The Alliance for Good Governance says unless there is an extension from 30 to 60 or 90 days in the mobile voter registration exercise, the 9 million threshold by the Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ) will not be met.

Alliance for Good Governance Executive Director, Joseph Chileshe has told ZANIS in Ndola that the organization will be engage ECZ on the matter so as to allow as many people as possible register as voters.

Mr. Chileshe said it will be unfortunate if people will not be able to get voters cards due to not having enough time to register.

“We as an organization are on behalf of other Zambians asking the ECZ to consider extending the period for the mobile voter registration exercise.

“Mind you, there are already complaints that the system is very slow although ECZ have also committed themselves to beef up man power and equipment,” Mr. Chileshe said.

He noted that in case the commission does not agree to suggestions by various stakeholders on the need to extend the period, Zambians should fully utilize the period given and ensure they register as voters.

“It is time for citizens across the country to go in numbers and register as voters. We are encouraging everyone rather than just complaining about the loop holes identified to be part of those that have endured the difficulties and register,” he said.

He also tasked Politicians to encourage their members to registrator so as to take part in the democratic dispensation by choosing their leaders.

Mr. Chileshe has on the other hand commended the ECZ for putting up a solid sensitization campaign to make sure that the general public is aware about the ongoing exercise.

He called for a spread of campaigns not only on TV and Radio but urged ECZ to utilize institutions such as ZANIS so that no one remains behind with information.

The mobile voter registration exercise commenced on November 9, 2020 and will end on December 12, 2020, while EZC is targeting to register nine million voters.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga said the government supports initiatives that promote the safety of journalists in the country.

Mr. Malupenga said the promotion of the safety of journalists is essential for the preservation of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression which is guaranteed by article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights.

He was speaking during the official opening of a two-day workshop on the safety of journalists in Zambia in Lusaka yesterday.

The workshop attracted journalists from all media organizations across the country.

Mr Malupenga said any interference, harassment, or violence on the media personnel in the discharge of their duties has not gone unpunished in the courts of law.

“Citizens also have a constitutional right to information and the media as messengers of that information should be allowed to carry out this noble responsibility in a free and safe environment,” he noted.

He said the freedom and safety of the media is non-negotiable but guaranteed in the laws of Zambia.

“Therefore , any interference , disturbance, harassment , violence or attack on the journalist is an infringement against journalists and infringement on media freedom and the public ‘s right to information which is an acceptable,” he charged.

Mr Malupenga said government is aware of the fact that creating and preserving a safe working environment for journalist as well as promoting ethical and professional journalism is a collective responsibility that requires a multi- sectoral approach involving all stakeholders in the country.

And speaking earlier United Nations Development programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident representative Roland Seri said the media is a critical watchdog for accountability of democracy.

She noted that media promotes the market place of ideas needed to inform public debates and dialogue on governance, democracy and elections.

“UNDPs global media engagement aims at to promote an enabling environment for free and independent Media through support legal and regulatory reforms on issues such as freedom of expression, access to information and safety of Journalists,” he said.

“The media must also be alert, engaged proactive and never afraid to ask the tough questions on behalf of the citizenry, on matters pertaining to the public interest such as good governance democracy, human rights rule of law, constitutionalism to serve as the voiceless and marginalized section of the population,” he noted.

Mr Seri said journalists need protection from harassment, intimidation and any forms of censorship as enshrined in article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights.

And Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Vice Chairperson Chalimba Phiri said the workshop is aimed at building the capacity of journalist to report ethically.

”This workshop on safety of journalist is the second in a series of capacity building activities lined up under the Democracy Strengthening in Zambia and we are hopeful that similar workers will be conducted in other parts of the country before the 2021 general elections ,” Mr Phiri said.

He said the authority was confident that the activities being implemented will create a safe working environment for journalists that will contribute to having peaceful elections.

President Edgar Lungu has called on the church to mobilize and sensitize the general public to choose responsible leaders who would be accountable to them and articulate the interests of the Zambian people in parliament.

President Lungu says leaders should be accountable to the people and take people’s interests on board and not just bent on protecting their selfish interests.

President Lungu made this call when he met members of the clergy in Kapiri Mposhi who appealed for the delimitation of the district into more constituencies ahead of the 2021 general elections.

The President said there was need for the people to be sensitized for them to choose God fearing and well-meaning representatives willing to pay attention to people’s cries.

Making an appeal for delimitation of Kapiri Mposhi district into more constituencies, District Christian Ministers’ Fellowship Chairman, Japhet Msoni observed that the district is too vast to have one constituency.

Bishop Msoni added that the district is disadvantaged in terms of development.

“Our district is too large to have one constituency… we want to appeal to you if anything can be done to delimitate it into more constituencies especially after the collapse of Bill number 10,” Bishop Msoni said.

But President Lungu stated that his administration had proposed to create more constituencies before the 2021 general elections to improve people’s representation but this had fallen out because of the collapse of Bill number 10 in parliament.

“I’m afraid that (Delimitation) cannot be done now. We intended to do that through Bill number 10 but it was shot down. The other thing is the people who killed Bill 10 are still in Parliament and they will kill whatever we take there,” President Lungu said.

He urged the church to mobilise the membership to register as voters to vote for leaders who will appreciate and effectively represent their interests.

“We have an opportunity to go enmass to cleanse that house of National Assembly and bring in God fearing people…. well-meaning people who will hear people’s cries,” President Lungu said.

President Lungu stated that Bill Number 10 had good clauses that would have benefited the country if enacted.

“Somebody said Bill 10 is toxic but what is toxic about desiring women to have a special quarter in Parliament and represent themselves? What is toxic about the youths to also have representation in parliament? What is toxic to have the disabled participate in national governance in parliament?” President Lungu wondered.

And the clergy in Kapiri Mposhi have commended President Lungu for his proactiveness in preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Bishop Msoni said President Lungu has shown leadership in the fight against COVID-19 resulting in Zambia recording lesser death rates compared to other affected countries.

The fellowship pledged to work with the government of the day commending President Lungu’s development drive during his tenure of office.

“As a fellowship we have pledged to work with the government of the day.. We are grateful to you and your government for the tremendous work you have done during the tenure of your office.. Development is widespread all over our town,” Bishop Msoni said.

The Drug Enforcement Commission’s Anti Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Lusaka has arrested three Zambians and three Ugandan nationals for money laundering activities involving over K14.3 million.

Drug Enforcement Commission, Public Relations Officer, Theresa Katongo has named the suspects as Patrick Kafula aged 38, Makhosana Ndolo 44, Austin Daka 30 all of Zambian nationality.

Ms Katongo said the others are Vincent Ssempijja aged 29, Rashid kyangulanyi aged 28, and Sylvester Apuli 43 of Ugandan nationality.

Ms Katongo said particulars of the offence are that between January 1, 2020 and July 4, 2020, the accused persons unlawfully possessed 2 key USB loggers, 1 USB flash disk and 1 laptop containing software primarily designed to overcome security measures for the protection of data found on the core banking system.

She stated that the devices enabled the accused persons to access the core banking system of a named bank permitting them to transfer K14, 378,000 from eight corporate accounts of the same bank and credited 79 beneficiary accounts also held at the same bank.

Ms Katongo further stated that the six who are pending court appearance have since been charged for unlawful possession of devices primarily designed to overcome security measures for protection of critical data, unauthorized access to data, theft and money laundering.

Meanwhile, Ms Katongo said the Commission conducted a special operation in Sesheke, Western Province on November 10, 2020 and arrested seven 7 people for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis weighing 1.88 tonnes and trafficking in 46.5 kilograms of loose cannabis contrary to Cap 96 of the Laws of Zambia.

She has since identified the suspects as kulili Sikundu a male aged 52, Mayamba Lingela male 47, Alice Masiye female aged 57, Namakau Muyangwa female aged 47, Mukongane Katabi male aged 57, Complex Sitali Sitali male aged 34, and Esther Manza Katabi, female aged 67 all of Mutanda village in Western Province.

She said all the suspects are in Police custody and will appear in court soon.

This is contained in a statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Drug Enforcement Commission Public Relations Officer, Theresa Katongo.

The Copperbelt University (CBU) has launched its 2020-2024 strategic plan.

The four year strategic plan will help enhance the university’s funding through income generating ventures which include agriculture, hospitality, mining, and innovation among others.

CBU Vice Chancellor, Naison Ngoma said the university seeks to increase on the scholarships, research, innovations, infrastructure such as laboratories as well as getting involved in game ranching which will provide practical learning opportunities for students.

“The university also seeks to improve its funding through enhanced interest in solar plants, computer assembly, innovations, incubation hubs, and turning its alumni into a business opportunity,” he said.

Mr Ngoma noted that the immediate past strategic plan for 2014 to 2018 revealed that the university’s fees were not cost reflective as the university was over dependent on government grants for its operations.

And speaking at the same event, Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary, Kayula Siame challenged the education system to do more research, evolve continuously and remain relevant to the industry and the country’s vision 2030.

The strategic plan was launched under the theme ‘Excellence through Research, Innovation and Industrialisation.