Nine Zambian fishermen who were arrested for illegal fishing on the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba have been deported back to Zambia after of one them reportedly tested positive to Covid -19.

Siavonga District Commissioner (DC) Lovmore Kanyama confirmed the development to ZANIS that the nine fishermen who were arrested on Monday at night and taken to Kariba town have been quarantined in Siavonga after being deported.

Mr Kanyama said the fishermen who were supposed to be sentenced were first subjected to the Covid -19 test and one of them is alleged to have tested positive.

He pointed out that the Zimbabwean authorities decided to deport them rather than be given a custodial sentence after being suspected to have Covid-19.

The DC noted that the district has also carried out its independent test on all the nine fishermen who are now being quarantined at the Council lodge to verify the allegations of Covid-19.

He said the other two fishermen who were with the arrested colleagues but managed to escape by swimming from the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba to the Zambian shores have been traced and quarantined.

Mr Kanyama disclosed that the results for the quarantined fishermen are expected to be out on Thursday or Friday.

Cases of Zambians being arrested in Zimbabwe for illegal fishing are on the increases and there are many Zambians serving in that country’s prisons.

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu is today expected in North Western Province for a three-day working visit under the new normal.

The President is expected to visit Chavuma, Kabompo, Ikelenge, Kasempa, Kalumbila, and Mwinilunga districts.

In Chavuma, the Head of State will inspect phase three of the construction of Chavuma District Hospital which is at 98 percent and later on meets Chief Lingozhi, Headmens, and party officials.

And in Kabompo, the Head of State will tour the provincial Medical Stores Hub and have a meeting with Senior Chief Sekufele and Headmens.

The president will also visit Ikelenge district where he will tour Ikelenge Secondary School, meet traditional leaders among them Chief Nyakaseya, Ikelenge, Mwininyilamba and Headmen.

Meanwhile, in Kasempa – the Head of State will meet Senior Chief Kasempa and Chief Ingwe, have meetings with party officials, and tour Kasempa’s main market.

And on the third day, the President will be in Mwinilunga were he will officiate at the Aqua Culture Field Day in Chief Kanyama’s Chiefdom and later on meet Chief Kanyama at his Palace.

This is according to a press statement released by North Western Province Minister Hon Nathaniel Mubukwanu, Wednesday, in Solwezi.

He said the Head of State is expected to arrive at Kalumbila Airport around 08:00 hours.

Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has issued an apology to the Chinese Community and other leaders. In a statement released to the media, Mr. Sampa said that he had reviewed events last week and over the weekend as regards his monitoring and conduct towards some business houses and accepted his error in judgment of physically going to the business premises instead of engaging relevant offices and institutions.

Earlier Local Government Minister Charles Banda came out strong threatening Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa for closing down abusive Chinese owned businesses, adding that it was unacceptable for some officials to unilaterally to cancel licenses because Local authorities follow laid down procedures when awarding trading licenses.

Dr. Banda said that revoking of trading licenses should not be done anyhow, saying officers designated by Town Clerks are the ones mandated to take such actions and added that appropriate action will, therefore, be taken against all council officials that have acted outside their mandate by revoking restaurant and barbershop business licenses awarded to Chinese investors.

Below is the Full Apology from the Lusaka Mayor

Statement by Miles B. Sampa, the Mayor of Lusaka.

Wednesday 27th May 2020

I wish to review events last week and over the weekend as regards my monitoring and conduct towards some business houses.

I accept my error in judgment of physically going to the business premises instead of engaging relevant offices and institutions. I can give guidance but the actual execution of revoking trading licenses for any trader or business house that may be found wanting or in breach of any law of the land that needs to be done by relevant offices and institutions.

Above said, I wish to apologies unreservedly to the following:

1. 1. The Chinese Community in the City of Lusaka and beyond for the tone and language used towards one of their nationals in particular on the use of the word ‘Chinaman’. I did not know hitherto that it was derogatory term but they have since lodged in a formal complaint against my use of the word. They demanded that I render an apology. I therefore sincerely apologies to all the Chinese people. My calling is to respect all human beings be it indeed or speech regardless of their race or nationality.
   2. I render my apology to All Other Leaders in whose jurisdiction my actions may have interfered with and put their office into disrepute. I give them my assurance hereon to always keep to my Lane and Mandate.
   3. Finally, I wish to assure all foreign investors in the City of Lusaka that my office is there to support their businesses 100% and where we will feel they is misconduct or breach of laws, we shall engage them in a more civil manner through relevant offices and institutions.

I thank you and God bless us all.
Romans 12:18
“Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone”

Miles Bwalya Sampa
Mayor of Lusaka
27th May 2020

President Edgar Lungu has pardoned an additional 249 inmates as part of the commemoration of the Africa Freedom Day.

The measure has also been taken to decongest correctional facilities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Announcing a development at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said the action is in accordance with Article 97 of the Zambian Constitution.

Mr Kampyongo said this Constitution provision provides for Presidential Pardon and Substitution of Severe Punishments imposed on the convicted persons.

He explained that among the pardoned, 238 are males while 11 are females.

Mr. Kampyongo said this action brings the cumulative number of pardoned inmates 3,242 by the President in commemorating the 2020 Africa Freedom Day.

He said this has also reduced the inmate population in Zambia 19,000 as at 27th May, 2020 and that no COVID-19 case has been recorded in Zambia since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Earlier, President Lungu pardoned two men who were jailed last year for having sex with each other. President Lungu extended the Prerogative of Mercy to two men of Kapiri Mposhi who were jailed last year in November for practicing homosexuality.

According to a Government Gazette obtained in which names of the over 2,900 prisoners pardoned by President Lungu to commemorate Africa Freedom Day have been printed, Japhet Chataba and Stephen Sambo’s names featured in the Gazette.

The two men have since only served six months in jail and have acquired their freedom through the President’s Constitutional powers.

Their 15-year sentence triggered a diplomatic row, which ended in the recalling of the US ambassador Daniel Foote.

Last November, the Lusaka High Court sentenced the two men for having sex “against the order of nature”.

They had booked into a lodge, and a worker peeped through an open window and saw them having sex, the court heard.

At the time, Mr. Foote said he was “horrified” by the sentencing.

Mr. Foote implored the Zambian government to review the case and its homosexuality laws, but then faced a backlash for his comments.

The government felt that the ambassador was trying to use the aid money that the US gives as leverage.

In response the diplomat’s comments, President Lungu then said that he did not “want such people in our midst. We want him gone as he was undesired element in society”.

Mr Foote was recalled to Washington in December.