The Young African Leaders Initiative YALI has said that it is saddened that some doomsayers are undermining government’s efforts to fight against COVID-19

YALI president Andrew Ntewewe noted that the cynicism against the country’s health architecture and the Minister of Health is nothing but an effort to undermine the impressive, robust,and effective intervention against COVID-19.

Speaking when he addressed the media this morning, Mr. Ntewewe said that the priority, as a country, should be to support President Edgar Lungu’s measures put in place and therefore called on all cooperating partners and Zambians to collaborate with the entire health infrastructure and to ensure that the ravaged economy is equally revamped.

He said that it was a total misplacement of energy to constantly be talking and accusing one another of corruption on donations when the energies should be on being innovative and imaginative on how to seek access to the 30 billion kwacha stimulus package.

“We want to particularly note the gradual, strategic and cautious approach of opening the country for business and announced by president Edgar Lungu which we are in agreement with and must be made known to the public that other countries are opening up for business in order to save their economies despite the high number of people dying from the disease,” he said.

“Currently, there is a K2.5 billion to pay arrears, pensioners and contractors,10 Billion Kwacha for commerce set up particularly to assist women, youth entrepreneurs through banks and the 10.3 Million Dollars for aquaculture through CEEC. This is where the agenda must be. In total, there is an estimated 30 Billion Kwacha for commerce, trade and industry which must be the national agenda to get the economy running again” Mr. Ntewewe emphasized.

Mr Ntewewe reiterated that the COVID-19 is real and its fight must not be trivialized and thanked the health workers for the priceless efforts they are putting in place to manage the pandemic.

Teachers Unions have encouraged parents to allow their children report for school as schools re-open next month.

Zambia National Teachers Union (ZNUT) General Secretary Newman Bubala says all necessary measures have already been put in place to ensure a safe learning environment for the pupils.

Mr. Bubala says teacher unions and government will work closely with parents to help the pupils catch up on lost time as schools re-open.

And Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) General Secretary Henry Sinkala says the unions will go flat-out in all schools across the country to ascertain their preparedness ahead of the re-opening.

Meanwhile, Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ) General Secretary Kangwa Musenge says teachers are ready to ensure that the learning calendar is not disrupted once schools re-open.

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) placed a Seizure Notice on 41 properties constructed by Madison Capital Limited. The Notice was served on the Chairman of Madison Capital Mr Basil Nundwe.The DEC is said to have informed the company that they were carrying out an investigation following a complaint by a member of the public.

When reached for comment Madison Capital Limited confirmed that the Seizure Notice had been served and stated that the properties in issue belonged to third parties who had purchased the properties or had been assigned the properties against funds held by Madison Asset Management Company under the Fixed Income Fund. The Fixed Income Fund was available from 2008 until December 2018 when the Regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) advised market players to discontinue such products which offered a fixed return to investors. Madison Capital Limited insisted that the 41 properties were constructed by Madison Capital and sold or assigned to third parties and do not belong to Mr Nundwe.

In a seizure notice dated 29th April, 2020, the DEC stated that the properties have been seized pursuant to Section 15 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001 as there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are liable to seizure.The DEC warned that the seized goods may be declared to be forfeited to the State under Section 17 of the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 14 of 2001.

The Zambian Mission in Pretoria, South Africa, has facilitated the return of one hundred and six (106)Zambian nationals from that country to Zambia.

The Mission has also facilitated the return of another set of six Zambians and 30 Resident permit holders to Zambia by air.

The 106 people left South Africa today by road and are expected to be in Zambia in the next two days.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Major General Jackson Miti supervised the bus boarding process which was done from the Zambian Chancery in Pretoria.

General Miti, who was accompanied by his deputy Mr Maynard Misapa, Counsellor Health Dr Priscilla Zulu and the Defence Advisor Brigadier General Joseph Chewe among other Mission staff said the returnees were in South Africa after being caught up in the COVID 19 induced lockdown.

He said the Mission facilitated securing travel permits from the South African authorities to enable Zambians return home amid COVID 19 travel restriction.

General Miti said all the returnees met costs for their bus and air tickets and would further undergo mandatory period of quarantine upon arrival in Zambia.

He mentioned that the Mission would continue facilitating for smooth exit of Zambians from South Africa by engaging that country’s authorities to issue special travel permits.

General Miti has since thanked the South African government for its corporation in ensuring that some returning Zambians were exempted from immigration penalties as they had their permits expired and also the Zimbabwean government for graciously allowing the smooth passage of the Zambian buses.

LUSAKA (Reuters) – Zambia reopened its Nakonde border with Tanzania on Friday after a five-day closure of the key transit point for copper and cobalt exports and fuel imports, three sources told Reuters.

President Edgar Lungu had shut the border on Sunday after the town of Nakonde recorded 76 cases of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, the highest number registered by Africa’s No. 2 copper producer in a day.

“We have trucks that have already crossed,” a logistics official said, adding that they had not yet seen an official confirmation from the provincial government.

Muchinga Province Minister Malozo Sichone did not immediately reply to Reuters’ requests for comment.

On Wednesday, Mr Sichone had today Reuters that Zambia could reopen border with Tanzania to cargo trucks today.

He said Zambia, which closed its border with Tanzania on Sunday to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, could soon reach an agreement with its neighbour over the passage of cargo trucks carrying copper and other crucial goods.

The border was closed to cargo, but on Wednesday talks were ongoing over how to allow trucks to move once again.

“The movement of cargo will commence as soon as we conclude negotiations we are having with our counterparts,” Mr. Sichone told Reuters.

Mr. Sichone had previously said priority would be given to trucks bringing essential goods such as fuel, medical supplies, and food into Zambia.

“By today we could conclude,” Mr. Sichone said on Wednesday.

A logistics official, however, said the border was only expected to reopen for metal exports this weekend.

A second logistics company manager said the closure is having a “big impact” on the flow of trucks carrying copper from Zambian and Congolese mines out to the port of Dar es Salaam.

“Customers are halting loading material onto trucks headed to Dar es Salaam until there is clarity,” he said.

Tanzania had confirmed 509 cases of the coronavirus, with 21 deaths as of Tuesday, according to the World Health Organization.

The government has been criticised for not providing regular updates on the spread of the outbreak, and the opposition has accused it of being secretive.