Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo has called on parents to desists from sending their children  to beg and to sell on the  streets to curb the cases of cholera affecting many people in the country.

Mr Kasongo appealed to parents during the launch of the provincial roll out of children’s code act in Kitwe that they should remove their children from the streets and take the responsibility of taking care of them.

He said as the province embarks on the roll out of the Children act awareness, the involvement of chiefs and District Commissioners is vital in promoting the values that uplifts and stops the abuse of children.

“The Chiefs guidance, wisdom, and commitment to the welfare of their communities such as sensitisation of the contents of the children’s code act  will help members of the society to understand and take care of the children,” Mr Kasongo.

Mr Kasongo said the involvement of chiefs in the awareness of the Children’s act shows the government’s commitment to addressing cultural and traditional barriers affecting the growth and wellbeing of children.

He stated that government has outlined interventions to tackle gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, child abuse, and violence against children.

“To this effect efforts are being made towards child protection and ending child marriage, rehabilitation, and reintegrate children living on the street,” he said.

Mr Kasongo told the gathering that government is focused on improving mult-sectoral coordination and networking among players in social protection programmes.

He said priority has been given to nurturing and supporting early childhood development and facilitating a conducive learning environment to support early development of literacy and problem solving skills.

The Permanent Secretary pointed out that there is a need to include national values and principles in the young generation who are slowly diluting the country’s culture.

He also bemoaned that the exposure to internet has negatively affected the young generation who mostly abuse it.

Ministry of Community Development Assistance Director for Child Development Beatrice Muyambango said the overall goal of the Children’s act is to provide legislative measures for effective and efficient protection of children, preventing violation of the rights of children, abuse, violence, and all forms of harmful practices.

Ms Muyambango noted that the law will provide measures for corrective action where there is violation of rights of a child or where the abuse has occurred.

“This law is not meant to give powers to children over parents not at all, instead, this law brings out both the children’s rights and their responsibilities as well as corrective action and care for children who are or may be victims of various forms of harsh treatment, violence or parental neglect,” Ms Muyambango said.

Ms Muyambango noted that the children’s code act has provided for a national coordination committee for children and a replication of similar structures at various levels of implementation such as provincial, district, and community.

Farmers in Sinazongwe District have expressed worry over the delayed implementation of the Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility (SAFF).

 Gilbert Syabwengo, a farmer who  applied for support under the SAFF said the program was taking too long to be implemented.

Mr Syabwengo said the SAFF loans in form of inputs had taken longer to be redeemed by farmers yet the planting season was almost coming to the end.

“We applied for support for inputs  from the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture under the SAFF programme but unfortunately we have not been able to redeem from the agro dealers as the system is not yet ready yet the planting season is coming to the end,” he said.

Mr Syabwengo appealed to the Government to expedite the process if farmers are to meaningfully benefit from the SAFF program.

He said that since the inputs under SAFF were loans, the Government must consider giving farmers alternative forms of support that would enhance their livelihoods and provide food security.

Mr Syabwengo said the farmers that applied under this program were those that did not benefit from the farmer input support program (FISP) and Food security pack (FSP).

And Sinazongwe District Agriculture Coordinator, Valentine Kilubi said the SAFF program started on a good note with overwhelming response from farmers applying.

He said a number of farmers and Civil Servants had applied with some applications approved already.

Mr Kilubi said the Ministry of Agriculture was doing everything possible to ensure that the system is functional for farmers to redeem their inputs.

“We are waiting for agro dealers to get ready for farmers to be able to redeem their inputs as we are still expecting some rains before the end of planting season”, he said.

He appealed to farmers in Sinazongwe that applied for SAFF to exercise some patience as the system was being worked on to enable them redeem their inputs.

In a dramatic turn of events at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), South Africa delivered a stunning upset by defeating Morocco 2-0 in the Round of 16 stage, securing their place in the quarter-finals.

Despite being the top-ranked nation in Africa, Morocco faced an unexpected exit after a ten-man battle against a resilient South African team. The match featured standout performances and late-game twists that left football fans on the edge of their seats.

Evidence Makgopa and Teboho Mokoena emerged as the heroes for Bafana Bafana with excellent second-half goals. Makgopa’s well-placed finish into the bottom corner broke the deadlock and set the stage for a memorable victory. The goal, initially reviewed by VAR, was allowed to stand, giving South Africa the lead.

Morocco, despite dominating possession and having several scoring opportunities, faced a setback when Achraf Hakimi missed a late penalty that could have equalized the score. The Atlas Lions’ hopes further dwindled as Sofyan Amrabat received a red card after a VAR review for a foul on Mokoena as the last man.

Teboho Mokoena, seizing the moment, capitalized on a free-kick he had earned, whipping home a brilliant shot to seal South Africa’s triumph. The victory sparked jubilant scenes within the Bafana Bafana squad, marking a historic moment in AFCON.

South Africa will now face Cape Verde in the quarter-finals, positioning themselves as underdogs with the potential to make further waves in the tournament. On the other hand, Morocco, considered a favorite, will reflect on a missed opportunity to secure the prestigious continental title.

In another AFCON match on the same day, Mali secured their place in the last eight by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1. Mali will face tournament hosts Ivory Coast in the upcoming quarter-final clash.

The AFCON tournament continues to deliver unexpected twists and turns, showcasing the unpredictable nature of football on the African continent.

In a recent operation, police in Kabwe district, Central Province, have confiscated 39 210-litre drums of oil believed to have been acquired illegally by a local businessman. Central Province Police Commissioner Charity Munganga disclosed that the contraband was discovered based on a tip from the public, concealed in a residence in Nakoli compound.

Munganga reported that the businessman, who allegedly purchased the oil from a truck driver en route to South Africa, intended to sell it as cooking oil. The police commissioner emphasized that the seized material will remain in state custody until its content, reported to be cooking oil, is verified, and its source is confirmed.

Highlighting a growing trend in Central Province, Munganga expressed concern about an increasing number of cases involving products bought in transit. She assured the public that thorough investigations will be conducted to ascertain the legality of the obtained oil.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe issued a caution to businessmen, urging them to refrain from buying and selling unlabeled products. Mwanakampwe stressed that the sale of unmarked goods raises questions about quality and poses potential risks.

The businessman involved, identified as Mr. Tembo, acknowledged his inability to contact the transporter who sold him the oil. He revealed that the transaction was facilitated through an agent, and he purchased the oil at 4,000 Kwacha per drum. The case underscores the need for vigilance against illegal acquisitions and reinforces the importance of verifying the authenticity of products in circulation.

Liteta Police Station received a report yesterday regarding a fatal Road Traffic Accident (RTA) that unfolded at Kabwese Farm area, situated 4 kilometers south of Liteta Police Station along the Great North Road in Chisamba.

The incident involved three vehicles and resulted in the loss of two lives and various injuries. Mr. Jonathan Mwanza, aged 47, from Lunte Council, was driving an Isuzu D-Max with three passengers from South (Lusaka) to North (Kabwe). Additionally, Mr. Chilombo Sydney, aged 33, from Luanshya, faced a mechanical fault with his Fuso Fighter, positioned facing North, and had six passengers on board. Mr. John Chitoti Lumbuala, aged 51, from Mulungushi Extension in Kabwe, was driving a Toyota Fun Cargo from North (Kabwe) to South (Lusaka) with one passenger.

The accident unfolded when the Isuzu driver, due to excessive speed, collided with the stationary Fuso Fighter parked on the left lane. Subsequently, the Isuzu swerved to the right, colliding with the oncoming Toyota Fun Cargo. Tragically, two unidentified passengers from the Isuzu lost their lives on the spot, while the driver and a baby sustained minor injuries.

Further injuries include one passenger from the Fuso Fighter with a painful right leg, and the Fun Cargo driver with a swollen face and bleeding from the nose. The injured individuals have been admitted to Liteta Hospital, while the bodies of the deceased, identified as Alice Mwanza (30) from Lunte Council and a female juvenile, Mavis Mazyopa (15) from Chipata Compound in Lusaka, have been deposited in the Liteta Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga provided details, stating that investigations into the tragic incident are underway. The Isuzu vehicle sustained extensive damage, the Fuso Fighter suffered damage to its right side, and the Fun Cargo has its right side depressed with a shattered front windscreen.