President Lungu has said that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is gravely concerned at the deteriorating political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has therefore called upon the government to establish conditions for a free and fair election ahead of the December 23 polls.

This is according to a press statement released by Special Assistant to the president for Press and public relations, Amos Chanda.

After a series of consultations with other Heads of State over the past two days, President Lungu, in his capacity as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, says SADC is gravely concerned at the prevailing precarious political and security situation in the DRC ahead of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections scheduled for 23rd December, 2018.

“I wish to express my unwavering solidarity on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Zambia, with the Government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and therefore call upon all stakeholders to work together and exercise tolerance,” President Lungu says.

The President states that for the DRC to hold peaceful, inclusive, transparent and successful elections, the government must ensure that all citizens are safe, all candidates are allowed free space to campaign, and that election materials are secure and accessible to all registered voters.

“Your Excellency, it is with great sadness that I learnt of the death and injuries of nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo due to some violence in Lubumbashi, Mbuji-Mayi and Kalemie. The blatant destruction of electoral materials at a warehouse in Kinshasa, which gravely hinders efforts made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), is of grave concern,” President Lungu said in a letter to President Joseph Kabila today.

The Southern Development Community (SADC) expresses solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo in their endeavour to hold Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections on the 23rd of December 2018 and remain confident that a chance exists for the government to forestall an escalation in violence that claimed lives this week.

SADC notes the concerted efforts made by the Independent National Electoral Commission to prepare the logistics for holding successful elections within the mandated time frames but is gravely concerned at the destruction of electoral materials after the occurrence of a fire on 13th December 2018 at one of the central warehouses of CENI in Kinshasa.

“SADC is further concerned about the loss of life and destruction of property in the recent incidents of violence in Kalemie, Lubumbashi and Mbuji-Mayi.

SADC therefore calls on all political players to uphold the freedom of expression, assembly and unhindered campaigning, which are the hallmarks of the democratic exercise of the will of the people during this period.

SADC, in line with its revised Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, strongly urges all stakeholders, particularly leaders of political parties, civil society, media and law enforcement authorities, to continue promoting a culture of tolerance and restraint and ensure that the 23rd December elections are not only successful but also peaceful and transparent.
SADC wishes to further emphasize that the forthcoming elections represent a major milestone in the history of the DRC and are instrumental in establishing sustainable peace and political stability.

SADC further wishes to inform all stakeholders that the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) will continue to closely follow the electoral process and will report its observations to the relevant SADC political Organ in line with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015).

“The elections are an essential requirement and important mechanism for peace, security and stability in DRC. Zambia therefore, calls on the various stakeholders to amicably resolve the prevailing political challenges and ensure that peace and stability are immediately restored,” President Lungu says.

Zambia values the Democratic Republic of Congo as a dear sister and strategic partner and will continue to support the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in efforts aimed at ensuring that peace and stability prevails in the DRC.

President spent most his day speaking to the presidents of Nambia, Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana to push for efforts aimed promoting a credible electoral process ahead of the DRC crucial poll.

President Edgar Lungu has directed that the Zambia Correctional Services Headquarters be relocated from Lusaka to Kabwe by 1st January, 2019.

This is in accordance with Article 92 sub section 1 of the constitution of Zambia.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo who announced the development at a media briefing said the President has found it necessary to relocate the Headquarters to ensure optimal utilisation of facilities already established in Kabwe and avoid a drain on national treasury by commencing the construction of new facilities in Lusaka.

Mr. Kampyongo said there is viable infrastructure in Kabwe which can be exploited to the full which include office infrastructure, Kalonga Milling plant, a well equipped garage and newly constructed 246 housing units among others.

He said Kabwe is strategically located in relation to the large scale agriculture projects being undertaken by the Zambia Correctional Service such as the Nansanga Farm in Serene, Chitwi Farm in Luanshya, Lubambala farm in Mpika and other farms across the country.

Mr. Kampyongo added that the presence of the Zambia Correctional Service Headquarters in Kabwe will contribute to the growth of the economy and the correctional service is poised to participate in the agriculture and industrial activities as directed by President Edgar Lungu.

He said the relocation of the Headquarters from Kabwe to Lusaka deprived the people of Kabwe and the province as a whole an institution critical to driving the economic activities of the country.

Mr. Kampyongo said the relocation of the Headquarters should therefore help foster economic activities of Kabwe and Central Province as a whole as the increased economic activities in the Service should impact positively in the lives of the people.

He said it is government’s desire that the Service is re positioned for successful involvement in industrial and agriculture production to contribute positively to the economy of the country.

Mr. Kampyongo said the Ministry of Home Affairs welcomes the relocation of the Zambia Correctional Service Headquarters back to Kabwe describing it as timely gesture which is a priceless Christmas and New year gift to the people of Kabwe and the Correctional Service Command.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in August 2015 relocated the headquarters of the Zambia Prisons Service from Kabwe to Lusaka.

Police in Ndola district on the Copperbelt Province have impounded four trucks ladden with over one thousand bags of mealie meal in Kawama
Township, intended to be smuggled into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

And an unknown quantity of mealie-meal bags have been confiscated from unregistered traders at Kawama market, who were trading as early as 01:00 hours in the morning.

Meanwhile residents ran amok and started throwing stones at police officers who were in a truck laden with mealie meal causing damage to the windscreen, in protest of the decision to confiscate the commodity, but the police officers managed to calm the situation.

And Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga has said police are not going to relent but will ensure that the scourge is paralysed.

ZANIS reports that Ms. Katanga said her officers will continue doing patrols and anyone found smuggling will not be dealt with by the law, adding that it is saddening to see smuggling of the country’s staple food becoming rampant in the district.

She further called on members of the general public to come forth with any information on anyone involved in the vice.

The Copperbelt Police Commissioner has also appealed to the Ndola City Council to ensure that only those with mealie-meal trading licenses are allowed to sell the commodity.

She said the situation should not be left unchecked as it is likely to disadvantage innocent people in an event that prices of mealie meal skyrocket and create an artificial shortage.

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology College (ZICTC) and the University of Zambia (UNZA) have yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) allowing the college to roll out degree programmes.

The ZICTC degree programmes will be underwritten by the University of Zambia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Ndola yesterday, Minister of Communications and Transport Brian Mushimba said government was cognizant of the global evolution brought about by the advancement of science and technology.

Mr. Mushimba said in a speech read on his behalf by Director of Communications in the Ministry Yesi Bwalya, that training providers in the country have the responsibility to provide a pool of highly trained human resource.

He said the trained human resource should be ready and capable of delivering the promise of the fourth industrial revolution.

He said government has provided an enabling environment which the public and private sector can use to become innovative.

Mr. Mushimba added that it was government’s desire to see more institutions of higher learning coming up with innovative ideas to exploit the potential in the ICT and e-learning facilities.

Speaking earlier, ICT Executive Director Betty Bweupe said one of the institution’s goals was to provide excellence in academic through strategic partnerships with other institutions.

Ms. Bweupe said the partnership with UNZA raises the bar for her college even higher.

And UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba said the facilities, human resource and curriculum available at ICT were what prompted UNZA to add the college to its list of affiliates.