Former Juventus defender Dario Bonetti is to be the new Zambia national team coach, taking charge of their bid to reach the next African Nations Cup finals in 2012 in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Bonetti has signed a two-year contract with Chipolopolo and will begin his quest to participate at the 2012 event in September this year, when they begin their qualifying campaign for the Nations Cup.

FAZ (Football Association of Zambia) president, Kalusha Bwalya, told Zambian Chronicle on Wednesday: “We had a lot of applicants for the job but we think we have found the right guy. We want experience from the top level but also a youthful hunger.”

Bonetti, who also had spells with Roma and Milan, as well as winning a couple of caps for the Azzurri, is not particularly experienced on the bench, but time spent in the lower Italian leagues added to spells with Dundee in Scotland and Dinamo Bucharest in Romania, have been convincing enough to see him put in charge of the southern Africans.

Bonetti takes over at the Zambian helm from energetic French coach Herve Renard, who did well with the side at the last installment of the African Nations Cup before deciding to coach Angola to the next AFCON tournament in two years time. The FAZ tried to hold onto the Frenchman, but a better offer from Angola allowed for Bonetti to come into the picture.

The Italian will get his first taste of African football in September when Zambia play the Comoros Islands in African Nations Cup qualifying, with matches against Libya and Mozambique to follow.

PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that over K400 billion has been pledged by cooperating partners for road projects this year.

Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning, David Phiri said last year, cooperating partners pledged over K600 billion of which over K105 billion was released.

Mr Phiri said this in response to a question by Kanchibiya member of Parliament Davies Mwango (PF) during questions for oral answer.

Mr Mwango asked how much has been pledged by donors for road projects this year.

He further wanted to know how much was released to the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) for road projects last year and how much was contributed by cooperating partners.

Mr Phiri said in 2009, K1,336.27 billion was approved for the road sector of which Government funds accounted for K715.45 billion and cooperating partners K620.82 billion.

He said as of December 31, 2009, K882.34 billion was released, representing 66 percent.

Mr Phiri said further, a supplementary budget of K63.4 billion was approved and K61.14 billion was released, representing 96 percent.

He said this effort reflects Government’s commitment to develop the road sector.

Mr Phiri said it is unfortunate that cooperating partners did not manage to fulfill funds pledged as only 17 percent was released.

And Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane informed the house that no funds have been released so far out of this year’s pledges by cooperating partners.

Dr Musokotawane said this is because of the audit report by the office of the auditor general, which has cited financial mis-management and poor quality of work in the road sector.

He said cooperating partners suspended funding until such a time that concerns raised in the audit report are addressed.

Dr Musokotawane said this in response to a follow up question by Chipili MP Davies Mwila (PF) who asked if the suspension of funds is related to the recent auditor general’s report on the Road Development Agency.

Dr Musokotwane said discussions between Government and cooperating partners regarding the resumption of funding have reached an advanced stage.

He said the State and donors are agreeing on the road map and Government is hopeful that it will start receiving funds soon.

And Dr Musokotwane said over K400 billion from the fuel and other road user charges was released as part of Government’s budget for road projects in 2009.

He said this in response to a question by Kabwata MP Given Lubinda (PF) who asked how much of Government’s budget for road projects in 2009 was from road user charges.

He said of the total budget, K299.3 billion was directly from treasury.

And Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning, Chileshe Kapwepwe told the House that the only European countries Government owes money are Russia and Bulgaria.

Ms Kapwepwe said Government owes Russia US$110 million and Bulgaria US$8 million, adding that this debt was contracted before 2006 and is subject to treatment under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative.

She said this in response to a question by Chilubi MP Obius Chisala (PF) who wanted to know which European countries Zambia has borrowed from since 2006 and how much it owes.

Ms Kapwepwe said the debt from Russia has been cancelled, adding that the two countries are yet to agree on a debt swap agreement.

She said Government is further finalising the process of liquidating the money it owes Bulgaria but that this will not go beyond 2013.

Ms Kapwepwe said this in response to a follow up question by Mr Chisala who asked when Government will liquidate the debt.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development, Lubinda Imasiku said Government, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, is carrying out studies to determine the best option for supplying petroleum products to the country.

Mr Imasiku said Government is looking at options of whether to build a new oil refinery, modernise the current infrastructure at the refinery at Indeni or import finished products.

He said the study of the various options is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Mr Imasiku said in response to a question by Choma Central MP George Chazanga (UPND) who wanted to know whether Government is considering setting up another modern petroleum refinery plant capable of refining any type of crude oil.

And Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga said Government has allowed the importation of finished petroleum products to supplement the petroleum products produced by Indeni.

He said this in a follow up question by Mr Mwila who wanted to know why Government has allowed the importation of finished petroleum products.

Mr Konga said indeni is expected to be shut down in October for routine maintenance.

MTN Zambia has agreed with Zamtel to reduce interconnectivity charges by 50 percent after Government issues a Statutory Instrument.

And the firm has donated K86 million towards the Likumbi Lya Mize traditional ceremony slated for September 1 to 4.

Company managing director, Farhad Khan, said the reduction in interconnectivity fees will be effected after the SI is issued.

Mr Khan said the firm has also engaged in discussions with other operators on the reduction of interconnectivity charges.

He was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Khan said there is need to reduce interconnectivity charges that different networks charge each other for cross networks.

The current cross networks call charges are very high, thus reducing efficiency in service delivery.

The company reaffirmed its commitement to ensuring that every subscriber has access to cheap mobile communication but the vision is being hindered by high cost of interconnectivity charges.

Last month, Zain Zambia reduced international call tariffs by 40 percent while MTN reduced by 40 percent after Government’s decision to allow mobile service providers to manage their own international gateway.

The new Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has provisions that require interconnectivity fees to be cost-reflective and transparent.

MTN wrote to ZICTA and ZCC to look into interconnectivity charges within Zambia which it says are too high due to higher interconnectivity charges.

And MTN said the donation of the K86 million to Likumbi Lya Mize cultural association is part of the firm’s corporate responsibility to support the community.

Mr Khan said the firm has to date invested K400 million in numerous cultural activities across the country.

And association chairperson Gideon Kaumba said the association is scouting for K150 million to host the event.

Mr Kaumba said so far the association has raised slightly above K100 million.

MTN is the main sponsor of the ceremony this year and will hold a fundraising dinner dance this week Friday at Intercontinental Hotel.