The Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) has arrested a Bio-medical technologist at the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital (LMUTH) for corrupt practices involving suspected fake COVID-19 clearance certificates.

ACC Public Relations Manager Timoth Moono said Kingsley Kakoma, 35, of plot No. 11129 off Kasangula road in Garden compound, has been charged with one count of corrupt practices contrary to Section 19 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012.

In the statement to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Moono stated that the arrest is in relation to the illegal issuance of Travelers’ Medical Certification for COVID-19, contrary to the Statutory Instruments No. 21 and No. 22 under the Public Health Act.

He pointed out that Kakoma was arrested by the Commission following a tip-off from the public.

Mr Moono further explained that the accused was found to be in possession of K2, 250 cash, and five blank COVID-19 clearance medical certificates which were pre-signed, marked negative, and bore a stamp for the Zambia Institute of Public Health.

He was also in possession of 86 preservation solution tubes, 50 sample collection swabs, among other items.

“Kakoma was arrested by the Commission following a tip-off from the public. He was found to be in possession of K2, 250 cash, and five blank COVID-19 clearance medical certificates which were pre-signed, marked negative, and bore a stamp for the Zambia Institute of Public Health. He was also in possession of 86 preservation solution tubes, 50 sample collection swabs, among other items,” the statement read in part.

He indicated that Kakoma who has since been released on bond was arrested after soliciting for, and actually receiving K800 from a student who was scheduled to travel abroad for studies.

The Zambia Association for child and youth care workers (ZACYCW) has come up with a new strategy to help remove more kids from the streets.

ZACYCW National Board chairman Pastor Charles Mwaambo told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that the association has come up with new ways of removing the children from the streets.

Pastor Mwaambo said the association has formed community child protection groups that will monitor and educate street kids on the dangers of being on the street.

“These groups will monitor the children who are fond of being on the streets and educate them on the dangers,” he said.

He added that different stakeholders have been engaged to help remove the children from the streets which include the church and the community at large.

“The church is also on board, these children come from communities where churches are found hence the same churches will step in and help remove them from the streets,” he said.

Pastor Mwaambo who is also Ndola child protection committee chairperson said the association is working closely with government to mobilize the street children for safe keeping.

Pastor Mwaambo added that it is hard to completely remove children from the streets but with hard work the number can reduce.

“It is so hard to remove these children from the streets, every time you go to check new ones will be found, ” he said.

He said most children opt to be on the streets due the high poverty levels in the communities which in turn exposes them to dangerous vices.

Pastor Mwaambo said this is the reason some stakeholders working with the committee in Ndola have started contributing food staffs to the children to stop them from going back to the streets.

He said that those with families are being taken back to their homes and are provided with all the basic needs as a way of restraining them from going back on the street to look for food.

Minister of Agriculture, Michael Katambo says government remains committed towards controlling the outbreak of the African migratory locusts in the country.

Mr Katambo said government’s emergency response and efforts will remain focused on controlling the outbreak within the three provinces namely Western, Central and Southern which originally reported the outbreak of the locusts.

He said a total of 10,397 hectares have so far been sprayed by both the fixed wing aircraft and helicopter adding that there are no new reports indicating the presence of the locusts in other parts of the country.

Mr Katambo was speaking in Lusaka today during an update on the status of the African migratory locusts outbreak in Zambia.

Mr Katambo said government has stationed teams of officers in the hot spots of Western, Central, and Southern Provinces to prevent the locusts from moving to other areas.

“Government has so far procured the services of a fixed wing aircraft from within the country and K10 million was allocated to procure chemicals and we commenced the aerial spraying,” he said.

Mr Katambo said the Zambia Air force (ZAF) and the International Red Locusts Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa (IRLC-CSA) have also provided helicopters to support the operation.

He noted that the threat of the African migratory locusts is a trans boundary issue and therefore requires other countries in the region to join in the emergency response.

“We have engaged the relevant authorities in Namibia who have confirmed that they have commenced the spraying on their side of the boarder. We also intend to call a meeting with the Namibian authorities to coordinate our control efforts,” he noted.

Mr Katambo noted that there are teams on the ground that are conducting surveillance and mapping to provide coordination for the aerial spraying exercise.

“The Ministry is satisfied that there is adequate aerial spraying vessels to conduct operations and the fixed wing aircrafts is currently awaiting for the compilation of surveillance and mapping exercise that is being undertaken on the ground,” he stated.

Mr Katambo observed that the locust population can be significantly be controlled with adequate spraying adding that the chemicals being sprayed in the affected areas are effective, as there is an indication of reduced locusts between 85 to 95 percent in areas that have been sprayed.

He further said the surveillance and mapping exercise is on-going and the ministry will ensure the teams on the ground are provided with adequate support to undertake the exercise.

“We are confident that we will be able to contain the African migratory locusts, as it is in the best interest of farmers and the nation’s food security that this outbreak is controlled,” he assured.

A combined team of Zambia National Service (ZNS) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officers in North-Western province has seized over 10 thousand by 25 kilograms (kg) bags of mealie meal and about five thousand by 50kg bags of maize suspected to be destined for Democratic of Congo through Kipushi border in Mushindamo district.

This come to light after ZNS conducted an operation following a tip off from community members that a lot of maize is being smuggled into Congo DR using undesignated routes and local’s people’s homes have turned into warehouses.

Speaking to journalists during an inspection of the area in Chief Musaka chiefdom, North-Western ZNS Commanding Officer, Colonel Mabvuto Banda said the situation at the border was bad and this prompted the command to conduct an anti-maize smuggling operation to control the illegal exports of maize and mealie meal from the border post.

“We received a tip-off from well-wishers that the situation in Mushindamo is not good in that people have turned their houses into warehouses for mealie meal and maize. There were more than 100 trucks parked in this area offloading mealie meal and maize into people’s homes,” Colonel Banda said.

He added that Musaka residents have surrendered their homes and given them to smugglers to stock their merchandise at a cost of K1 per bag while they spend nights in the cold.

“We have established that the locals in Musaka area are renting out their houses to traders to store mealie meal and maize which is later transported in smaller quantities into DRC using bicycles and motorcycles through bush paths at night”, he said.

Colonel Banda added that the service will continue to guard against smuggling of mealie meal and maize in order to retain and maintain food security in the country.

He explained that ZNS has intensified patrols around the Kipushi border area in Musaka chiefdom to ensure no mealie meal or maize is smuggled out of the country by some unscrupulous traders.

“As ZNS we are not going to sleep until we return all the grain into the country”, he said.

Col Banda said all the seized maize will be surrendered to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) while the mealie meal has been handed over to ZRA.

He has appealed to the local people to stop protecting traders engaged in the smuggling of mealie meal and maize out of the country by not allowing them to use their houses as storage facilities.

The commanding officer has also warned traders involved in smuggling that they will face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, ZRA Solwezi Customs Station Manager Martin Banda has described the situation in Musaka area as unfortunate.

“This is so unfortunate because you can imagine if all this maize and mealie meal is exported into Congo illegally then how much are we going to be left with as a country to maintain our food stability,” he questioned.

He said ZRA will issue seizure notices to the owners of the maize and mealie meal including the vessels and they will be given 15 days in which to appeal the decision if they feel aggrieved.

And Chief Musaka has appealed to government not to seize the maize and mealie meal but give the affected traders an opportunity to sell their merchandise to food FRA.

Chief Musaka said the local people are highly affected because the area has no satellite depot where they can take their maize.

“The problem that we have here is that we do not have an FRA depot in the area, hence our people take maize to Congo which is the nearest market”, he said.

His royal highness said he does not want to see people suffering and food going to waste, hence the government should find a way to curb smuggling and also provide a market for the local people to sell their maize.

Police in Muchinga Province has warned individuals involved in illegal deals of Mukuka that the law will take its course once they are caught.

Muchinga Province Police Commissioner Joel Njase sounded the warning following the discovery of some logs of Mukula in Nakonde District.

Engineer Njase told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS ) today that Police in Nakonde discovered logs of Mukula which were off-loaded by unknown persons.

He said it is alleged that the logs of Mukula were offloaded in the night of Thursday last week on October 8, 2020.

The Commissioner explained that information so far gathered indicates that, the same logs were loaded along the great north road on a stretch between Musanya and Isoka.

He said these natural resources must benefit the local communities and the entire nation adding that a careful balance of their extraction is critical for the sustainability of the environment.

Eng Njase further urged officers to ensure that there is no compromise when it comes to enforcement of the law whenever the need arises.

“In light of the aforesaid as Chief of Police in the province I want to warn those involved in such illegal activities that they will answer according to the law once caught,” Eng Njase charged.

Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company will be embarking on a project to replace the water and sewer lines in eight townships in Bwana Mkumbwa constituency to improve water and sanitation services in the areas.

The utility company will actualize this, through a ‘rapid needs assessment programmes’ to ascertain the requirements before embarking on the projects.

The eight townships are Mushili Hillside, Kaloko, Old Regiment, Chichele, Katondo, Ndeke overspill, Mckensie and Itawa extension.

Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company Limited Director of Engineering, Bernard Phiri said the projects are on assessment stage.

Mr. Phiri said the company has decided to roll out new water and sanitation lines to the areas because of the steady increase in population being recorded.

He said the rapid growth in population has mounted unmatched pressure on existing water infrastructure and that provision of new water points such as water kiosks and laying of new pipes is the only way to addressing the situation.

“Basically that is the stage we are in. We are carrying an assessment in order to see any possible intervention. Population in the named areas has grown so much and we are describing the situation to see what we need for us to take water supply to those places,” He said.

Mr. Phiri said the project is in response to government’s desire of providing access to clean and safe water and sanitation services without leaving anyone behind as recorded in the Vision 2030.

He said over 100 thousand people will benefit from the project that will address the water challenges faced the stated areas.

First Lady Esther Lungu says the problem of early marriages is a thorny issue facing Zambia today that needs concerted efforts.

The First Lady said this in Chipata today when she addressed the media to wrap up her five day visit to Eastern Province.

The First Lady said she is happy with the strides Government is making to address the problem of early marriages, but much more needs to be done.

She said it is for this reason the Esther Lungu Foundation has also come up with a programme that will strengthen chiefdom response in dealing with early marriages.

Mrs Lungu said the foundation is working with UNICEF to incorporate the wives to traditional leaders so that they get fully involved in combating early marriage and sexual abuse of girls.

And the First Lady has described as a great success her five day visit to Eastern Province.

Wrapping up her tour, the First Lady told journalists that her spirit has been elated after interacting with the Theresian Sisters as they celebrated their 50th anniversary.

“These are women who have a heart to serve the less privileged, they provide pastoral services that they are giving high moral values to our communities, which everyone needs,” she said

The First Lady noted that what touches her about the Theresian Sisters is that they also provide services to the less privileged children and the youths.

Mrs Lungu added that she stated that it was an honour that she was invited to grace the Theresian Sisters 50th Anniversary, and treasured that moment because it is a place where she felt the presence of the Lord and her spirit was elated.

Mrs Lungu said she also treasured the moment she interacted with children with disabilities at Cheshire Homes where the Esther Lungu Foundation donated food stuff and soaps.

“Those are children that I treasure in my life because they also deserve a life suitable for every person created by God. They need to be given the basics, I carried a few items that I left there and had a good time with them,” she said.

And the First Lady disclosed that her desire is to work with women leaders in churches, other than those she has assisted before, as they are taking up a greater responsibility of helping people in distress, including those in hospital and prisons.

The women in churches have provided services to people who are hospitals, people who are incarcerated but they lack resources and I feel it is time we tried to work with those women have a heart to assist the communities,”

“I have a feeling dealing with women also, apart from many other women I have been supporting, will create an impact in coming up with developmental projects in agriculture women in have a heart to serve humanity “but they lack resources.” She said.

She stated that the other success of her trip was that many partners, businesses and organisations that came forward to donate to the Esther Lungu Foundation.

Among those she thanked include Kavulamungu Bargain Centre, the Chipata Muslim Association and Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), an international agro commodities company with a Eastern regional office based in Katete.

Kavulamungu and the Chipata Muslim Association donated mealie meal and assorted food items to the Foundation.

On the other hand, LDC donated 2 000 bags of cotton seed and 1 000 packs of chemicals worth K300 000, which will be distributed to women in churches who will go into cotton out grower scheme.

Under the out-grower scheme, LDC will train women in growing quality cotton and buy the product from them.

“These are projects that I cherish because they will keep our women in their confines, unlike other projects or businesses that women do will make them leave their children, especially the girl-child,” she said.

She noted that the going out of women from their homes to go and fend for their families, leaving the children unattended to, could be one of the reasons why most girls are being defiled by men with low moral values.

Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo has called on district commissioners in Southern province to work together with civic leaders to facilitate smooth operations of the on-going mobile National Registration Cards (NRCs) issuance exercise.

Mr Kampyongo said there should be consensus between the district administration and civic leaders on the movements of the mobile teams in each district so that eligible applicants are informed on the presence of issuance officers in their respective areas.

ZANIS reports that the minister was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Kalomo District Commissioner, Brenda Mwenda yesterday,

“There should be collaboration with you (Dcs) and elected officials in the manner this exercise is being conducted in your respective districts. This mobile registration exercise is not different from the normal one we do, it is just moving officers in the field but still they are bound to the legal framework of following the Citizens and National Registration Act in issuing the NRCs to applicant,” he said.

And Mr Kampyongo has tasked Southern Provincial Registration Officer, Maurice Kalimukwa and the district administration to assess claims that many over-age new applicants are being turned away by the NRCs issuance mobile officers.

This follows a concern presented to the minister by Dundumwezi parliamentarian, Edgar Sing’ombe.

He said people aged between 16 and 23 should not have problems to get their NRCs unless those who are above should be subjected to a thorough scrutiny according to the laid down citizenship registration protocol.

The Home Affairs Minister is in Southern Province to acquaint himself with some challenges the NRCs mobile teams are facing in the field.