Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Media Director Antonio Mwanza has condemned the News Diggers Newspaper misrepresenting President Edgars Lungu’s Statement when he addressed the people of Lukashya as he drummed up support for the PF candidate.

Mr. Mwanza said instead of being factual and accurate in their reporting, News Diggers in their calculated scheme to tarnish the image of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the Patriotic Front, use eye-catching and misleading headlines and biased and inaccurate editorials.

He said the case in point is Thursday’s Headline titled “I’LL REMAIN PRESIDENT whether Zambians like it or not – Lungu.”

Mr. Mwanza said the headline is not only misleading but it is highly offensive and has the potential to breed civil disharmony as it attempts to paint President Edgar Lungu as a tinpot dictator who has no regard for the Republican Constitution and the people of Zambia.

“We wish to register our profound dismay at the gutter journalism being practiced by the News Diggers Newspaper. The headline is deliberately crafted in a misleading manner to portray the President as someone who has no regard for the law and the people of Zambia when in fact, the opposite is true,” He said.

“For removal of doubt, this is the verbatim statement of what President Edgar Lungu said and I quote: “Nangu chibe shani namailo litali, na 2021 litali, lelo kufika next election mu August pa 12 mu 2021, President ninebo! Nangu ulefwaya, olo taulefwaya, President ninebo! Nowo mukasala, afwile abomba naine. Nga chakutila nafwa lelo, ba President niba Inonge Wina, chapwa!” He said.

The PF Deputy Media Director said contrary to the picture News Diggers is trying to portray that President Lungu will impose himself on the people or use force and or any other unconstitutional means to remain President, President Lungu was clearly and categorically stating a known fact that he will remain President till 2021 as provided for by the constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

“This is a fact and the President is on firm ground. While we appreciate the right by News Diggers to be critical of President Edgar Lungu and the PF, we demand that they do so within the professional ethics of journalism. It is never too late to do the right thing and we hope News Diggers will reflect on their unethical reporting as it is a danger to society and themselves as a media institution,” said Mr.Mwanza.

He adds that PF strongly believes in freedom of the Press and Press Freedom and will always stand in defense of the media but will also demand that the media report responsibly and professionally in line with media ethics.

The police in Muchinga province has warned all individuals in possession of illegal firearms that the long arm of the law will soon visit them.

The warning has come after a joint operation conducted yesterday by Chinsali Police under the Criminal Investigations Department and the Zambia National Parks and Wild Life Authority Officers.

Muchinga Province Police Commissioner Joel Njase who sounded the warning said eight different types of firearms were recovered during the operation.

Eng Njase said there is need to respect the law especially with regard to use and possession of firearms.

“This is important firstly because we need peace and security for all, secondly is to avoid such guns being in wrong hands and likely to be used for criminal activities and thirdly the persuasive dictate of tranquility for development needs focused attention for productive minds,” he said.

Eng Njase added that as a result, two people identified as Conelious Chisale aged 30 and Mutende Chisale also 30, all of Chisale farm in Chinsali district who are the owners of the firearms were apprehended to assist with investigations.

The Commissioner said among the firearms recovered include 9 rifles, 6 short guns, and 13 muzzle loaders.

Eng Njase added that other items that were recovered are 26 air gun seals, 38 barrels of air gun and 2 barrels of shot gun among others.

FOREIGN Affairs Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation Chalwe Lombe has urged diplomats to change the perception that Missions in the diaspora are not doing enough to serve Zambians abroad.

Ambassador Lombe said President Lungu wants Zambians abroad to be served efficiently.

“We urge Zambian Missions abroad to step up efforts in the implementation of the Diaspora Policy to promote efficiency,” Ambassador Lombe said.

He said the Ministry was aware of the challenges regarding delayed processing of national identification documents such as NRCs, Birth Certificates and Passports and had put in place measures to speed up the exercise.

“The Passports Office in Zambia has been equipped with dedicated computers and internet specifically to serve the Zambian Diaspora to speed up the process of issuing national documents,” Ambassador Lombe said.

The Permanent Secretary was speaking during the Virtual Clinic on the implementation of the Diaspora Policy for Missions in Asia and Middle East.

“We commend Zambia High Commission in India for using the diplomat’s personal resources in some cases to facilitate the repatriation of Zambians in distress,” he added.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga said the Mission had an updated Register of Zambians living in India and other countries of extra accreditation, which made it easier to assist the Zambians in distress.

“We request that arrangements be made with Road Transport and Safety Agency – RTSA to enable the renewal of Drivers License from outside the country,” Mrs. Kapijimpanga said.

Meanwhile, Zambia’s Ambassador to Malaysia Walubita Imakando called for Missions abroad to start issuing national documents such as passports on behalf of government while Zambia’s Ambassador to South Korea Wylbur Simuusa called on Zambia to draw lessons from countries such as South Korea which were efficient in issuing national documents.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Mumba called for the need to increase the number of Zambians working in the Middle East while Zambia’s Ambassador to Israel Martin Mwanambale called for a mechanism to harness knowledge and skills gained by Zambian students abroad especially Israel.

This was contained in a statement released by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India Bangwe Naviley.

UPND Deputy Secretary-General Patrick Mucheleka and two others yesterday afternoon appeared before the Kasama Magistrate Court charged with two counts of malicious damage and aggravated robbery.

The three who include Elias Mubanga and Samuel Ngwira both UPND members could not however not take plea due to lack of instructions from the Director of Public Prosecution.

According to the facts before the court, the trio is said to have caused the damage by use of force to three type-writers and a printer valued at K13.970 property of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

The matter has since been adjourned to 30th September 2020 for possible instructions from the DPP

The trio has since been transferred to Milima state correctional facility as one of the charges is non-bailable.

Meanwhile, five UPND youths arrested in Kasama Tuesday night have been released on bail.

The youths who include Ron Chivube, Evaristo Mwenya, Steven Kunda, Emmanuel Sitikuso, and Steven Sichilongo appeared before the Kasama Magistrate Court charged with two counts of Assault.

Facts before the court are that the five whilst acting together did Assault Gilbert Mulenga and Justin Mulenga causing actual bodily harm.

Zambia Correctional services Deputy Commissioner for operations, Mr.Lloyd Chilundika has said that about 20,000 inmates are eligible to vote in the 2021 elections.

This follows the Godfrey Malembeka, Chief Executive officer for Prisons Care and Counseling Association (PRISCA) Versus the Attorney General and the ECZ case, where the court held that the prisoners right to vote must be upheld.

Mr. Chilundika said following the ruling, the Correctional services intends to undertake prisoners voting for the 2021 general elections.

“Following the court ruling allowing inmates to vote and working with other stakeholders, a technical committee with clear terms of reference has been constituted to operationalize the court decision and this committee has been going round to inspect physical prison structures and other matters that are incidental to the rights of inmates to vote and they will how we will implement voting system,” Mr.Chilundika said.