POPPY DAY: At a commemorative service on 16 November at the Lusaka cenotaph, Army chaplain Major Moses Chirwa appealed to the government for a higher allocation of anti-retroviral drugs to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge now taking a heavy toll among Zambia's servicemen and their families. Wearing traditional poppies, President Mwanawasa, military chiefs and diplomats laid wreaths honouring the fallen of two world wars and other conflicts. Cenotaph services were also held in Kitwe and Luanshya, attended by local dignitaries and members of voluntary organisations. (Times, 17 Nov; other sources)

MASS DROWNING IN LAKE MWERU: President Levy Mwanawasa mourned the loss of 40 Zambians including many children, who drowned when high winds capsized a ferry on Lake Mweru at about 5 p.m. on 24 November, while it was carrying 60-70 passengers from Kashikishi to Isokwe fishing camp in Luapula province. So far 27 bodies have been recovered by army divers from Ndola. Local fishermen helped them to tow some of the survivors to the shore. Home Affairs deputy minister Justin Chilufya said the tragedy had occurred because Kapele Transport overloaded the boat. Police have arrested its owner who has been charged with criminal negligence. Vice-President Nevers Mumba visited Lake Mweru on 29 November. More than 20 villagers died in early August after their boat capsized on Lake Bangweulu, and 18 people drowned in September when an ore truck from DR Congo crashed onto the Kazungulu ferry, hurling passengers into the Zambezi. (Times, Mail, Post, 25, 26, 27 Nov; 1 Dec; archives)

AUSSIES PLAN NEW LONG-LIFE MINE: When mining giant Anglo American withdrew from Zambia nearly two years ago, hopes of Zambia's economic recovery plummeted. However since then copper prices have risen steadily while new suitors have courted Konkola Copper Mines, spurned by Anglo, and the battered, asset-stripped Roan Antelope mine. Now further hope is pinned on Equinox Resources, the small but energetic Australian company which has published a bankable feasibility study of a possible $333-$585 million investment in an off-Copperbelt long-life mine at Lumwana in Mwinilunga, North Western Zambia. The study was undertaken as a joint venture with US-based Phelps Dodge, the world's second largest copper producer, but Equinox is likely to find a long-term Lumwana partner elsewhere: BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Codelco are among the companies mentioned. Some of the additional funding is likely to come from South Africa. The planned project, which is to include a roast-leach-solvent extraction and electro-winning facility, seems likely to materialise as the first major new mine in Zambia for 25 years, with work for hundreds of people. (Mail, 20 Nov; Mineweb Oct)

AND THEY ARE GOING FOR GOLD: On 14 November the government granted a gold mining licence to an Australian company which is expected to set up shop in Mumbwa before the year's end. This was announced - though without revealing names - at a public meeting in Mulobezi by President Mwanawasa, who added that the Aussies had been in Zambia for several weeks. Another investor was prospecting for diamonds in the Western Province, he said. (Times, 17 Nov; Mail, 20 Nov)

A WIN-WIN SITUATION: Final negotiations for Sterlite's takeover of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) are taking place and of the final government document sent to Sterlite mines, minister Wamundila Mbikusita-Lewanika said: "We are looking at a win-win situation, where everyone will be happy." Zambia chose Indian-owned Sterlite in May, from a shortlist of four that included South Africa's Metorex, a Mitsui/Mitsubishi consortium and Glencore International of Switzerland, and in September mines minister Kaunda Lembalemba said negotiations would be complete by the end of 2003. KCM operates Konkola, Nchanga open pit and the Nampundwe pyrites mine and is Zambia's biggest mining operation. (Mail, 27 Nov; Reuters 28 Nov)

NO TO TAX BREAKS: Demands for tax breaks by both Sterlite Industries of India, buying KCM, and the J and W Group of Switzerland, pursuing Roan Antelope, had delayed considerably the conclusion of both deals and should be resisted because the price of copper had for some time been climbing steadily and tax concessions were not justified, said finance minister Ng'andu Magande when he addressed the Zambia Association of Manufacturers. (Post, 27 Nov)

MORE THAN HALF THE POPULATION IS MALNOURISHED: An estimated 53% of the Zambian population is malnourished, with rural areas recording 59% and urban rates 43%, said Central Statistics Office director Buleti Nsemukila. And while 75% of children were now going to school, it was doubtful that the ones in the malnourished 53 per cent could benefit properly from that education, he added. Addressing a statistics conference at Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Mr. Nsemukila said that 45% of the 10.3 million population had no access to safe water. (Post, 18 Nov)

NORWAY GIFTS $400,000 TO FEND OFF GM FOODS: The Norwegian government has given Zambia $400,000 to buy the bio-safety technology to detect genetically modified foods entering the country. Science and technology minister Abel Chambishi said Zambia was surrounded by seven countries and needed protection from GMFs. (Times, 12 Nov)

A BLISTERING ATTACK: Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanawambwa excoriated UNIP MP Timothy Nyirenda for saying Parliament was "useless" at an opposition party caucus held to discuss boycotting its sittings. The comment was quoted in the Daily Mail on 11 August. The Speaker said that Nyirenda's "offensive, disrespectful and irresponsible utterances" constituted a breach of parliamentary privilege. Time and money had been wasted after the MP denied the statement and further disrespect would incur "severe punishment by the House." Mr. Nyirenda apologised unreservedly. (Times, Post, 26 Nov)

ZAMBIA AIRWAYS SCAM: Government is pursuing Zambian and foreign nationals who appropriated the aircraft of the defunct Zambia Airways when it went into liquidation. This included a Boeing 707 which left Zambia on the pretext that it was going to Ireland for a service and was diverted to Israel. According to transport minister Bates Namuyamba, another plane had been registered as belonging to the ministry of finance and "we want to know where it is." The government-owned airline collapsed under the weight of its debts in the late 1990s. Investigators are to pursue ZA's assets in South Africa, Europe and the Americas. (Mail 25 November)

VETERAN GENERAL BECOMES AMBASSADOR: General Kingsley Chinkulu, the first Zambian to become an army commander after Independence in 1964 and later the country's first black general, was sworn in at State House as ambassador to Germany on 22 November. He held several Cabinet portfolios in the UNIP government. Professor Elizabeth Mumba, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Zambia, was sworn in as High Commissioner to troubled Zimbabwe. (Mail, 23 November)

CHILUBA'S FOUR-HOUR PLEA: Ex-president Frederick Chiluba spent four hours pleading not guilty to 168 counts of theft by public servant of $29.9million, during his presidency. Appearing with Chiluba again, this time before Lusaka principal resident magistrate Jones Chinyama, were several co-defendants including former ambassador to Washington Atan Shansonga. The trial starts on 9 December and this protracted legal drama is set to run and run. (Times, Post, 12 Nov; archives)

VIPS DASH FOR CHARITY: Vice-President Nevers Mumba will be among VIPs from politics and business competing in a 60-metre dash to raise funds for the Little Light Home for vulnerable children, at Ndola on 13 December. The focus of the event is a 10-kilometre relay in which Copperbelt businesses are paying to compete and there will be trophies and cash prizes. (Mail, 28 Nov)

EXCHANGE RATE: 2 December 2003: �1=ZMK 8, 092.24 Coloured Christmas cards featuring a night ape and two sunbird designs are finished for this year, but we have these designs on blank notelets at �4.50 for 10, plus 50p postage. And we still have black and white zebra and elephant Christmas cards for only �3.50 for 10. Last orders to Mary Cleminson by phone: 020 8553 5252; or by letter: 43, Capel Road, London E7 OJT Don't forget our AGM on Wednesday 10 December, 12.30--3.30 p.m. at Zambia House, Palace Gate. Join us for an excellent light lunch for only �6, including a pleasant wine. Apart from meeting the High Commissioner, seeing old friends and discovering new ones, you will hear James Cairns OBE FRCS speaking about Zambia's orphans. Mark and Lucy Davis, volunteers for two years with the Chitsime Association at Misisi, Lusaka, will talk about that important, Trust project. Twenty-two of Zambia leading tour operators and hoteliers attended the three-day 2003 World Travel Market exhibition in November at the Excel Centre in London's Docklands. They included Norman Carr Safaris and the new Kasaka River Lodge and international visitors flocked to the lively stand. "With over 43,00 industry professionals from 184 countries, we were provided with an unrivalled global business platform, and there was a great deal of interest in Zambia," said Donald Pelekamoyo, tourism promotion manager at the High Commission, and London coordinator of the WTM exhibition. A special guest at the Zambian stand was Ms Cherise Mukabale, the attractive 24-year-old Kitwe business manager who shot to fame when she won the Africa-wide Big Brother reality TV contest, and �100,000. Ms Mukabale has become the goodwill ambassador of Zambia in general and of its travel industry in particular. She was guest of honour at a reception given by the Zambian High Commissioner and Mrs. Chibwa, at their official Highgate residence.