President Edgar Lungu has described the late Former Cabinet Minister Andrew Kashita as a consummate technocrat who believed that Zambia could not only be industrialized but democratized.

The President said Mr. Kashita, who died early this morning, was one of the earliest Zambian engineers, who went on to become a Cabinet Minister in the UNIP Government.

The President said Mr. Kashita was among a group of eminent Zambians that fought for multi-party democracy because he believed the time had come to reform the political system in the country.

The President said Mr. Kashita will be remembered for the liberalisation of the transport sector in the country.

And President Lungu has also paid tribute to former Zambia National Service Commandant, Major General Tom Fara, who died in the Maina Soko Military Hospital Hospital.

President Lungu said the history of the Zambia Defence Forces cannot be complete without the mention of the name Tom Fara.

The President said Major General FARA, was a hard working General, who transformed the ZNS to what it is today.

He says thoughts are with the Kashita and Fara Families during this difficult time.

This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.

Meanwhile, Christian Democratic Party -CDP Leader Danny Pule has paid tribute to the late Andrew Kashita.

Dr. Pule told ZNBC News in a telephone interview that Mr.  Kashita served the country diligently at the time that he served as Cabinet Minister.

He said Mr. Kashita served as Transport and Communications Minister in the Chiluba Administration and will be remembered for decisions he made to improve the sector.

Mr. Kashita also served in various Cabinet Portfolios.

Dr. Pule has since conveyed his condolences to the Kashita family.

Former Cabinet Minister Andrew Kashita has died.

Mr. Kashita died in his sleep early this morning.Mr. Kashita held the positions of Cabinet Minister in Dr. Frederick Chiluba’s and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s government.

He is survived by his wife, who migrated from Yorkshire, Northern England to Zambia.

She is author of a famous book; “This is My Africa-Love across the Colour Bar”

An engineer by training, Mr. Kashita became Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and then managing director of INDECO (Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia).

He was appointed Minister of Mines and Industry in 1973, and was also given a nominated seat in the National Assembly and was later dismissed from both positions in January 1975.

He later became executive director of ZIMCOM.

In 1990, Mr. Kashita returned to politics as one of the founder members of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy.

He was elected to the National Assembly in the Bwana Mkubwa constituency in the 1991 general elections, and was appointed Minister of Transport and Communications.

He was later moved to become Minister of Works and Supply in a cabinet reshuffle in January 1994, but was relieved of his duties on 17 July 1995.

He did not contest the 1996 general elections.

Bethel Church in Chipata Overspill in Lusaka has been burnt by an angry mob on suspicion that there was a Mermaid in the Church.

Police have since arrested eight people for Arson, Proposing Violence and Assault in connection with the incident which happened yesterday between 19:00 hours and 23 20 hours.

Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo says it was reported that the Pastor at the church aged 52 who resides at the same church has a sick son aged 30 who has been sick for some time.

Mrs. Katongo said it is alleged that the mother in law of the Pastor’s son who is sick went with a witch doctor at the house of the Pastor who is the father of the patient and whilst there, the Witchdoctor alleged that there was a Mermaid (ilomba) in the Church and that for him to cure the patient, he needed to go inside the Church to perform some rituals.

“The Pastor refused to allow him and this infuriated the mother inlaw to the patient and the witch doctor who allegedly incited a mob that had gathered. The mob stormed and set the Church ablaze and also razed down the wall fence to the church”, She said.

Mrs. Katongo said the police rushed to the area and managed to contain the situation however one police officer was stoned and he sustained a cut on the left cheek.

Mrs. Katongo said the Church building had its doors and windows damaged while the plastic chairs and some benches were burnt, and some stolen.

She named those arrested as Beatrice Manda aged 47 of Chipata overspill who is the mother in law of the patient, Steve Mwanza aged 29 of Chazanga who a witch doctor involved, Jered Banda aged 25 of Chipata Compound, Michael Mwanza aged 35 of Chipata Overspill and Steve Kalusa aged 35 of Chazanga Compound.

Others are Felix Kasonde aged 27 of Chipata Compound, James Bwalya aged 20 of Chipata Compound and Caleb Ndalemeke aged 45 of Chipata overspill who are all detained in police custody.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Brazil Dr Alfreda Kansembe-Mwamba has embarked on routine marketing of Zambia’s tourism attractions to Brazil’s corporate sector and higher learning institutions.

Ambassador Kansembe has so far held meetings with corporations and universities in Brazil to woo South Americans to Zambia’s pristine wildlife parks and other natural wonders.

She said corporate entities and Brazilians in particular have been seeking more information about Zambia’s rich tourism attractions.

Speaking when she addressed students from the Patos de Minas University and Escola Municipal Muniz Institute in Brazil, Ambassador Kansembe said Zambia has rich natural resources as well as national heritage that tourists across the globe need to sample.

She said Zambia has abundant national parks where wild animals are found in their natural habitat.

Dr Kansembe told the students that apart from the Victoria Falls, the country boasts of other numerous wonders in the country’s Northern Circuit.

She added that the country is blessed with a vibrant culture that makes it a preferred tourist destination in Africa.

Dr. Kansembe urged Brazilian students to visit Zambia and sample its biodiversity.

She also disclosed her plans of holding a Tourism Expo in Brazil this year with the support from Zambia’s Tourism Ministry adding that the move will be a great opportunity to market Zambia’s tourism sector to Latin Americans.

Dr Kansembe said Zambia as an oasis of peace, has won international acclaim leading to strong bilateral cooperations with many countries.

This is contained in a statement issued to the media by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Mission in Brazil Grace Makowane.

The British royal family will meet today to discuss the future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the couple announced they would step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry will attend the meeting at the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is expected to call in to the meeting from Canada.

BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond described the meeting as “royal history in the making”.

It is hoped the talks will produce a “next step” on the way to defining the couple’s new relationship with the Royal Family – in line with the Queen’s wish to find a solution within days.

Among the issues likely to be discussed are what funding the duke and duchess will receive, whether they will keep their titles and what royal duties they will continue to carry out.

The Queen, Prince Charles, William and Harry are expected to review a range of possibilities for the Sussexes, taking into account plans outlined by the couple.

Last week Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said they are stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and plan to work towards becoming “financially independent.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year” they wrote on Instagram, explaining that they hope to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they said.

It is alleged that Harry and Meghan did not consult any other members of the royal family.

CNN,BBC

One inmate from Luanshya correctional facility died on the spot while 38 others are nursing serious injuries after the truck, they were traveling in overturned 3 times owing to a tyre burst.

The Mitsubishi Sportero property of Zambia Correctional Services of Luanshya was driven by Warder Misheck Masengu (26) of Luanshya who sustained head injuries.

Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga says the accident happened on Saturday around 17 hours near Chilubili area in Mpongwe when the inmates were being ferried from Kanyenda area in Mpongwe where they had gone to work.

“On board were 38 prisoners of which one died upon arrival at Ibenga Hospital, one escaped unhurt , 12 inmates were evacuated to Ibenga clinic while 24 others were taken to Ndola Teaching Hospital.One inmates escaped unhurt.

Two other Prison wardens on board also sustained injuries and are both admitted to Ibenga Mission Hospital.

Ms Katongo said the total number of people on board was 41.And Mrs. Katanga promised to give a detailed report today because the doctors were still monitoring the condition of all the inmates.

Social media is rife with questions as to how a Mistubishi sportero can carry 41 passengers.

A former prisoner, Mr. Mwaba narrated how trucks carrying prisoners are often driven at high speeds to prevent prisoners from jumping out of the truck.

He lamented at how prisoners are dehumanized in Zambia. “We were carried like DOGS and they don’t care whether we die or not,”he said.

He appealed to the government to decongest prisons and put up more courts to finish up cases for accused persons in remand prisons quickly to avoid such cases of fatal accidents emanating from transferring inmates from distant prisons to courts in Lusaka.

“My life after prison has been that of trying to tell society that we can all be victims of imprisonment because we break the law sometimes accidentally, and some times we are wrongly accused or at times fail to hire a lawyer in a case.We must treat prisoners with respect,”Mr.Mwaba said.