One person has died while another one has been evacuated to Livingstone central hospital after heavy rocks fell on them at Nkandabbwe Colum Coal Enterprises Mine Limited in Sinazongwe District.

Mine Manager Ketson Munthali confirmed that three miners were involved in a mine accident which left one dead, another one seriously injured while the third one survived with minor injuries.

In his briefing to Sinazongwe District Commissioner at the mine’s shaft two offices, Mr. Munthali said the accident occurred around 11:30 hours yesterday at mineshaft one when the deceased and two others were on duty underground the mine.

He identified the deceased as Stanley Bulongo aged 44, Trust Simulombela aged 39, who has since been evacuated to Livingstone Central Hospital, and the survivor Teddy Siakulya.

Mr. Munthali explained that the trio were hit by heavy falling rocks underground which resulted into the death of one miner.

He assured the bereaved family that the company will provide assistance in terms of requirements for the funeral until the deceased employee is buried.

Mr. Munthali added that it was unfortunate that life was lost in such an accident.

He said the mining company has been conducting safety talks every day with the miners before they go to work underground.

Meanwhile, Sinazongwe District Commissioner Protacial Mulenga has expressed sadness over the loss of life in an accident at the mine.

Mr. Mulenga has since called on the Nkandabbwe Colum Coal Enterprises Mine Limited to strengthen and intensify safety measures and regulations for its employees.

He said the company must ensure that miners are provided with protective safety clothing and sensitized every day before they are dispatched to go and work underground.

In another incident, police in Sinazongwe district have discovered a body of a female person.

The unidentified body was discovered yesterday around 16:00 hours in Nangombe ward around Siamfunde village.

The body was found in a decomposed state and will be buried today at the site where it was found because it could not be taken to the mortuary due to its bad state.

Police has since instituted investigations to gather details of the deceased and circumstances that led to her death.

Patriots for Economic Progress Leader Sean Tembo was yesterday attacked by people he has termed as aggravated robbers along Cairo Road while they were undertaking their 13th peaceful protest against the $42 million fire tender which had full permission from the police.

The incident occurred between National Milling and Farmers House where the attackers arrived on the scene in about three Toyota Corollas and were clad in black t-shirts and blue jeans, and a few of them had applied white powder on their faces, ostensibly as a disguise.

Mr Tembo said the attackers were about 12 in number and carried an assortment of weapons ranging from pistols to machetes and assulted PeP members who ran in all directions.

He said those who were driving the PEP vehicles on the convoy were pulled out assaulted and searched of all valuables including phones and wallets.

Mr Tembo said he was personally attacked by three assailants and he managed to identify two of them as Mr. Paul Monga, the Lusaka Province Acting Chairman for the ruling Patriotic Front and Mr. Reuben Banda, a well known Kanyama PF Cadre.

He said the third assailant who attacked him was not easily recognizable as he had applied white powder on his face.

He explained that after searching him, his assailants went away with the wallet which had K8,300 in cash, bank ATM Cards, Driving License among others and also took away my his phones, an iPhone 8 Plus and an iPhone 7.

Mr Tembo said he was hacked twice in the head with a machete and in total, there were about 11 PeP Members who were assaulted.

He said he together with those other injured victims were driven to UTH were they received treatment and was given several stitches for his wounds and was later sent home for security reasons.

Mr Tembo said he has reported the case of aggravated robbery to the Lusaka Central Police.

“Much as the two assailants that I was able to identify are well-known PF cadres, I would not like to rush and prematurely conclude that they carried out this aggravated robbery on us under the sanction of the political party that they belong to; the Patriotic Fron”, he said.

“However, as the days pass, we shall see how much appetite the Zambia Police will have to arrest Mr. Paul Monga and Mr. Reuben Banda. If the Police are reluctant to firmly enforce the law in this matter, then we can all conclude that this aggravated robbery on ourselves was not only sanction by the Patriotic Front but possibly by President Lungu himself because it is only President Lungu who posses the power to stall a criminal investigation”, Mr Tembo added.

He has given Mr. Paul Monga and Mr. Reuben Banda as well as their colleagues who attacked PEP a 72-hour ultimatum to return the goods, money as well as make arrangements for compensation of injured victims and damaged property.

Mr Tembo said all the citizens of Zambia reserve the right to take any and all measures necessary to get justice in this matter.

He said what Mr. Paul Monga and Mr. Reuben Banda must remember is that just like any other human being, they are made of flesh and blood.

Mr Tembo said PEP will continue with the 42 scheduled protests against the $42 million fire tender scandal.

“We shall not be pushed around by anyone whether in the Court Room or on the streets. When we decided to form this political party, we were very alive to the fact that Zambian opposition politics is largely dominated arbitrary incarcerations and physical violence. In this regard, we shall announce a new date for our 13th Fire Tender Protest, given that this one was disturbed”, he added.

The ZNBC Board has appointed Malolela Lusambo as the new Director General effective December 1.

ZNBC board Chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe says the board settled for Mr. Lusambo because of his vast experience in the media industry.

Ms. Kapwepwe said the board is confident that Mr. Lusambo will deliver on the expectations of the board and Zambians having served in the media industry for 28 years.

She also thanked ZNBC legal Director Reuben Kajokoto who acted as Director General from the time the position was left vacant.

And Mr. Lusambo who thanked the board for giving him the opportunity to serve as Director General said the new position will require teamwork from all departments of the institution to enable him live up to the mandate and vision of the institution.

He also noted that he is aware of the many challenges the institution is going through and will continue to dialogue as way of resolving issues.

Mr. Lusambo was ZNBC Director Engineering and Technical Services.

The local authority in Masaiti district on the Copperbelt province has expressed concern over the mushrooming illegal mining activities in the area.

Masaiti Town Council chairperson Christine Chande says unscrupulous firms have continued to conduct mining activities in mineral-rich areas of the district without going through the legal procedures.

Ms. Chande says the development has continued to deprive the local authority of the much-needed revenue for service delivery to the local people.

The council chairperson was speaking shortly after conducting an impromptu visit on various illegal mine companies in the district.

Meanwhile, Ms. Chande said her office has formulated a revenue taskforce aimed at maximizing all income opportunities in the district.

She said this is aimed at enhancing service delivery in the local authority through self-sustainable resource mobilization.