President Edgar Lungu has left for Eastern Province where he is expected to attend the burial of his late Aunt Mama Mainess Lungu , who was until her death, the President’s only surviving aunt.

Ms Lungu died in Lusaka at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on September 16th, 2019.

The Zambia Airforce (ZAF) plane carrying President Lungu department City airport at 08:30 hours local time.

The Head of State is accompanied by the first lady Esther Lungu, Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.

President Lungu was seen off by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo, Justice Minister Given Lubinda, Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, service chiefs, senior government and party officials.

The Head of State is expected back in Lusaka immediately after burial.

Operations at Atlas Mara Head Office in Lusaka have been paralyzed after bailiffs seized office furniture forcing workers to be sent home.

A check at the bank this morning found that workers were forced to surrender their office laptops and were asked to go home.

It was found that the action on the Bank was instigated by one of the Bank’s main creditors.

A white man was seen in the building attempting to confiscate equipment in the Control Room.

The unnamed creditor who was instructing a large team of men from the Bailiffs Office to carry out the operation was heard shouting that he is owed a US$ 1 million since 1996.

“For 23 years I have been waiting for this payment. I will not listen to the Lawyers, you will now listen to the Bailiffs because I cannot be waiting for a single payment since 1996,” the creditor shouted.

Bank officials led by Director of Marketing Kenny Ngondo attempted to convince the white man to at least spare the equipment in the Control Room as that is the heart of the bank’s operations.

Attempts to interview Mr Ngondo failed as he flatly refused to speak to Journalists.

And some Bank employees who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concern over Atlas Mara’s high level of indebtedness.

“It is clear the Bank was not told the truth about the levels of liability before taking over Finance Bank. All these issues coming up are from Finance Bank days. Imagine, the Bank has 193 court cases from former employees and all of them will likely win the cases and demand to be paid,” one of the workers said.

By broadcast time, workers were still stranded in the car park as the Bailiffs went about their operations.

In 2016, AtlasMara which then owned African Banking Corporation Zambia Limited (BancABC Zambia) completed its acquisition of Finance Bank Zambia Limited, merging the two banks.

Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo says that Zambia has welcomed the apology rendered and regret expressed by South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa on the attacks on foreign nationals.

Mr Kampyongo said Zambia has accepted the public apology rendered during the funeral of ex-President, Robert Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe, adding that Zambia would also welcome the special envoys that President Ramaphosa would send to meet President Edgar Lungu or government officials, to discuss the same matter.

Mr. Kampyongo said this in Addis Ababa when traveled to Egypt from Lusaka enroute Ethiopia.

Mr. Kampyongo is in Egypt to attend a Pan-African Forum on Migration being held in Cairo.

Mr. Kampyongo said the forum was important as it would address the myths that surrounded migration that in turn led to challenges such as xenophobic attacks.

The Minister further said Zambia had performed well in embracing migration through mechanisms such as integrating foreign Nations in communities.

President Edgar Lungu has paid glowing tribute to the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hidenobu Sobashima

President Lungu said He was proud with Ambassador Hidenobu dedication and commitment in scaring up Zambia’s bilateral relations with Japan.

The Head of State hoped that his predecessor will continue from were Ambassador Hidenobu has left.

“Am proud that you scared up our cooperations to a higher level and we hope that your predecessor will continue were you are leaving from.” President said.

The Head of State pointed out that Zambia and Japan have signed a number of agreements which his successor should build on for the benefit of the two countries.

“I believe that all the agreements between Zambia and Japan will be built on, by your successor.” He said.

President Lungu explained that the expectations from the people are high, judging from the frequent interactions held between the government of Zambia and Japan.

He said the two countries have enjoyed increased collaboration over the years.

He said government wants to bring on board the private sector, in order to encourage participation in growing the cooperation.

He said the future of Zambia and Japan lies in the holding of more cultural exchange programmes, joint investments and cooperation.

Meanwhile President Lungu further noted that the country will greatly miss Ambassador Hidenobu’s contributions he rendered in fostering bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

And speaking earlier, the Japanese envoy thanked President Lungu for the development the two countries are enjoying in various sectors of the economy.

He further thanked President Lungu for visiting Japan late last year and this year 2019.

Ambassador Hidenobu said the Government of Japan is immensely grateful for the visit adding that Japan remains committed towards growing and strengthening the existing relations between the two peoples.