President Edgar Lungu has said that the Cyber Security and Cybercrimes Bill should be enforced without fear or favor when it is enacted into Law. President Lungu said that a number of people have suffered at the hands of individuals who abuse the cyberspace and that this cannot be allowed to continue.

The President said that there is a need for Cyberspace to be used for the good of society and not to be abused by people with criminal minds.

The President said that the Bill is likely to be signed into Law as early as Friday this week. President Lungu said that much as he has the right to reject a Bill, this is not likely to happen because he followed the debates in Parliament on the Cyber Security and cybercrimes Bill, adding that parliament did a good job by considering a number of factors as it debated the bill.

President Lungu said this when he met a team of officials from the Cyber Hygiene Zambia at State House today.

And Cyber Hygiene Zambia Brand Ambassador Thokozile Muwamba said it is sad that people are abusing social media. Captain Muwamba said a child who was raised in an African home cannot insult people on Social media like the case is now.

She said insulting people is not only unAfrican but also against the country’s Christian values.

Meanwhile, Cyber Hygiene Zambia Chairperson Solomon Shakele said his organisation will continue educating people on the proper use of the cyber space.

Recently, Captain Muwamba and her team undertook a walk dubbed ‘Walkathon’ from Lusaka to Livingstone aimed at creating awareness against cyberbullying.

The Livingstone Magistrate Court has convicted former Livingstone Mayor Milford Maambo, former Livingstone acting Town Clerk Chabala Chanda and former councillor Ziwa Ziwa, for corrupt practices and sentenced them to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Mr. Maambo, Mr. Chanda and Mr Ziwa were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in 2018 and charged with 26 counts of corrupt practices.

The offences include offering of plots to land surveyors as inducement for demarcating land and corrupt acquisition of public property which they later sold.

In a statement released to the media, ACC Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono said the trio was also charged with abuse of authority of office, in the manner they issued offer letters for illegally obtained land and failure to follow laid down procedure.

Mr. Moono said the offences were committed in 2014 when the trio was still in office.

Livingstone Senior Resident Magistrate Idah Mupemo convicted the trio on Tuesday, and sentenced them to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour, with effect from March 16, this year.

The sentences in all counts will run concurrently.

Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili has expressed disappointment with the unpalatable language being peddled in the country to advance political mileage.

Reverend Sumaili has expressed concern over a video circulating on social media where a woman alleged to be at a political party meeting in Petauke district in Eastern province took to the floor to insult Petauke Member of Parliament Dora Siliya, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.

She has since appealed to all aspiring candidates in the opposition and the ruling party to be civil as they carry out their political campaigns.

She said in a statement to the media that mudslinging, name-calling, and character assassination should not be used as a basis of convincing voters to vote for a particular candidate.

Rev. Sumaili said it was unacceptable and uncultured for any person to insult a leader because of their political interest.

“Zambians are looking forward to issue-based campaign messages and strategies that give them confidence in their leaders and a better Zambia,” she said.

She explained that the Zambian people aspire to see a nation full of love and respect for one another as well as leaders that are advancing development-oriented politics and not parading people to insult national leaders.

Home Affairs Minister Hon. Stephen Kampyongo says detaining of persons with immigration offences in correctional facilities will soon be a thing of a past once the National Migration Policy is finalized and approved by the cabinet.

Speaking when he officiated at the opening of the Senior and Regional Immigration Officers’ annual conference at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka today, Hon Kampyongo said the detention of persons with immigration offenses in correctional facilities goes against international best practices.

“I am aware that the development of the National Migration Policy has advanced. I look forward to supporting the adoption of the policy once the documents have been submitted to cabinet for approval,” Hon. Kampyongo said.

Hon. Kampyongo said the National Migration Policy will provide a well-coordinated framework that will enhance the positive contributions of migrants to national development.

“It will also provide for better integration of migration in development plans, improve data collection on migration and remittance flows, improve recruitment mechanisms, and facilitate international Labour mobility through safe and legal channels,” he said.

And Hon.Kampyongo reiterated Government’s commitment to ensuring the continued modernization of operations in the Immigration Department and commended Immigration officers for embracing new digital platforms being implemented.

“The ministry will prioritize recruitment, the procurement of water transport and will continue with the planned construction of decent housing units,” He said.

Meanwhile, Department of Immigration Director General, Dr Denny Lungu thanked the Government for the support rendered.
“For the very first time in the history of the department, all the 98 stations have motor vehicles. This gesture has boosted morale among officers,” he said.

And Dr Lungu disclosed that the draft migration policy has been finalized and will soon be presented to cabinet for approval.
“The policy once finalized will contribute to a well-managed migration which contributes to improved national security and socio-economic development,” Dr. Lungu said.

Government Chief Whip Tutwa Ngulube says Zambians should ignore UPND aligned lawyer John Sangwa because he does not understand the law.

And Mr Ngulube who is a renowned lawyer has clarified on the grade 12 clause.

He told the Smart Eagles in an interview in Lusaka today, that Mr. Sangwa should know that President Edgar Lungu was legally sworn in, in 2016 after the presidential petition was thrown out.

Mr. Ngulube who is also Kabwe Central Constituency lawmaker says when a petition is thrown out, the President elect is automatically sworn in.
Mr. Ngulube says it is important that Zambians ignore Mr. Sangwa because he is hallucinating over the issue of the Presidency.

The aligned UPND lawyer is quoted in some section of the media saying that President Lungu was illegally sworn in 2016 because the High Court did not declare him as Republican President after the 2016 presidential petition was thrown out.

But Mr Ngulube says Mr Sangwa does not understand the law that is why he has been losing all court cases for his clients.

Mr Ngulube says Mr Sangwa has been misleading Zambians for sometime now, and should never be taken serious.

Meanwhile Mr Ngulube clarified on the Grade 12 clause that those who intend to contest political positions need to present before Electoral Commisaion of Zambia the grade twelve certificate or a GCE certificate with five O’levels which is equivalent to the grade twelve.
He says the Commission will not accept any tertiary qualifications when filing in for nominations.