Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people has called on the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to ensure extension officers become mobile and educate people on livestock production.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu says people in Bemba land have now started keeping goats and cattle but they lack knowledge on how to take care of the animals.
Speaking when Malole Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma paid a courtesy call on him at his Palace in Mungwi District this morning, the traditional leader complained that extension officers no longer move around farms to educate livestock farmers.
He urged authorities to compel the officers to impart knowledge on livestock production to people in Northern Province.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu joked that Bembas no longer eat cattle like they did in the 1960s, but now want to keep them for business.
And Mr. Yaluma announced that the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is in the process of giving about 15 cattle to Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and several Sub Chiefs for animal production.
Mr. Yaluma, who is also Commerce Minister, said the cattle will be handed over soon so that Chiefdoms can start rearing for business.
He later donated 16 bicycles and several bags of mealie meal to Bashilubemba, the advisors to the Paramount Chief.
By Levy Ngoma
United Party for National Development-UPND-wishes to condemn in no uncertain terms Government’s continued insistence that farmers must sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency-FRA, a sing-song that has no value to farmers in the country.
It is absurd and a fallacy on the part of the Government to force farmers to sell their maize to the FRA when the prices of seed, fertilizer and other farming inputs have remained high and unsustainable.
What makes this scenario even more painful is that the PF, has through a number of milling companies, entered into an agreement to supply them with cheap, subsidized maize in order to mop up maize from unsuspecting farmers so that they could hit the 1 million metric tonnes target.
Much as the UPND doesn’t support the rampant swindling nature of most briefcase buyers and millers, we feel it is unjustifiable for the FRA to continue driving the Government’s political agenda of targeting the purchase of 1 million metric tonnes of maize during the 2020 maize marketing season.
The FRA must be reminded that their inability to pay farmers for the maize supplied to it by farmers over successive seasons coupled with their unattractive maize price to the farmers now at K110 per 50kgs is killing farmers.
Therefore, we wish to appeal to the FRA to swiftly and expeditiously settle the arrears that the Agency owes to farmers which is in excess of K97 million before it could even think of subjecting farmers to a more harsh lifestyle.
Already, we have tens of thousands of small scale farmers’ survival prospects during the 2020/2021 farming season bleak owing to the havoc that heavy rainfall and drought wreaked during the 2019/2020 farming season.
We are surprised that Government is interfering in the maize market when the Ministry of Agriculture has, through Mr Michael Katambo insisted that Zambia has recorded a bumper harvest for the 2019/2020 farming season.
The Author is the Opposition UPND Chairperson for Agriculture Committee
The Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST), the Nation’s leading NGO for Road Safety, welcomes the opening of the Makeni Flyover Bridge, but caution pedestrians against using it as a footpath.
The Makeni Flyover Bridge was commissioned on Monday, 3rd of August 2020 by the republican President Edgar Lungu. Ever since ZRST has received disturbing reports with photos and videos of repeated dangerous risk behaviours involving pedestrians walking and running on the bridge.
ZRST Chairman, Daniel Mwamba said:
“Every life matters, we want to advise all pedestrians to stick to a footpath under the bridge. It makes sense that people need some time to adjust to the new world of flyovers, but using the flyover bridge as a footpath that is dedicated to the motorist is a near-death sentence for anyone”.
Recent road quarterly traffic data published by the Zambia Police has shown some reduction in the number of road accidents and deaths on our roads during Covid19 pandemic, but the burden of road traffic fatalities and injuries still remains high, especially for pedestrians and cyclist. Over fifty per cent of traffic fatalities involve pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore, drastic action is needed to put measures in place to save lives.
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and individual road users have to take responsibility for their behaviour. Drivers must give way to pedestrians crossing the street. They must exercise due care when approaching pedestrian crossings, slow down and be alert to pedestrian movement.
For over the past 5 years, the ZRST has worked closely with the government, corporate world and others to help implement evidence-based solutions. Together we continue to promote the use of car seat-belts, campaign against speeding and drunk driving, redesign school streets to make them safer, and advocate for safer pedestrian and cycle paths.
Through a three-pronged approach of education, engagement and enforcement, we want to continue to support the government to create a culture where safe road use is an instinctive and personal responsibility.
It is important that we all take decisive steps against irresponsible behaviour that puts others at risk. This will be ZRST ongoing effort, and we will need the support of all road users to achieve safer roads.
Road traffic crashes are not “accidents”. They are completely preventable.
UPND chairman for economics and finance Situmbeko Musokotwane has claimed that says the PF government is printing money, a situation he has described as disastrous to the economy.
Featuring on Millenium Radio’s “Interview program,” Dr Musokotwane disclosed that the current balance sheet at the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) indicated that the central bank was loaning out money to government which in itself is equivalent to printing money.
The former finance minister (MMD government) said the current PF government had spent all the money from tax payers and that the only option they had was to borrow money from BOZ, a situation he said was equivalent putting more fuel to fire or salt to an open wound.
‘’The exchange rate under such circumstances is likely to go up because now even to pay external debt, the central bank will be loaning government which is a wrong way to do things,’’ he said.
Dr. Musokotwane explained that the mining sector needed to be handled with care as it was the biggest tax payer, employer and forex earner which was benefitting the country.
‘’The PF always want to spend money without understanding production, this is why the mining sector is still facing challenges, in 2010 and 2011 our copper production was more than 2 million metric tons per year but currently we (Zambia) are below 800, 000 metric tons,’’ he said.
Further, he stated that there was need to seriously come up with a good 2021 budget unlike the current one that was 50 percent spent on salaries, 40 percent paying back debt and that other important projects in the country had 10 percent share.
‘’As UPND, we will ensure there is a budget that will allow us to hire 40, 000 youths that have graduated from universities, a budget that will allow us to do many things unlike the current one which is just a budget of salaries and allowances,’’ he said.
‘’We need to engage the creditors, those that gave us the money so that the period in which we pay back can be strengthened and give us time to breath,’’ he added.
He said the UPND will be aggressive towards creditors and negotiate debts the country owes as it was the only way Zambians lives can be improved.
The government has commissioned a 5.2 million U.S dollar Pumping unit on the Tazama oil pipe line. Tazama Pipelines Limited has spent 37 million US dollars to replace old pumps at seven stations along the Tazama pipeline, which runs from Dar-es-Salaam to Ndola.
Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa and Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu commissioned the last new unit, installed at Kalonje in Lavushi-Manda district
Speaking after commissioning the pumping station, Mr Nkhuwa said the Kalonje pumping facility is an economic infrastructure that government cannot afford to neglect.
He said that is why the Ministry of Energy found it fit to invite Dr Ng’andu to appreciate how the 25 million U.S dollar loan his ministry gave TAZAMA has been utilised.
Mr Nkhuwa said TAZAMA pipe lines limited has been operating on second hand engines since it was commissioned in 1968.
And Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu said he is impressed with the investment that TAZAMA has put in place.
Dr. Ng’andu noted that while the amount of money that has gone towards a replacement of pump engines is huge, the development speaks volumes as it is a good example of using resources prudently.
And TAZAMA Pipelines Limited Director Operations and Engineering Deodatus Zegge said the status of the engines had deteriorated thereby becoming a cost to repair.
Mr. Zegge said the replacement of the main engines will now improve operational performance; reduce on costs of repair and maintenance.
Earlier the Ministers made a stopover at Mulilima pigging station, in Serenje, a facility used to clean the inside of the pipeline.
During the tour TAZAMA pipelines, Limited Managing Director Davison Thawethe Informed the Ministers that TAZAMA has been carrying out routine maintenance of the facility.
He said the intelligent pigging to detect any damage to the pipeline costs TAZAMA over 2 million U.S dollar every five years
Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya has described his tour of Western Province as ‘successful’ saying the government appreciates the support it continues to receive from the people.
Hon Kafwaya has been in the province to launch various government projects aimed at transforming the area.
Speaking when he concluded his tour of duty by featuring on Oblate Radio Liseli Special Programme on Wednesday evening, Hon Kafwaya said the government will continue to take development to all parts of the country.
“You may wish to know Namakau (moderator) that on Monday I launched a modern computer laboratory at Sefula School for the Visually Impaired here in Mongu. This lab also has a state of the art Braille printer which will help our learners to advance in their education. The lab was set up by my ministry through Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA),” he said.
“His Excellency President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu believes in not leaving anyone behind when it comes to national development and this government wants to include everyone. It must interest you to note that after I launched the lab, we asked a visually impaired person to type something on the computer and print it out in braille, thereafter we called a pupil who was outside and asked her to read what was printed. And it was amazing and quite moving that she read exactly what was printed out in braille. This is the development the people want.”
He said he also took time to launch another lab at Mandanga Secondary School in Mongu which was also set up by the government aimed at promoting ICT in the country.
The Minister stated that he furthermore launched a communication tower at Ndoka School in Kalomo which is a seventh tower in Kalomo District constructed by the PF Government.
“President Lungu is on record that this government wants to prioritize the construction of communication towers as this has several benefits and help us to develop our country. Western Province alone has about 74 towers and about 48 more are still under construction. This province is connected to the rest of the country and the world at large,” he added.
“I also took time to pay a courtesy call on the Barotse Royal Establishment. And Hon Ngambela and I spoke at length to discuss development in the province. And I must state here that government appreciates the support we receive from the BRE.”
He informed the listeners that he ended his tour by interacting with the public service drivers at Limulunga Bus Station and encouraged them to promote road safety in the region amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said he was in the company of Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Chief Executive Officer Gladwell Banda who also encouraged the drivers against pirating and ensure that they have the full disks in their vehicles in order to avoid penalties.
“I was on oxygen support for three days because I had COVID-19. And I would not want anyone to go through what I went through. Let’s not relax on the guidelines provided by authorities as this will help us to overcome this pandemic,” he stated.
The Young African Leaders Initiative – YALI – has asked President Edgar Lungu to consider extending his prerogative mercy to incarcerated Chilanga lawmaker, Keith Mukata, exiled activist Gregory Chifire, among other imprisoned persons for pardon during the National Day of Prayer and Reconciliation.
In a message to mark the 4 years after the 2016 General Elections, YALI Governance Advisor and Legal Advisor Isaac Mwanza has called on leaders and the general citizenry to reconcile, forgive one another and support Government in developing the nation and conducting peaceful 2021 elections.
“We want to earnestly ask President Lungu to lead efforts in reconciling Zambians as the country prepares for general election, exactly one year from now,” said Mr. Mwanza.
Mr. Mwanza said although the last 4 years have witnessed hardwork from President Lungu’s administration in delivering development, the nation has continued to see divisions with some people harbouring pain and hatred against each other.
“What is happening is very unhealthy for a Christian and peace-loving nation. What is more sad is that the clergy who are supposed to be messengers of forgiveness and reconciliation are in the forefront perpetrating divisions among political sides. The President must thus take the responsibility upon his shoulder to do the tasks Bishops and other members of the clergy should have been doing in reconciling the Nation,” he said.
Mr. Mwanza has chastised Zambians in the Diaspora to stop talking ill about their country and Government but offer themselves to help in the healing process than create further divisions.
“The ‘Facebook and Hashtag Revolution’ by our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, in which they spend countless hours and efforts insulting or disrespecting leaders in Government is not helping to build the country we all love. These energies can better be spent in helping the nation to prepare for 2021 elections and manage the post-election period,” he said.
He said Zambians can only do this noble act when they put political differences, hurt and pains aside and begin working together to firstly, conduct peaceful elections in 2021 and secondly, becoming a resource for developing Zambia.
“In this vein, we kindly implore His Excellency the President to utilise the forthcoming Day of National Prayer in October, 2020 to extend forgiveness by extending the prerogative of mercy in pardoning persons like former Chilanga Member of Parliament Keith Mukata and self-exiled activist Gregory Chifire, both of whom were convicted by the Courts for different offenses. These men and other prisoners whom President Lungu has used his Christian heart to continue pardoning deserve a second chance to contribute to this country.”
Mr Mwanza has since called on Zambians from all walks in life to take the first steps by reaching out to those whom they could have offended to make peace and seek forgiveness but also allow the spirit of reconciliation to lead our lives and the life of the Nation.
President Edgar Lungu has said that the PF government attaches great importance to the role that Artists play in the economic development of the country.
Speaking during the launch of the Youth Empowerment Scheme Targeting Artists and the Presidential Choral and Arts Festival at Government Complex in Lusaka today, President Lungu said since the creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, his government has demonstrated that artists are Key players in national development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Vice president Inonge Wina, President Lungu stated that he has noted with happiness that the country’s arts sector has been registering tremendous growth, which has attracted both local and foreign attention.
He further said that the PF government has further noted with happiness an increase in local content on television as well as an increase in attendance to Zambian concerts, festivals fairs, and exhibitions.
“All this is as a result of the enabling environment that my government, in collaboration with stakeholders has put in place,” President Lungu said.
And the head of state has stated that the two signature programs that his government has launched today will bring the country together and empower artists.
Some of the Youths and Artists that attended the K 30 Million Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund Scheme Launch
President Lungu also announced that government plans to indirectly reach at least 15, 000 artists across the country from the 10, 000 artists that the National Arts Council of Zambia is targeting to reach through the festival.
He explained that the Youth Empowerment Scheme Targeting Arts and the Presidential Choral and Arts Festival are the two interventions that have been structured to provide relief to a sector that has been negatively impacted by COVID 19.
President Lungu has since urged the National Arts Council to take a consultative approach and ensure that the scheme benefits as many artists as possible.
He has also urged artists that will access the funds to be accountable the funds and use them for the intended purpose.
“You have been asking for such an intervention from your government, this is not the time to be merry but to do the work that needs to be done,” President Lungu said.
The Vice President Inonge Wina and Senior Government officials at the launched of the K 30 Million Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund Scheme
And Speaking earlier, Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela said the two programmes that have been launched are in response to the challenges that artists have been facing particularly in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Chitotela explained that performing artists have lost income opportunities , jobs and have struggled to earn a living as they can no longer host shows while craft artists cannot sell their work due to the reduced number of tourists.
He further stated that the approval of the K30 million Youth Empowerment Scheme targeting artists and the Presidential Choral and Arts festival was not a random act by the head of state but a strategic decision which was made in the winder context of the Seventh National development Plan to diversify the economy and expand job opportunities for youths.
The Vice President Inonge Wina and Senior Government officials at the launched of the K 30 Million Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund Scheme
FAZ will handle its own Covd-19 testing and monitoring next season after facing huge challenges since the July 18 restart that led to the reduction of the season from 34 to 27 weeks on August 9.
Testing and monitoring was the sole baby of government health management teams that saw massive delays that led to complaints and frustrations from teams over the pre-match verification process.
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga said Football House now has ten weeks to put in place the structure before the 2020/2021season kickoff on October 17.
“So going forward we hope that all the members are going to respect the health protocols because it is very clear that this Covid- 19 is not going anyway any time soon,” Kamanga said.
“If we don’t start, the league clubs are likely to have a lot of financial challenges because they have to meet the players’ salaries and of course the window for the 2020/2021 season registration has now been opened too.
“So these were some of the factors that caused us to make that decision that we should restart the league in October; now others will argue that we were only remaining with seven games and we could have played those games within a month plus five week.
“Yes, we could have done that but the challenge still is as long as we do not have a guarantee that the testing and the results will be there on time, the problems we have witnessed in the last three weeks will still continue.
“We have taken a view that lets give this process a longer period of ten weeks, and in the ten weeks, they are things we are going to do as FAZ and they are things we expect the clubs to do so that come the restart of the league in October, we are all on the same page and manage this situation seamlessly.
“For instance, on our end as FAZ, we are going to invest in the testing equipment and we are going to invest in the reagents and then through the Zambia Medical Association, whom we have already engaged, we hope that they will be able to carry out those tests in consultation with the FAZ Medical Committee so that if we have total control of the testing and results, then we shouldn’t have these problems that we have witnessed in the last three-four weeks.”
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has said that there is a spike in Covid-19 cases in North-Western and Copperbelt Provinces where Ndola and Solwezi have recorded double figures of infections in the past two days, with Ndola recording 5 COVID-19 related Brought in Dead (BID) cases.
Speaking during the COVID-19 routine update, Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya called for the need to double the intervention efforts.
The MInister further said that most deaths are among the elderly and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes and pneumonia.
Dr. Chilufya also indicated that the country has in the last 24 hours recorded 226 new cases of COVID-19.
79 patients are currently admitted to Levy Mwanawasa Isolation Centre with 32 on oxygen support.
He said 229 people have been discharged, bringing the total number of recoveries to 7,233.
Dr. Chilufya added that Government will not segregate or look at the status when attending to COVID-19 patients adding that all of them will be treated equally.
The Minister was responding to journalists who wanted to know if the Levy Mwanawasa facility had VIP patients who were being treated differently from others.
Dr. Chilufya emphasised the importance of public health measures and the need for people to stay away from congregate activities such as funerals.
Government says access to reliable communication services is critical in the fight against Covid-19.
Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya said access to Information and Communications Technology has become even more important as citizens need reliable information on what is happening in the fight against Covid-19.
Mr Kafwaya said Zambia is facing Covid-19 challenges like many other countries and adapting to the new normal requires that people are given credible information on how to avoid spreading the virus.
He said through the use of ICTs, citizens are encouraged to reach out through the emergency Help Line to get support on Covid-19.
Mr Kafwaya was speaking on Tuesday when he commissioned the Ndoka communications tower at Ndoka Primary School in Kalabo district.
He added that the launch of Ndoka site demonstrates government’s resolve to take communication services to all parts of Zambia.
Mr. Kafwaya said from the 1, 009 towers to be constructed across the country under Phase II of the Communications Tower Project, a total of 717 towers are operational and the remaining ones will be completed by December this year.
“Today we are witnesses to the fulfilment of a promise to connect all parts of Kalabo. GRZ is walking the talk in the development of ICT infrastructure. My Ministry is committed to the provision of affordable and reliable communication services across the country in a manner that leaves no one behind,” Mr Kafwaya said.
He said government is putting in place a regulatory framework that will safeguard the infrastructure being put up adding that government has prioritized the construction of communication towers across the country because of their value to national development.
“My sincere hope that this infrastructure will be safeguarded and that it will contribute to the social and economic development of Kalabo district,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Zamtel Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Reuben Kamanga said Zamtel has been ranked as the best network in terms of quality of Service by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA).
Zamtel Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations Reuben Kamanga delivers his speech during the launch of the Ndoka communications tower in Kalabo
Mr. Kamanga said this is contained in the ZICTA’s latest report on Quality of Service (QoS) for Mobile Network Operators.
He said the telecommunication company had worked hard to improve the quality of service to its customers.
Mr. Kamanga said Zamtel was now the network with the largest footprint in the country as it continues to roll out more networks.
“So far 717 new sites have been rolled out in different parts of the country and the remaining sites are planned for completion before end of this year,” he said.
Mr Kamanga said in Kalabo district, Zamtel has added four new sites bringing the total sites in Western Province to 74 while an additional 48 sites will be added across the province before end of the year.
He said Zamtel recognizes that western Province has potential to grow in many sectors of the economy.
He said the construction of towers will help farmers and the business community to expand their portfolios.
“Zamtel has noted massive potential that Western Province has especially in the area of Rice production, tourism and fishing. The coming of infrastructure such as communication towers will help realise this potential,” Mr Kamanga said.
He also said farmers would be able to communicate with buyers of fish in larger markets such as Lusaka.
“Farmers can now receive payments for produce via Zamtel Kwacha which is convenient and secure payment option and helps reduce cash handling risks.
“This infrastructure will help create new business opportunities for the people of Ndoka and surrounding areas,” Mr Kamanga said.
And Kalabo District Commissioner Fridah Luhila said the seven towers installed in Kalabo had revolutionised communication for the people of Kalabo. Mrs. Luhila said government institutions were now able to communicate programmes easily through the use mobile phones.
“The towers have brought businesses to youths in Kalabo and was helping curb crime as the Neighbourhood Watch Groups are able to communicate easily,” she said.
Kalabo district has 83,000 people mostly living in rural parts of the district.
Transport and Communications Minister Mutotye Kafwaya inspects the newly launched communication tower at Ndoka Primary School in Kalabo
The government has released the total allocated Constituency Development Fund as budgeted in the 2020 National budget.
Local Government Minister Charles Banda says the CDF budgetary allocation for 2020 is K249,600,000.
Dr Banda says this amount is meant for distribution to all the 156 Constituencies and each of the 156 Constituencies will receive a total of K1.6 million.
He said in 2018, K209,337,616 was released from the Treasury and the Ministry in turn disbursed the funds to 132 constituencies because the allocation was not adequate to cater for all the 156 Constituencies.
Dr Banda said the 24 constituencies not funded from the 2018 CDF were constituencies that had Members of Parliament who were Cabinet Ministers.
He said in 2019, given the country’s financial constraints, the Ministry of Finance released a total of K29,962,384 which was in turn disbursed to the remaining constituencies that never received the CDF in 2018.
Dr Banda said this being an inclusive Government premised on delivering development to every corner of Zambia, the Government has shown this commitment by releasing the whole amount as budgeted for to ensure that no constituency is left behind in terms of development.
He said the Members of Parliament now have an onerous task to ensure that the implementation of the earmarked projects commences as soon as the funds are in the accounts.
Dr Banda has directed all the councils that have not yet submitted the 2020 CDF projects for approval to do so immediately.
“It is the cry of the large citizenry that development should be hastened in all areas without leaving anyone behind. There is no reason to retain the funds in the Constituency Bank Accounts when there are many development challenges that need to be urgently addressed”, he added.
He has reiterated his Ministry’s commitment to ensure that the CDF allocated is used for the intended purpose in a transparent and accountable manner in accordance with the CDF Act No.11 of 2018, which prescribes the funding, management and accountability of the Fund.
The Human Rights Commission is calling on the Zambia Police Service to strictly adhere to their own Standard Operating Procedures during the enforcement of Public Health Regulations and the Presidential Guidelines on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Human Rights Commission spokssperson Mwelwa Muleya says the resolution by Cabinet on Monday 10th August 2020 to deploy police officers to enforce public health regulations and guidelines on COVID-19 is a welcome move because it is in line with Zambia’s multi-sectorial response to the coronavirus called Zambia COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Programme.
Mr Muleya says officers however have an obligation to strictly adhere to the recently developed SOPs for the Zambia Police Service which stipulates the guidelines on how they should execute their duties as they contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Zambia COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Programme.
He says all law enforcement officers are in particular required to respect the rights and dignity of all persons.
Mr. Muleya says this means that officers should never resort to acts of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of individuals not adhering to the regulations and guidelines.
“Officers must also respect the fundamental human rights principle of equality and non-discrimination during the enforcement of the public health regulations and guidelines”, he said.
Mr. Muleya said Members of the public must know and respect the fact that during this period of public health global pandemic, law enforcement officers have legitimate powers to, among other measures, enforce restrictions on movements, public gatherings prohibition or restriction on trade or vending and to stop any other illegal activities that may undermine the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has reiterated the fact that COVID-19 pandemic is real and is ravaging lives therefore, there is a need for reinforced response against its spread by combining public awareness and enforcement mechanisms in order to save lives.
“To this end, the Commission is calling upon the Government to decentralize COVID-19 pandemic fund to District councils, District Health Offices and Police Stations to scale up public awareness on, and adherences to public health regulations and guidelines”, said Mr Muleya.
He has commended the Zambia Police Service for being pro-active by developing SOPs for its officers with financial and technical support from the United Nations Development Programme and also technical support from the Human Rights Commission.
However, Mr Muleya said the Commission is concerned that the capacity building of officers and the distribution of the SOPs to officers countrywide may be overtaken by the deployment of officers in the field and this may result in violation of human rights due to lack of standardised procedures and practices among the officers.
He has further called on the Zambia Police Service Command to accelerate capacity building of officers and dissemination of the SOPs in order to achieve the noble objective of standardising procedures and practices among all officers during the enforcement of regulations and guidelines on COVID 19 pandemic.
Patriots for Economic Progress Leader Sean Tembo is happy with the accelerated rate at which the Zambian people have embraced his party as an alternative Government in waiting that can deliver on the economic, social and governance aspirations of citizens.
Mr Tembo says as, on Monday, 10th August 2020, the total paid-up membership of the Patriots for Economic Progress crossed the 600,000 mark.
He says for a political party that has been in existence for barely four years, this is no mean achievement.
Mr Tembo says Given the PeP exponential growth in the past few years, coupled with the visionary leadership of the PeP National Organizing Committee and the increasing appetite of the Zambian people to elect into office fresh blood that is devoid of recycled politicians that generally characterize Zambia’s political landscape, the political future of the Patriots for Economic Progress is bright.
He said given all the variables, he believes that it is in order to now declare the Patriots for Economic Progress as Zambia’s Third Political Force.
“Suffice to mention that it is not our desire to remain third-ranked for long. In the one year from now to Election Day, we shall be making a very spirited attempt to emerge victorious in the general elections, and to obtain the mandate of the Zambian people to preside over the affairs of this Republic”, he said.
Mr Tembo says the Patriots for Economic Progress are not in an Alliance with any political party, and the possibility of any Alliance with any political party between now and the Election Day in 2021 is totally out of question.
He says any other political party and their respective leaders shall be considered as their political opponents and they will be treated as such.
Mr Tembo says the theme of the PeP message to the Zambian people will be threefold ahead of 2021 firstly, how the ruling PF and its Government have failed to run the affairs of this nation and need to be replaced.
He said secondly, how the main opposition UPND and its leadership have no vision for this country and resemble the ruling PF in every aspect except the fact that they are not in power and thirdly, why the Patriots for Economic Progress and it’s leadership are the most suitable grouping to be next accorded the opportunity of running the affairs of this beautiful nation and to turn around this country’s economic fortunes as well as restore the rule of law.
Mr Tembo says his party saw it necessary to state its position as above so that there is no doubt in the minds of political opponents as well as the Zambian people in terms of where they stand and what their campaign message themes will be, going forward.
SHIWAN’GANDU Constituency Member of Parliament Hon Stephen Kampyongo has vowed to defend and protect Paramount Chief Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga Sosala from politically charged individuals attacking him.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on the traditional leader at his residence in Kasama District of Northern Province, Hon Kampyongo said he would not sit idle and allow uncultured politicians to go on attacking the Chief with impunity.
“Mutuka mfumu tatuka imo, atuka shonse” [One who insults a chief, insults not one but all chiefs] Hon. Kampyongo said.
Hon Kampyongo said that it is morally incorrect for any politician or ordinary citizen to begin to abuse the traditional leaders in the country regardless of the regions they hail from.
Hon Kampyongo who is also Home Affairs Minister assured Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of President Edgar Lungu’s undisputed support to himself and other traditional leaders who have so far come under attack by some immoral politicians.
He also called on all elected members of parliament who hail from the Northern Region to rise and defend the traditional leader.
The Home Affairs Minister is in Northern Province to check on the mobile National Registration exercise which was launched last week.
