passports were introduced last year,” she said.

And Ms Mutiti has urged all Zambians who had traveled abroad with the old passport not to panic because they will be allowed entry into the country.
She said Zambians living abroad are the only ones whose deadline has been extended up to August 31, 2009.

“Zambians living abroad are still having difficulties obtaining the new computersied passports, and the Ministry of Home affairs is doing everything possible to ensure that they obtain passports before the... Read more »