INSPECTOR General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has warned  opposition political parties and civil society organisations NGOs against going ahead with their planned illegal protests.

Mr Kanganja says the Zambia Police Command is in receipt of information indicating that some political parties working with some NGOs have planned sporadic illegal protests around the country.

He says that from the information gathered the aforementioned groupings plan to protest on issues such as Loadsheding, Truck drivers conditions of service and the Bill Number 10 that was submitted to Parliament.

Mr Kanganja says that the police command is aware that the political parties and NGOs orchestrating the illegal protests have also printed T shirts carrying certain messages and are mobilising musicians and members of the public to protest while clad in the said labelled T shirts.

The IG says the law on protests is very clear as provided for under the Public Order Act,stating that it is only prudent that those wishing to conduct such public activities follow the provisions of the law and that any conduct to the contrary will attract punitive action from police and there should be no complaint thereafter.

“I am calling upon members of the public to stay away from such planned illegal activities or they will have themselves to blame” Mr Kanganja said.

And the IG reiterated that the Police will not tolerate any public disorder orchestrated by any individual or grouping with a view of disturbing public order and peace.

The Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo Regional Joint Permanent Commission (RJPC) has closed in Lubumbashi with emphasis on combating cross-border crime in all its forms.

ZANIS reports that the fight against cross-border crime is one of the 24 resolutions contained in a joint communique issued and signed by both countries at the official closing ceremony of the 13th session of the RJPC.

Both Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have since called for intensified joint operations by promoting the exchange of vital information with a view to eradicating crime.

In the communique, smuggling, drug and human trafficking, theft of motor vehicles and illegal migration have been cited as being permanent threats to the security of the two countries.

The two countries reiterated the recommendation for the extension of operating hours at Kasumbalesa, Mokambo and Chembe border posts from 06:00 hours to 20:00 hours daily.

Meanwhile, the commission has called for the creation of the Luapula River Authority (LRA) which has been suggested to be a vehicle for the management of the shared water resource.

It added that works on the Luapula River hydro-potential should be expedited in the wake of energy challenges which both Zambia and DRC are facing.

Zambia’s Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe and DRC’s Haut-Katanga Governor Jacques Katwe signed the joint communique on behalf their countries.

The Choma Fast Truck Court has slapped an 18-months imprisonment with hard labour on Ernest Mudenda after convicting him of theft.

Mudenda 37, of Zimbabwe compound in Choma today appearing for judgement before Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri.

Mudenda was facing one count of theft which is contrary to section 272 of penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that on October 29, 2019 in Choma district, Mudenda and Derick Siapeteka, whilst acting together, stole scrap metal at a named farm worth K1, 000, the property of Jackline Zaloumis.

In mitigation, the convict asked the court to exercise leniency and allow him to serve a suspended sentence because he was the breadwinner in his family.

Mudenda said his three children would stop going to school if he was given a custodial sentence.

However, magistrate Phiri said the offence of theft was a very serious one hence the need for a custodial sentence on people like Mudenda.

She then handed down an 18-months long prison sentence commencing from the date of arrest, which is October 29, 2019.

Mudenda’s co-accused Derick Siapeteka readily admitted to the charge and is already serving his sentence at Choma correctional facility.

And Peter Munchenga 30, of Popota area has walked to freedom after the same court found him not guilty of the offence of trafficking in 1.2 kilogrammes of marijuana.

Resident Magistrate Ethel Phiri stated during judgement that the state’s two key witnesses from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) gave contradicting statements during trial.

She said proper investigations should have been conducted on the other two witnesses who might have easily planted the drugs in Munchenga’s bag but nothing was done to that effect hence creating doubt in the mind of the court.

Particulars of the offence were that on October 3, 2019 in Choma district, DEC received a tip off from the public that Munchenga of Popota area was dealing in drugs namely cannabis.

In response to a tip-off, DEC officers, in the company of officers from the Crime Prevention Unit, went to Munchenga’s shop in Macha road in which the officers found a black and blue bag.

The bag contained 10 transparent plastic packs which had vegetable like leaves. The vegetable-like leaves were later confirmed to be marijuana by a public analyst at UTH.

By Arnold Chasaya

Several chiefs within the Lower Kafue River Basin across Southern and Central Provinces have praised the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia, the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) and their strategic partners for their unrelenting efforts aimed at managing the Lower Kafue River Basin sustainably.

For very long time now, the Lower Kafue River Basin has been an economic powerhouse of the country, with more than half the population of Zambia living within the Kafue River catchment area, according to a 2003 report by Researcher Kambole Michael.

Apart from being a key source of much-needed fresh water for natural vegetation, wildlife and people, the basin houses various commercial businesses in both the public and private sectors.

However, the various large-scale economic activities currently taking place in the basin have resulted into an inevitable scramble for limited fresh water resources between Mother Nature itself and people.

One of the most pressing challenges the lower Kafue basin is faced with today is trying to create a mutual balance between the ever-growing needs of humans and those of the various forms of life that cannot do without the basin in its tip-top state, such as fish.

In a timely effort to help manage the Lower Kafue River Basin sustainably, WWF-Zambia, WARMA, experts from World Wildlife Fund (USA) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have jointly developed the Lower Kafue River Health Report Card.

First of all, what are river basin health report cards? These are simply assessment and communication products that compare ecological, social, and/or economic information against predefined goals or objectives.

The entire process of developing report cards is highly participatory and includes the process of identifying values and threats to the basin, selection of indicators, definition of thresholds, calculation of scores and communication of results.

By gathering recommendations on how river basins can be sustainably managed, basin report cards have proven to be a powerful instrument to describe ecosystem status, increase public awareness, and inform and influence decision-makers to take action to improve or maintain the health of a river basin.

The entire process of developing the report card and its recommendations is being communicated with various community stakeholders by People’s Action Forum (PAF) with support from WWF-Zambia and WARMA.

The Lower Kafue River Basin Health Report Card, which is yet to be launched at both national and community levels, has been created through a series of stakeholder workshops with representatives from Zambian government agencies, academic institutions, NGO representatives, community based organizations, and the private sector.

Once gazetted, the Report Card is proposed to be the monitoring and evaluation framework of the Lower Kafue Catchment Management Plan.

In his comment on the initiative, His Royal Highness Chief Mukobela of Namwala District described the Report Card as a milestone in the history of fresh water resources management in the country. The traditional leader said this recently when a team of experts from WWF-Zambia, PAF and WARMA paid a courtesy call on him at his palace.

“First of all, thank you so much for considering chiefs as key partners in this initiative. Secondly, allow me to state that the Report Card is a masterpiece as it takes a holistic approach to sustainable natural resources management. Another reason the Report Card is exceptional is that is seeks to have the input of affected communities in its recommendations,” he observed.

The royal highness noted that unless traditional leaders were actively involved in the management of the basin, steps aimed at assuring the integrity of the basin and other natural resources would be in vain.

He therefore thanked WWF-Zambia, PAF and WARMA for recognizing traditional leaders and community leadership structures as key partners in the sustainable management of the Lower Kafue River Basin.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Chief Mungaila, also of Namwala District, called for more concerted efforts aimed at keeping the basin healthy.

The visibly concerned traditional leader disclosed that keeping the Lower Kafue River Basin healthy must be the priority of all environmental and community stakeholders, warning that without the basin, Zambians living within the basin and beyond would lose a key source of livelihood.

“This basin is the economic heart of countless chiefdoms and the country at large. This means that without it, livestock would perish, and the agricultural sector would be brought to its knees,” observed the traditional leader, who spoke through his interpreter.

He narrated that this is because for some time now, the Lower Kafue Basin has been an instrumental source of much-needed wealth for the chiefdom and beyond.

Chieftainess Kabulwebulwe of Mumbwa District pledged her continued support to helping find solutions to the challenges the basin is facing.

The traditional leader also thanked WWF, PAF and WARMA for considering her subjects as key partners in dealing with factors affecting the health of the basin.

Speaking earlier, WWF-Zambia Professional Young Expert James Mbewe implored the communities around the basin to take keen interest in protecting the basin.

Mr. Mbewe observed that being the custodians of the natural resources, community members have a huge role to play in the process of identifying long-lasting solutions to the numerous challenges the basin has been facing.

Meanwhile, PAF Project Manager Janet Nyoni thanked the traditional leaders for their cooperation in assuring the health of the basin.

She said without their participation, efforts aimed at keeping the basin healthy would not bear fruit.

WARMA representative, Chipo Mubambe, who is the Lower Kafue Sub-catchment Manager, also pledged the authority’s continued support to efforts aimed at ensuring the health of the basin.

Mr. Mubambe observed that sustainable natural resources management is a delicate dimension, which demands the input of each and every key stakeholder if it is to materialize.

It remains every well-meaning Zambian’s hope that once launched and its recommendations are communicated with key stakeholders, the Lower Kafue Basin Health Report Card will act as a participatory window through which communities within the basin will help.