The government has deeply condemned the killing of a grade 12 pupil of Lusaka’s Kabulonga Boys Secondary School by suspected pupils from a named school.

National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister, Godfridah Sumaili laments that what transpired in the incident involving Kabulonga Boys Secondary pupil is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.

ZANIS reports that Reverend Sumaili was speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Northern Province Minister, Bwalya Chungu, in Kasama today.

“We are deeply saddened that the life of a young boy was lost in such a manner, we are appealing to the parents to ensure their children are brought up in a peaceful environment for them to be responsible citizens,” she stated.

She said upholding of Christian values should start from homes where parents are expected to instill good morals in their children.

“Training of children should start from home. Parents have a bigger role to play in the upbringing of children,” She added.

“This should not be condoned in a Christian nation and we shall not accept such conducts,” Rev Sumaili said.

A 17-year old grade 12 pupil was allegedly murdered by a group of pupils from Twin Palm Secondary School in Lusaka.

And Northern Province Minister Chungu Bwalya echoed the need for concerted effort in fighting violence.

The Prisons Care and Counselling Association (PRISCA) has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure it conducts an effective voter registration exercise in correctional facilities.

Prisons Care and Counselling Association Executive Director Godfrey Malembeka says ECZ must ensure it registers all inmates eligible to vote in the allocated period of 3 days.

Speaking to ZNBC news in a telephone interview today, Mr. Malembeka said inmates should not be denied an opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the 2021 General election by failing to register them as voters.

He said the Voter registration exercise for inmates was initially supposed to be conducted in a period of 1 week but that it was reduced to 3 days.

Mr. Malembeka also urged the ECZ to run awareness messages on radio and television sensitising inmates about the scheduled voter registration to be conducted in their correctional facilities.

He further said the Department of National Registration and Passports should have had a special programme to issue National Registration Cards to inmates who have lost or are not in possession of NRCs.

Mr. Malembeka said his Association had conducted inspections on 30 correctional facilities in the country and that a lot of inmates were found NOT to be in possession of NRCs.

The Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) says it is considering coming up with standards rates for services its members will be charging across the country.

EIZ Northern Region Chairperson, John Siame said this decision will help its members provide standards rates for services offered to its clients.

Prof. Siame observed that the lack of standards rates is disadvantaging both engineers and their clients as people determine the rates through negotiations.

“What we observed is that our members have various rates and these are determined by clients and of course after negotiations but by coming up with the standards rates it would be easy for professional engineers to charge the fixed rates everywhere and we will avoid either overpayment and underpayment of services” he said.

Prof. Siame who is also a lecturer in the school of Engineering at the Copperbelt University said this during the EIZ public discussion forum in Kasama.

Meanwhile, Prof. Siame has assured its members in Northern Province that the institution is determined to mitigate the challenges they are facing.

He said the institution is aware of the many challenges its members are facing adding that is why it called for the public forum to interact with them to discuss some of the issues.

He has further disclosed that EIZ has embarked on the decentralization of its services stating that this has seen the institution open service centers at some trade schools including Lukashya Trades Training Institute in Kasama.

Meanwhile, EIZ Deputy Registrar and Director of Operations Happy Msumali explained that it is illegal for any person at all levels to practice engineering in Zambia without registering with the institution.

Eng. Msumali has since encouraged all engineers to register with the institution to avoid breaking the laws of the country.

“Under the law it is forbidden for anyone to offer engineering services to clients if they are not registered with us, the penalty for that is too much so we urge everyone to avoid going against the law by registering with the institution” he said.

And a Kasama based contractor, Kennedy Mubita has hailed EIZ for organizing the public discussion forum.

During the meeting, Chambeshi Water Supply and sanitation Managing Director Luckson Simumba gave a presentation of the engineering works his company is undertaking.

Patriotic Front Copperbelt mobilization coordinator Hon Bowman Lusambo has called on the church to reject politicians sowing seeds of tribalism and regionalism.

Hon Lusambo says government will continue to strengthen the relationship it has with the church in order to foster development in the country but called for politics devoid of divisions based on tribe, region or race.

He was speaking this morning when he attended a fundraising Sunday service for Dominion Church International building project in Choma, Southern Province where he donated a 50,000 Kwacha towards the project.

He said the church and government are inseparable because they serve the same constituents of people regardless of where the hail from.

“If not addressed, tribalism will destroy this country,” he told the congregation and called for oneness regardless of tribe or region for the sake of the county’s development.
“The church provides the spiritual support, while us as government ensures we create an enabling environment for the improvement of people’s welfare” Hon Lusambo said adding that government wants to provide empowerment initiatives for citizens both in and outside the church through a diversified but locally driven economy.

He said President Lungu has shown that by dedicating his time out of state house to go all over the country to work for the betterment of the country and encouraged people to work hard and reject the spirit of laziness.

“So am urging you to support anyone regardless of tribe when they come to work in any part of the country because we are one Zambia one Nation” he said.

Meanwhile,Hon Lusambo took time to encourage congregants to register as voters and have the opportunity to choose leaders of their choice.

He also called on congregants to carefully scrutinize their leaders when it comes to putting national interests above partizan politics in reference to Bill 10 which he said meant to address constitutional challenges even if “it is water under the bridge” now.

And Dominion Church International pastor Kebby Nawa thanked the PF government for the “good and admirable” works they are doing to improve people lives and pledged the support of the church in creating a healthy society.

A total of six thousand people have benefited from the emergency social cash transfer programme in Kalulushi district.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer Chrissy Hilweele said over two thousand people have received K800 per household as opposed to the normal Social cash transfer of getting K90 and K180.

“When we came to register them, validate and verify their names, we told them that 800 Kwacha is under the COVID-19 emergency cash transfer,” Mr Hilweele said.

He told those not appearing on the emergency cash transfer not to worry as they will be put on the programme

And Kalulushi Member of Parliament Kampamba Mulenga said President Edgar Lungu has initiated a lot of empowerment programs aimed at developing the people of Kalulushi.

She said this after checking on the beneficiaries for COVID-19 emergency cash transfer in Kalulushi.

“I expect you to come and testify in six months how this money will be used,” Ms Mulenga said.

“This was an initiative of government and its cooperating partners, so that those people affected by the COVID -19 are taken care of,” she said.

She said the pandemic has affected many business and hoped that beneficiaries will use the emergency fund wisely.