The Ndola High Court has halted the holding of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Annual General Meeting (AGM), Electoral Process and Elections.

This followed a court action were Damiano Mutale, Patson Lusaka against FAZ Secretary General Adrian Kashala.

The Court issued an Exparte Order staying the FAZ electoral Process and Elections pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

The Court has directed that the process which started on 7th March 2020 and was expected to end on 28th March 2020 has been halted until the matter is heard and determined.

The United Church of Zambia (UCZ) in Northern Province has partnered with the Zambia Police to sensitise members of the church on the dangers of taking the law into their own hands.

UCZ Northern Presbytery Bishop, Maybin Mulenga said this is in view of the mob killings experienced across the country were people suspected to be behind the reported gassing have been brutally murdered.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Kasama, Bishop Mulenga said the church is concerned with mob justice that people are perpetrating, which is also alien to the country’s culture and beliefs.

The clergy has also expressed fear that the gruesome murders of people could have a negative impact on the 2021 general election campaigns.

Bishop Mulenga has since directed all Reverends under his jurisdiction in Northern Province to welcome the police officers sent to sensitize church members on the matter.

And Northern Province Police Commissioner, Richard Mweene has confirmed the development, saying this is aimed at intensifying security, and bring to book all those suspected to be behind the reported gassing in communities.

Commissioner Mweene has since implored other churches to come on board and partner with the police in order to fight the scourge.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife has arrested a 39 year old Kapiri Mposhi man for being in possession of 12 pieces of elephant Ivory tusks worth over K100, 000.

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Central Region Warden Patrick Sakanga has confirmed the arrest to ZANIS yesterday.

Mr Sakanga has identified the suspect as David Munkhondya of Riverside compound who was found in possession of cut pieces of prescribed trophy namely elephant Ivory with a total weight of 18 kilogram.

This is contrary to Section 130 of the Zambia Wildlife Act Number 14 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mr Sakanga described the trophies as being that of Loxodonta Africana elephant species.

The suspect was arrested along the Great North road by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife formerly ZAWA officers during an operation in Kapiri Mposhi on 6th March around 12:00 hours.

He had concealed the pieces of the contraband in a sack abode hid bicycle.

Mr Sakanga said the suspect has since been charged with one count of unlawful possession of prescribed trophy and detained in police custody.

He will appear in court soon.

Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit has embarked on a program to relocate 573 households in Kapoto, Mulenga, Musonda and Bulangililo townships of Kitwe district, whose houses collapsed due to floods.

Speaking during a visit of the affected families at Buchi hotel, DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe said government through the local authorities in Kitwe are already looking for land where people will be permanently moved to.

Mr. Kabwe said President Edgar Lungu is saddened by the constant flooding in areas near the Kafue River which affects people every year. The Head of State has therefore directed DMMU and Copperbelt Provincial Administration to quickly secure land for the affected people so that normalcy is restored.

He said the land that will be given to each household will be titled and government will assist with some building materials to help them get back on their feet.

Mr Kabwe added that the land will be given to every affected household with no bias whatsoever and warned that government will not take kindly to anyone who will be found giving land based on partisan lines.

The National Coordinator further warned the affected families against selling their land as they risk having it repossessed.

Mr Kabwe said government, in line with the build back better project, wants to put to rest the issue of displacements due to climate related shocks by ensuring households construct more resilient housing units.

He also also handed over assorted food items, blankets, and 10 thousand water tanks to be used by affected families.

And Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe said as an immediate measure, government has secured enough land behind Hellen Kaunda Secondary School where some families will be accommodated temporarily.

He thanked government for the quick response to the plight of the people and people and urged the people to continue supporting government and President LUNGU as he continues to deliver on his promises to the people of Zambia.

The Permanent Secretary also called on the corporate world to come on board and supplement Government in its efforts to better the lives of people.

Police have charged and arrested a male juvenile aged 15 years for the offence of Defamation of the President contrary to section 69 of the Penal code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

The suspect is alleged to have created a Facebook page using the name ZOOM and published defamatory or insulting matters against the Republican President with intent to bring the name of the President into ridicule or contempt.

The suspect was picked up on 09th March,2020 from Kapiri Mposhi of Central Province.

Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the suspect has also been charged with three counts of Libel contrary to section 191 cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mrs Katongo said in the these matters, the suspect is alleged to have published defamatory remarks against three other people on Facebook and will appear in court soon.

“In the month of February 2020 and March 08th, police working in collaboration with ZICTA arrested four other persons for offences of Proposing Violence contrary to section 91 of the Penal Code, Libel contrary to section 191 of the Penal code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and Prohibition of Pornography contrary to section 102(b)(c) of the Electronic Communication Act number 21 of 2009 in relation to matters alleged to have been posted on Facebook”, she said.

Mrs Katongo said police also warned and cautioned 4 WHATSAPP administrators for offences of Prohibition of Pornography contrary to section 102(b) (c) of the Electronic Communication Transactions Act number 21 of 2009.

She said those arrested in connection with Facebook postings are Kelly Nawezhi whose matter is in Court, Prince Kaliza aged 27 for the offence of proposing violence through social media (Zambian Watch), Joel Banda aged 23 for the offence of Prohibition of Pornography and also Libel through a platform called Zed Hule, Akapelwa Simata aged 55 years for the offence of proposing violence and for prohibition of Pornography.

Mrs Katongo said the administrators of WHATSAPP groups who have been warned and cautioned are Prosper Mvula, Naphali Mbewe, Imasiku Mateko and Jessie Chewe Mulenga.

She said all are alleged to have created WHATSAPP groups engaged in circulating and distributing pornography materials and will soon be charged with the subject offence.

The Civil Society Constitution Agenda says it found President Edgar Lungu’s remarks regarding Bill 10 during his address to Parliament on progress made in the application of the national values and principles to be misleading to the general public.

CiSCA Chairperson Bishop John Mambo says the President’s remarks were biased toward the perceived positives of Bill 10, completely ignoring all contentious negatives of it which CiSCA shall now endeavour to remind the President and the general public.

Bishop Mambo said the President was not truthful when he stated that political players want to see an extension to the period of presidential petition from 14 days to 30 days saying the issue was never the time period allowed for presidential petition but the interpretation of the 14 days provided.

“That is, if the 14 days provided included weekends. However, this debate on interpretation was resolved when the Constitutional Court ruled that the 14 days provided for presidential petition included weekends as well. Therefore, we wonder which political players the President was referring too, who want to see an extension to the period of presidential petition?”, he said.

Bishop Mambo also said that the President further stated that Bill 10 would secure and protect the Christian nation identity which the current Constitution preamble already states that Zambia is a Christian nation.

He said the inclusion of Zambia’s Christianity would make it difficult for the courts of law to interpret and execute the law because Christian interpretation of the Bible differs from one church denomination to the other.

Bishop Mambo said therefore, interpretation of the law should not be guided by Christian laws and morals. Which Christian principle would be used and what happens to none Christians?

“The President alleged that Bill 10 would enhance the separation of powers. However, contrary to the Presidents assertion, Bill 10 will move power from the Legislature and Judiciary into the hands of the Executive”, he added.

Bishop Mambo said Bill 10 will take away oversight that Parliament has on debt contraction as well as approval of international treaties and hand it to the office of the President.

He said Bill 10 will also take away power of the Legislature to delimit Provinces and Districts and give it to the President, remove the Constitution Court from the process of ratification of Presidential appointments in the event that Parliament reject his appointment for a third (3rd) time.

Bishop Mambo explained that currently, when Parliament rejects the Presidents appointment for a 3rd time, the case is taken to the Constitution Court for final ruling, however, with Bill 10, once Parliament rejects the Presidents appointment two (2) times, his 3rd appointment will be final and valid regardless of whether Parliament agrees with it or not.

“The President stated that Bill 10 will clear and bury all legal lacunae and inconsistencies found in our current Constitution. However, we are of the view that Bill 10 in its current form only creates a Constitution crisis and adds more lacunae. It proposes adoption of a coalition government in a presidential system; coalition government does not work in a presidential system. If Bill 10 is to cure lacunae why is it proposing the reintroduction of things initially not in the 2016 Constitution, such as, Deputy Ministers?”, Bishop Mambo said.

He said President Lungu only talked about the alleged good things and deliberately ignored all contentious issues, some of which have been raised in this statement.

Bishop Mambo has since encouraged President Lungu to do right by the people of Zambia and withdraw Bill 10.