Immigration Department Director-General Denny Lungu says the country has recorded a decrease in the number of cases involving illegal immigrants and human trafficking through the Copperbelt and Muchinga provinces.

And Mr Lungu has bemoaned inadequate office accommodation and housing for immigration staff on the Copperbelt province, with Sakanya boarder in Ndola district worst hit.

“We have recorded a reduction in the number of illegal immigrants and human trafficking cases through the Copperbelt province, and Muchinga province through the Nakonde boarder which has become notorious in the past” he disclosed.

He attributed the reduction in the number of cases to the extensive patrols that the department had engaged in since government equipped the department with motor vehicles for all offices countrywide.

“ Let me emphasize that we have arrested the situation, the department is able to conduct extensive patrols, arrest, detain and prosecute as well as deport the culprits using the motor vehicles that government has given to all 98 stations in the country” he explained.

He added that despite the reduction in the number of human traffic cases from, Copperbelt and Muchinga provinces, it was however worrying that human trafficking cases were slowly building up through the eastern corridor.

“we are working hard to arrest the situation of human trafficking that is prevailing through the eastern corridor, through Mwami boarder in Chipata, coming into Lusaka,” Mr Lungu observed.

He however said the department was understaffed and hoped that government will next year give the department the authority to expand the structure.

“Over the years, migration issues have increased in terms of numbers, these are general issues including both illegal and legal and professional immigrants seeks work permits, with that the we need to increase staff numbers to effectively address the issues” he said.

And Mr Lungu has bemoaned inadequate office accommodation and housing for immigration staff on the Copperbelt province, with Sakanya boarder in Ndola district worst hit.

The immigration department Director General disclosed that the government was however addressing the accommodation challenge and has built houses for officers in Kasumabalesa in Chilibombwe and Mokambo in Mufulilra districts respectively, but that the housing was inadequate.

“Government has shown commitment to addressing this challenge of accommodation for immigration officers and has built 20 houses in Kasumablesa and another 10 houses in Mokambo, but there is still a deficit, basically the major challenge has remained the issues of housing and in other cases office accommodation” he explained.

And District Commissioner Patrick Maipambe said the district had no immigration issues and that the department in the district was working effectively.

Mr. Maipambe commended the Immigration Director General for taking time to interact with officers, which he said would also boos the working morale among immigration staff.

Mr. Lungu is on the Copperbelt province to interact with officers and appreciate operational challenges among others that the department was facing.

He was accompanied by the Copperbelt province regional commander Stewart Chiyaika among other immigration staff.

Visiting Bangladeshi Chief of Army Staff, General Aziz Ahmed has urged people around the world to visit the Victoria Falls and enjoy not only its uniqueness but also the friendliness of the Zambian people.

Gen. Ahmed has told journalists after touring the Victoria Falls with Zambia Army Commander Lt. General William Sikazwe that what he has read and heard about the Victoria Falls is nothing compared to what he has experienced.

And Gen. Ahmed said through his visit, Zambia and Bangladeshi armies will become closer, increase interactions in terms of exchange of trainings and other facilities of mutual interest.

Meanwhile, Lt. General William Sikazwe said the trip by Gen. AHMED will benefit Zambia because that country has a lot of experience in conventional warfare.

Lt. Gen. Sikazwe said that Zambia has a lot to learn from Bangladeshi and that the exchange visits will promote the interest of both countries.

He said Gen. Ahmed’s five days visit to Zambia is a reciprocation of his visit to that country

Government has retaliated the need for research in innovation and industrialization by public.

Minister of Higher Education Enginer Brian Mushimba said this in a speech read on his behalf by Ndola district commissioner Antony Katongo during the 29th Copperbelt University (CBU) graduation ceremony for over one thousand graduating students held at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola Friday.

Eng. Mushimba said scientific solutions are critical in situations such as the Covid19 pandemic that their contributions will be paramount in probiding economic solutions.

Eng. Mushimba noted that CBU has been a partner of the government in research and development as it has taken steps to domesticate aspirations contained in 7NDP and the vision 2030 within the university’s strategic plan.

“I note the commitment and passion the university has shown in the transformation of Mukuba University and establishment of Kapasa Makasa University into research and innovation centers. I have in the past bemoaned the lack of a strong scientific voice amongst the public especially in the light of the covid19 pandemic amongst public universities.” he said.

He added that the government is fully aware of the many challenges CBU is faced with but assured the university that it is putting necessary measures in place to address them as resources permit.

Eng. Mushimba also congratulated the graduating students and cautioned them to be exemplary in their behavior as their achievement meant a lot not only to themselves but the nation as a whole.

And CBU Vice Chancellor Prof. Naison Ngoma called on various stakeholders to partner with the university to help fulfill its role of teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialization.

The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), has appealed to political leaders in the country not to promote politics of violence ahead of the August 12, General Elections.

CCZ General Secretary, Father Emmanuel Chikoya said it was the desire of the Council to see a commitment by all political party players to peaceful and issue based campaigns focused on manifestos and ideologies; not machetes, guns and insults.

Father Chikoya who is also Chairperson of the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), said the church mother body was interested in issues of peace building and dialogue before, during and after this year’s General Election.

He said this in Livingstone on Friday during a press briefing held at the Anglican Church.

And Fr Chikoya called on all well-meaning Zambians to have zero tolerance for violence, corruption and regionalism for the country to be a better place.

He noted that the country comprised 80 percent Christians and appealed to religious leaders to use their platforms to influence people positively.

Fr Chikoya urged religious leaders not just to appeal to prominent people’s wallets but to their souls as well.

“We should not get carried away as religious leaders. We should not speak under the influence of gifts, because the chances of getting off track are high and we may miss an opportunity to influence political leaders positively…” he said.

Fr Chikoya said CCZ and CCMG were not straying from their biblical mandate but trying to use their position to contribute to good governance in the country.

He said this would be done through interactions with the media, labour movement, political stakeholders and religious leaders.