Outgoing Minister of High Education Brian Mushimba has commended members of staff at the ministry for working well with him and providing a sense of peace during his last 2 months.

Engineer Mushimba attributed the achievements scored to hard work that was exhibited by members of staff.

Eng. Mushimba, who is also outgoing Member of Parliament for Kankoyo explained that he has been able to serve the people diligently as well as achieved some development in the education sector.

“I am at peace and am always thankful that you have created all the things that we have achieved together, there is quite a bit of policy, things that we have been able to accomplish,” he said.

He said this during a farewell event organized for him by Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Kayula Siame together with members of staff at the ministry in Lusaka today.

“I leave a very pleased man and minister because of all the good people that made everything possible,” the minister added.

He said the reason he became an MP was to give back and better the community of Kankoyo which he successfully did.

“I am a member of the party, a political party that gave me an opportunity, really that is what I wanted to do. I wanted to give back to my community of Kankoyo and there is a bit of despair and giving up,” he said.

Eng. Mushimba has also wrote to thank President Lungu for the opportunity to serve as minister for five years.

And speaking earlier, Ms Siame commended Eng. Mushimba for the leadership despite the difficulties faced such as the outbreak of COVID -19.

She mentioned that under his leadership, the ministry achieved milestone despite some of the challenges faced.

“I think we are very proud as a ministry of higher education team of the things that we have done in the past one year, despite the fact that it was a difficult with the COVID-19, I think we managed to do quite a because you were with us,” she said.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of higher education Department of University Education Director, Charles Mulenga recognized the passion Eng. Mushimba exhibited in the sector.

Zambia National Service Commandant, Nathan Mulenga says plans are under way to put up ZNS shoe factories country wide.

Lt. Gen. Mulenga expressed optimism that the initiative of the shoe factory will help to reduce the importation of shoes.

He said the shoe factory in Ndola currently produces 80 to 100 pairs of shoes and envisions to manufacture 1,500 pairs in future.

ZANIS reports that the Commandant said this when he toured the factory to appreciate the quality of the shoes being produced in order to upscale production.

Lt. Gen. Mulenga stated that the K3 million investment, is growing at a supersonic rate which is an indication that the general citizenry have received the locally generated idea.

“I urge the general citizenry to support this local idea and buy shoes that are durable and affordable. This ZNS factory is moving the wheels of the economy of Ndola and sooner than later it will be rolled out to other parts of the country and commendation goes to the government for the support,” he said.

Meanwhile, Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe says smuggling of maize and soya beans among other crops out of the region is now the thing of the past.

Mr Nundwe attributed the ceasing of smuggling in the region to the vigorous fight that ZNS embarked on to curb the vice.

“We commend you for having fought smuggling from all ends and we have zero smuggling activities in the region which were rife in the recent past. Smuggling is a parasite to the economy and we are so grateful that it is now the thing of the past,” he said.

He further urged ZNS officers in the province to remain professional in the execution of their duties even as the country goes to the polls in August this year.

Secretary to the Cabinet, Simon Miti has called on controlling officers across the country to adhere to the rules and regulations that govern the management of public resources.

Dr Miti says controlling officers should build public confidence in the manner they discharge public affairs by putting transparency and accountability at the core of good governance.

ZANIS reports that the Secretary to the Cabinet said this during the official opening of the Controlling Officers’ Sensitization Workshop held virtually under the theme ‘understanding the work of the Auditor General.’

Dr Miti explained that the objective of the sensitization workshop is to sensitize the controlling officers who are the key stakeholders in the audit process and accountability of public resources.

He said Auditor General’s report on the accounts of the republic for the financial year ended 31st December 2019 revealed a number of audit queries, which could have been avoided.

Dr. Miti stated that the Office of the Auditor General has been given the mandate to provide an oversight role over the management and utilization of public resources.

“This sensitization workshop demonstrates the auditor general’s unwavering resolve to ensuring that the audit queries are reduced significantly if not eradicated completely,” he said.

He further said the officers have been entrusted with a responsibility on behalf of Zambians that borders on trust to prudently manage public resources in a transparent and accountable manner for the country’s development.

Dr. Miti further called on the controlling officers, to prioritize the allocation of resources to the most critical programmes and activities that will have a positive impact on citizens as the country heads towards the August 2021 general elections.

Speaking at the same event, Auditor General, Dick Sichembe said the Office of the Auditor General is mandated to provide the oversight role on management of public resources.

Dr. Sichembe said his office has embarked on a series of stakeholder engagement programmes aimed at sensitizing stakeholders on the role of the Auditor General in the accountability process.

He said so far his office has engaged with directors and controlling officers from the local authorities.

The Auditor General has also advised the controlling officers to avoid taking responses to the Public Accounts Committee as opposed to resolving the issues during the audit.

“My office will not entertain the habit of some controlling officers who take responses to Public Accounts Committee and then ask for verification,” he added.

Government says it has commenced the amendment process of the Wildlife Act No.14 of 2015.

Ministry of Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary, Patrick Lungu says the amendment of the Act is important to ensure that the management of the county’s wildlife resource is fully aligned with the country’s long-term socio-economic development agenda.

Mr Lungu urged the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to make submissions between now and September, to reach a consensus on the amendment.

He stated that the department must also prepare Layman’s Draft Bill which should consider the past and recent reforms within the wildlife subsector.

Mr Lungu said the draft should also acknowledge the institutional mandate of the ministry in relation to the mandates of other government institutions.

He further appealed to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to appreciate the links between the Wildlife Act and other pieces of legislation.

Mr Lungu added that there is need to draw a clear line between what needs to be legislated and the matters that can be addressed through administrative means.

He said it is important for the country to come up with a law that is progressive, responsive to the needs of all stakeholders and effective in supporting government’s intentions on wealth creation and improve livelihoods for the citizenry.

The tourism sector is listed as a priority sector on Government’s agenda to transform Zambia into a prosperous and middle-income country and the sector is expected to contribute to economic growth and diversification, rural development and job creation.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer, Zacks Sakabilo.

Farmers in Kabwe district in Central province are happy with the current market price for the soya beans cash crop.

Kabwe District Farmers Union chairperson, NKhomani Ng’ambi disclosed that currently, soya beans is selling between eight and ten Kwacha per one kilogramme (kg) in the area.

Mr. Ng’ambi told ZANIS in Kabwe that the market selling price of soya beans has been received with excitement among farmers.

He said small scale farmers were especially happy because they usually face stiff market competition from commercial farmers.

Mr. Ng’ambi explained that this is because most soya beans commercial farmers did not grow the cash crop in the just ended rain season.

He noted that this gave small scale farmers a chance to have an attractive market price for soya beans, which is currently on high demand.

Mr. Ng’ambi further said last year, the price of soya beans was five Kwacha per kilogramme (kg).

He has since advised soya beans farmers to sell the cash crop before the market gets saturated in order to enjoy the profit.

Mr. Ng’ambi has meanwhile thanked government for opening up the export market, saying it will greatly benefit farmers to earn good profits for their farm produce.