Prison Care and Counselling Association (PRISCA) has commended President Edgar Lungu for pardoning 2,984 inmates in commemorating Africa Freedom Day which falls on 25th May 2020.

Of those pardoned, 55 are aged, 11 were released on compassionate release, three medical cases, 9 HEPs and 12 foreign nationals. 155 of the total number accounted for women while 2,829 are men.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo, this brings down the prison population which was standing at over 22,000 to 19,248.

President Lungu pardoned 2,182 inmates last year in commemoration of Africa freedom day and a total of 3,430 inmates in the year 2018.

PRISCAA director Dr Godfrey Malembeka said it is humbling that the current Government has continued treating prisoners with the dignity that they deserve.

“We have noted with gladness that of those that have been pardoned are vulnerable inmates such as the aged, the sick and those held under His Excellency’s Pleasure (HEPs).

Dr Malembeka further said he is also elated to learn that bail conditions have been relaxed and over 2,700 persons have been granted unconditional bail saying this is a step in the right direction if we are to decongest our correctional facilities in Zambia especially during this period of the Coronavirus.

He also thanked the Ministry of Home Affairs and Zambia Correctional Service for their hard work in assessing the beneficiaries of the presidential prerogative of mercy, parole and compassionate release adding that these exits have continued decongesting our highly congested correctional facilities in Zambia.

“We appeal to members of the general public to accept ex-prisoners back into society and help them with basic needs where necessary. Prisoners have been released at a time when they may need warm clothing and blankets and we appeal to well-wishers to come to their aid. We also appeal to traditional leaders, Members of Parliament and churches to also raise to the occasion and help our brothers and sisters that have been pardoned. By doing so, we are completing the cycle of rehabilitation” Dr Malembeka urged.

To those who have been released, Dr Malembeka urged them to demonstrate high levels of discipline, be law abiding and prove to society that they have really reformed as this will encourage the President to continue extending an olive branch to their friends that are still held in correctional facilities around the country and will also build confidence in the general public that prisoners are truly being reformed.

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The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has engaged the Zambia Correctional Service(ZCS) and Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles on a joint venture to manufacture 4- Million reusable face masks for pupils in examination classes .

Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo says the joint venture is in a bid to support Government’s multisectoral response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Kampyongo said that the first batch of two million face masks will be manufactured before schools reopen on June 1.

The Minister was speaking during a press briefing held in Lusaka today.

And Mr. Kampyongo says the second batch of the face masks will be delivered on time to enable pupils have access to learning facilities without fear of contracting the virus.

Meanwhile, Schools in Livingstone have intensified preparations in readiness for reopening of examination classes on June 1.

District Education Board Secretary Aiden Kambunga has told ZNBC News in an interview that his office working with health authorities and the Livingstone City Council is already putting up measures to ensure that the schools are ready for learners under the new normal.

And Livingstone City Council Public Relations Manager Melvin Mukela has said the local authority has already disinfected Hillcrest Technical Secondary School and that the rest of the schools will be disinfected before reopening.

Meanwhile, Minister of General Education David Mabumba has called on parents and guardians to work with school authorities to enhance preparedness against Covid-19, as schools re-open for examination classes on June 1.

Mr. Mabumba says parents and guardians should foster relations with the government in ensuring that NO learner misses examinations in December due to the Covid-19.

He says the school calendar has been adjusted to avoid a crisis in the education sector in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The minister was speaking after touring Chibombo Secondary School in Central Province.

Mr. Mabumba was impressed with the setting up of a Sick Bay at the school to be used in an event of any suspected case of Covid-19 among pupils and sanitation measures put in place to prevent the disease.

He advised the administration to work hard and support President Edgar Lungu’s wish for learners to attain good education while encouraging them to create a conducive environment at the school.

And Acting School Head Teacher Raphael Mbewe revealed that the school has come up with 17 examination classes out of the initial 9 classes.

After backlash from various stakeholders over its position on the attacks on broadcasting media houses by Patriotic Front Cadres, the Independent Broadcasting Authority has changed its position and now claims it stands with the media houses over the attacks.

IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma was quoted in some sections of the media advising broadcasting media houses to air pre-recorded interviews to avoid being attacked, a statement that was deemed as an endorsement of the attacks on media institutions by the PF.

Mrs Mapoma advised broadcasting stations to pre-record certain sources to reduce the risk of being attacked following the disruption of radio programs of selected radio stations that were hosting UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema in Muchinga Province via phone.

But IBA Board Chairperson Mabel Mung’omba has differed Mrs Mapoma on the unfortunate incidences that have been recorded at Muchinga, Mpika and Isoka Radio Stations.

Mrs Mung’omba said the Independent Broadcasting Authority shares the same position that was stated by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services in a statement issued on Sunday, 17th May 2020.

“In the statement referred to, the Minister categorically indicated that government remains resolute in its support and promotion of media freedoms in the country, and therefore does not support any form of attacks on media houses”, she said.

Mrs Mung’omba has condemned in the strongest terms harassment and threats of violence against any Broadcasting Station in the country.

She has sympathized with the Stations that have been attacked by suspected cadres.

“We wish to show our solidarity with you and encourage you to remain steadfast as you perform your noble duties of informing, educating and entertaining the audience”, she added.

She has assured Licensees that the IBA will engage key stakeholders to pursue various options that will help to put an end to acts of harassment and violence against broadcasting houses and the sources.

To promote a pluralistic broadcasting industry in Zambia through fair, transparent and effective regulation, Mrs Mung’omba has encouraged broadcasting media houses to promote on air, the Complaints Procedure as stipulated in Section 34 of the IBA Act of 2002.

Furthermore, she has advised broadcasting media houses to report any form of violence on the Station to the Police saying the IBA stands with them in stopping acts of violence on Broadcasting Stations.

President Edgar Lungu has today pardoned 2, 984 inmates to commemorate African Freedom Day which falls on 25th May 2020.

These include 2, 903 ordinary, 55 old aged, three medical cases, 11 compassionate and nine on the President pleasure while 12 are foreign nationals representing about 14 percent of the total inmate population.

Announcing the development at a media briefing today, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said among the pardoned under the President’s prerogative of mercy, 155 are females while 2, 829 are males.

Mr Kampyongo said the release of the inmates leaves the inmates population countrywide at 19, 248.

He said this action by President Lungu is in accordance with article 97 of the constitution of Zambia which provides for the Presidential pardon and substitution of severe punishment imposed on convicted persons.

Mr Kampyongo said in an effort to further decongest the correctional facilities due to the COVID-19 threat, his Ministry engaged the Director of Public Prosecution to consider giving bail or outright discharge to over 4,330 unconvinced inmates charged with miner cases and a total of 2, 719 unconvicted persons have been granted unconditional bail.

He said the Zambia Correctional Service has also been working hard to implement measures as directed by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Kampyongo said the Zambia Correctional Service Officers have also been working hard to ensure public health measures such as social distancing, sanitising, hand washing and wearing of face masks are adhered to during the admission of new or transferred inmates.

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development has called for more support towards schools in rural areas to ensure preparedness, prevention, and control of COVID-19 Pandemic as Schools reopen next month.

CTPD Executive Director Isaac Mwaipopo is concerned that following President Edgar Lungu’s directive for schools to reopen on 1st June, some schools especially those for special needs do not have the basic facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking when CTPD with support from Oxfam Zambia donated assorted safety amenities such as masks, hand sanitizers, washing dishes and posters at Maamba special needs school in Southern Province, Mr. Mwaipopo called on the mining companies to support the host communities through the provision of facilities that will help prevent the spread of COVID19.

“Schools in rural areas do not have the basic facilities that can stop the spread of COVID19. More support is needed to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the education system’’, He said.

Mr. Mwaipopo also urged manufacturers that are producing handwashing facilities to modify them in a way that will help cater to children with special needs.

And Maamba Special Needs School Deputy Head Mistress Misozi Kabunda commended CTPD and OXFAM Zambia for the donation stating that it will go a long way in maintaining safe school operations and prevent the spread of the virus.

“Currently we have about 90 pupils with different special needs who require appropriate prevention and COVID-19 response measures in place before schools reopen on 1st June 2020’’, Mrs. Kabunda said.

The Fire Services Union of Zambia has written to the Bankers Association of Zambia to complain over the deduction of more than one loan installment from a single salary of its members by some Commercial Banks.

Union General Secretary Clement Mulenga says this has caused Union members to go home with nothing for many months amidst the serious economic hardships.

Mr Mulenga said the situation has been necessitated by the salary arrears and delays currently the local authorities are experiencing.

He said the Union appreciates that Banks are in business and must recover their money, but not to the extent of promoting destitution in their clients.

In a statement, Mr Mulenga has lamented that Banks should create financial capacity in their clients and not the opposite.

He has since implored the Bankers Association of Zambia to engage Commercial Banks not to be deducting more than one installment from a single salary because this is not the workers problem but the employer.

Three days after he indefinitely closed Lantian restaurant in Lusaka’s Longacres area for discriminating against Zambians, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa has closed Chinese owned Angels Barbershop at Arcades Shopping Mall for discriminating against blacks.

The Barbershop was also found displaying their prices in Chinese contrary to the Food and Health Act.

“We had a tip off from a whistle blower who took his son to cut hair but was told K300 as price just to put him off. When he agreed to pay, they then changed their mind and said the Barbershop was actually closed and had to leave”, said the Mayor.

Mr Sampa said when he went to Angels Barbershop for a fact finding mission on 21st March 2020, he found a closed sign at the door but upon entering, he noticed a Chinese having his haircut.

“They did not recognize us as we had a mask on. We pretended wanting to have our haircut and they said ‘We Closed’ said Mr Sampa who upon inspecting their price board noticed also that nearly everything was labeled in Chinese and not English as prescribed by the Food and Health Act.

Mr Sampa has since retrieved Council licenses from them and closed them indefinitely and a formal sign closure notice from the Council has since been sent to them.

“We are happy to support 100% all law abiding Investors”, he added.

Mr Sampa has vowed not to condone any Investor that discriminates customers or employees based on their color of skin or pricing in other foreign languages other than English which is the constitutionally prescribed official language for Zambia.

He has encouraged residents not to hesitate to inform him if mistreated by any investor including local investors.

Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says there has been an increase in the number of reports of abuse of workers being recorded during this period of COVID-19 in the province.

Mr. Lusambo says most of the reports he has received involve foreign investors’ majority of them are Chinese investors who are locking their workers inside their plant for fear of spreading the coronavirus pandemic if they are left to go home.

The Provincial Minister said reports indicate that some workers have spent close to two months without visiting their families and are forced to send their salaries to their families using mobile money platforms.

He said he will to this effect be deploying officers to check on the situation and has warned appropriate action will be taken against Investors that will be found wanting.

Mr Lusambo is concerned that such abuse of workers risk driving many of them to exhaustion, illness, depression.

Meanwhile, Mr Lusambo has warned that the owner of the closed Lantian restaurant in Lusaka’s Longacres area will be deported should he be found guilty of discriminating against Zambians.

He said the restaurant Owner Tang Wei will be used as an example to all would be offenders that racism will not be tolerated in Lusaka Province.

Mr Lusambo said apology or no apology, Mr Wei must be aware that Zambia is a country of laws which should be respected by all employers regardless of their nationality.

And Mr Lusambo who has laughed off claims that most Government Officials are on the payroll of Chinese Investors, said he has received reports from various employers locking their employees for several weeks due to COVID-19.