President Lungu says the investment climate is backed by laws and policies which help companies make profits and grow their businesses.

Speaking when he opened the Copperbelt Investment Expo in Ndola, President Lungu however warned that investors must act responsibly once they invest in Zambia.

The Head of State said if investors do not follow the law and act responsibly, he would act within the law to protect the country’s interests.

Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe announced that several foreign companies are ready to invest millions of dollars in various sectors on the Copperbelt.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has challenged the Nathan Chanda-led Patriotic Front Provincial Executive on the Copperbelt to embrace all those who lost elections during intra-party elections.

President Lungu says he has been receiving reports that party members who lost elections are being sidelined.

The head of state says some of the people who lost elections are very useful and can help grow the party on the Copperbelt.

Speaking upon arrival at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola yesterday morning, President Lungu challenged Mr. Chanda and his executive to be inclusive and bring everyone on board.

He said late President Michael Sata taught him to embrace everyone in the party and he wants the same to happen on the Copperbelt.

Earlier, Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe said the Patriotic Front’s policies are working well as can be seen by the many investors who have showed up at the Copperbelt Investment Expo.

Mr. Mwakalombe said he is hopeful the expo will create jobs for people on the Copperbelt.
Meanwhile, PF Copperbelt Chairperson Nathan Chanda thanked President Lungu for accepting the invitation to grace the official opening of the Copperbelt Investment Expo.

Government says families need to play an active role in curbing the increased cases of drug abuse among young people in the country.

Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo said parents and guardians need to take up responsibility and find time to monitor, discuss and counsel children on the dangers of drug related matters.

Mr Kampyongo said this when he officiated at the commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Lusaka today.

The commemoration which drew participation of hundreds of school children from across Lusaka district was held under the theme “Health for Justice, Justice for Health”.

Mr Kampyongo urged children not to relent but ensure that they seek audience and engage their parents on drug related activities.

The minister counselled the children against indulging in drugs as it will destroy their lives and future.

Mr Kampyongo said government will work towards giving children a voice in the fight against illicit drug abuse and trafficking and ensure that policy makers and people in leadership listen to their concerns.

The minister paid glowing tribute to teachers whom she described as second parents, and urged them to continue providing parental guidance to pupils at school in addition to providing education.

He said government remains committed to strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse such as drugs and alcohol which the United Nations has classified as a sustainable development goal target.

And Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Commissioner Alita Mbahwe bemoaned the increasing numbers of children involved in drug abuse and rehabilitation in the country.

Ms Mbahwe stated that last year, 395 youths aged between seven and seventeen years were arrested for drug abuse, and had to go through drug counselling.

She disclosed that the most of the drugs abused by young people are cannabis and heroin due to their availability and low price on the market.

Ms Mbahwe appealed to stakeholders to work with the commission towards addressing the spiralling drug abuse problem among the youths, adding that the fight against drug abuse cannot be left to government alone.

The DEC Commissioner further noted that there is also need for government to build a rehabilitation centre to be accessed by victims who cannot afford private drug rehabilitation services.

Ms Mbahwe said DEC will continue with its raids of townships, in the quest to bust up drug rings and rid the country of drug abusers.

And United Nations Resident Coordinator Coumba Mar Gardio said the international community remains determined to address and counter the drug problem which has become an increasingly bigger global problem.

Dr Gardio commended the commission for its innovative strategies in addressing and enforcing the law on drug abuse, trafficking and money laundering crimes.

She said the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes will continue to support Zambia’s agenda against drug abuse, in order to make the country a safe heritage and promote balanced health and rights for everyone, especially the young people.

President Edgar Lungu has urged the leadership in Masaiti district to begin implementing plans on how to develop a new town for the district.

Masaiti district has proposed development of a new town along the Ndola road in Chakute area which is deemed more centrally located and aimed at improving service delivery.President Lungu says it was therefore the mandate for the leadership in the district to make sure that plans were turned into reality, rather than just having them on paper.

Speaking when he toured the Masaiti stand during the Copperbelt investment expo, president Lungu said government wants to see practical results of projects that benefit people in the country.

“Let us make sure these things are not just in our heads. Work and make them a reality. It would be a shame if you failed to realize this dream you have set for yourselves,” The president said.

The Copperbelt investment expo is being held under the theme “Broadening the Copperbelt Economy through Diversified Investments” with four sectors being highlighted namely tourism, Forestry, small scale mining, and Agriculture.

And Masaiti Council Chairperson, Christine Chande, has assured of working tirelessly to lure investment in the area.Ms Chande said the goal is to become the best district in the province.

She said Masaiti has a lot of potential for investment in mining and tourism as it has several minerals like quarts and emeralds that can be exploited.

“Masaiti has so many minerals we simply need investors to come in and maximize on this potential. We also have enough tourism sites like the Chilengwa sunken lake and others” she said.

Meanwhile, Masaiti District Commissioner, Mike Musonda, says traditional leaders have bought into the dream of development by donating enough land for development purposes.

Mr Musonda says with the availability of land investors will do well to consider Masaiti their investment destination.

“Our Chiefs are ready to give out land for development purposes. They gave the land for the new town so we are very ready to take up the challenge posed to us by the president that we begin on our plans and attract investment” he said.

Masaiti district is one of the three rural districts on the Copperbelt Province, with others being Lufwanyama and Mpongwe which were formed after the desolation of Ndola rural.

The district has developed plans to shift the new town along the Ndola road to house several development projects like schools, administrative offices, amusement parks, and plazas.

Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa says ZESCO has no intentions of load-shedding critical Institutions like health facilities and police stations.

Mr. Nkhuwa has clarified that any power outages that may have occurred in some of these institutions could have been because of the current expansion of the roads in some parts of the country.

He says some power cables had been cut in the process of the road expansion works leading to outages in some areas.

Mr. Nkhuwa was speaking to journalists in Lusaka yesterday after the launch of the solar and wind resource Atlas and hand over of the resource mapping measuring equipment to Zambia by the World Bank.

Meanwhile, the Energy Minister said the solar and wind resource Atlas will provide variable information which will encourage developers to invest in solar and wind energy.

Mr. Nkhuwa said the development also supplements Government’s efforts in diversifying generation of electricity in the country.

And outgoing World Bank Country Manager, Ina Ruthernberg said Zambia is endowed with enormous renewable resources including solar energy, wind and small hydro.

Mrs. Ruthernberg added that the maps will provide quick and easy access to solar and wind resource data.

Hundreds of small-scale miners commonly known as Jerabos backed by freedom fighters and youths from the ruling Patriotic Front have marched on the streets of Mufulira asking for government to give them the mineral rich dump site called the Black Mountain.

The procession, which stretched for over five hundred meters, involved several Jerabos riding in tipper trucks and mining equipment.

The marchers went through Mufulira’s Central Business District carrying placards for their various mining cooperatives calling for the handover of the Black Mountain in the mining town.

At the Mufulira Civic Center where they gathered, Bonse Chesu Mining Union Cooperative Secretary General Gift Chibale said over 50 cooperatives are appealing to President Edgar Lungu to hand over the Black mountain to the youths.

Mr. Chibale said the slug dump will help young people create their own jobs and have viable businesses.

He added that among the cooperatives are those representing widows, former miners, Jerabos, youths and freedom fighters.

Mufulira Deputy Mayor Beatrice Kapansa and PF Copperbelt Province Youth Chairperson Don Mungulube attended the event.