President Edgar Lungu has returned from Luangwa where he had gone on a working vacation.

The President was welcomed by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe at State House upon arrival from Luangwa Valley National Park.

Presidential spokesperson Amos Chanda on Friday last week clarified that President Lungu had not secretly flown out to South Africa as alleged by National Democratic Congress Consultant Chishimba Kambwili.

Mr. Chanda explained that the President had gone on a short vacation because he needs to rest.

Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri says she advocates that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Zambia be non-bailable.

The Minister notes that punishment metered out on perpetrators of GBV is not enough because GBV victims suffers psychological harm for a long period.

Ms. Phiri said once cases of GBV are non-bailable, it will serve as a deterrent to would be offenders.

The Gender Minister said this last evening on “Sunday Interview on ZNBC programme monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka.

“No bail for perpetrators of GBV until the courts utilizes their full course,” Ms. Phiri said.

She said as the country observes the 16 Days of gender activism which started on November 25 and ends on December 10th, her ministry is harmonizing stiffer laws on GBV.

She said women in Zambia experience different forms of violence including spouse battering, sexual abuse, exploitation, rape, defilement and incest.

During the programme, the Minister condemned defilers, rapists and social media abusers stating that they lack respect for women and girls.

“Regrettably, it’s becoming a common occurrence an everyday basis. Barely a day passes in Zambia without the report of a case of violence against women, whether in a rural or an urban setting,” the Minister said.

She also condemned GBV victims especially women who are in habit of withdrawing cases at the police as well as courts.

The Minister further said her ministry is working closely with civil society organisations, Victim Support Unit of the Zambia Police Service, Men’s Networks, and cooperating partners in an effort to end GBV in Zambia.

She however, called on girls, women and men not shun away but report perpetrators of the vice to police and other law enforcement agencies in the country.

On gender equality, Ms. Phiri disclosed that she will soon table a bill to Cabinet to compel political parties to adopt more women in their structures.

She commended President Edgar Lungu for showing political will by appointing women to be at the helm of cardinal public institutions such as the Republican Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina, the Judiciary led by Ireen Mambilima among others who are in positions of governance.

Ms. Phiri, who is PF Kanyama lawmaker said, she will lobby President Lungu to use his creed to consider appointing women in Parliament.

Zambia joins the rest of the world in observing 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence running under the theme “Orange the World.”

PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has sued Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili for defamation of character and has demanded K100 million for special damages.

Mrs. Phiri has since asked the Lusaka High Court to order Mr. Kambwili to also offer her general and aggravated damages.

She has further asked the court to grant her an injunction restraining Mr. Kambwili from issuing defamatory statements against her.

In this matter, it is alleged that Mr. Kambwili who is also National Democratic Congress Consultant uttered defamatory words, which have injured her political and professional standing in society.

She says the defamatory statement implied that she is corrupt and that she built her house using bribes from the Chinese and Lebanese companies that get contracts from government.

Mrs. Phiri alleged that in doing so Mr. Kambwili did not bother to find out the truth before issuing the alleged statements.

This is contained in the statement of claim filed in the High Court.

Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection has banned the use of packaging materials such as plastic bags and their resultant waste.

Making the announcement in Lusaka today, Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba said this is in accordance with section 58 of the Environmental Management Act No 12 of 2011.

Dr. Chomba said this is the Extended Producer Regulations which extends the responsibility of the producer of a product or class of products to the post-consumer stage of the product or class of products.

He said the extended Producer Regulations is one of the tools that government will rely on to manage, in an environmentally sound manner, packaging materials such as plastics and their resultant waste.

Dr. Chomba said the extended Producer Regulations will also regulate non-returnable glass and plastic bottle, cartons, beverage cans, waste oils, pesticides or chemical containers, used tyres, electrical and electronic equipment.

He said the regulations require a person or persons whose activities generate waste with potential to pollute the environment to employ measures essential to minimize waste through treatment, reclamation, re-use, recovery or recycling.

Dr. Chomba said the Ministry has since informed stakeholders and the general public that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has been engaging stakeholders from all sectors of the economy on the content, framework and the way regulations will operate.

He said among the key stakeholders that have so far been consulted include the Zambia Association of Manufacturers, Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Oil Marketing Companies, Chain Stores and Shopping Centre Managers.

Dr. Chomba however, said the process of engagement is ongoing and will cover other sectors such as the electrical and electronic equipment merchants and chemical industry.

About 1, 000 miners at Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) are likely to lose their jobs after the mining giant starter its voluntary retrenchment exercise.

According to latest correspondence from MCM Chief Services Manager KV Chitoshi and to the people close to the Development , the company is asking employees to go on voluntary separation or opt for early retirement.

The mining company says it wants to reduce labour due to high operation costs.

All Mopani Schools are not affected by the job cut exercise.

But National Democratic Congress (NDC) acting Spokesperson Misheck Moyo has condemned Mopani’s plans to downsize its workforce through the voluntary separation scheme.

Mr Moyo said job reduction is an old habit adopted by most business entities at this time of the year when unions are on their way to negotiate new packages for the workers.

“This is just a form of blackmail aimed at hoodwinking Unions who are being duped into agreeing to smaller packages for the workers. We want to implore unions in the extractive industries not to depart from their core business of speaking out for workers.

“I hope Mopani will not fall into such a trap of blackmailing stakeholders. Metal prices on the international market are relatively high. Therefore the reasons advanced by MCM to streamline its labour force are basic and not really convincing,” he said.

Mr Moyo said that there is no need for MCM to reduce its labour force at this critical period when jobs are hard to come by.

“We are disturbed with revelations that Mopani Copper Mines MCM on the Copper belt plans to downsize its labor force. According to correspondence, MCM intends to retrench at least One Thousand miners,” he said.

“This will be undertaken through the voluntary separation scheme at both the MCM Mufulira and Kitwe divisions. The reasons advanced by MCM to streamline its labor force are basic and not really convincing. The metal prices on the international market are relatively stable.”

He said there is no need therefore for MCM to reduce its labor force at this critical period when jobs are hard to come by.

“MCM has been a good investor throughout the years. This is a company that has remained stable even at the height when metal prices had plummeted. We are wondering why Mopani now wants to cut jobs at such a time.”

Mr Moyo said the NDC is urging all the unions in the extractive sector not to entertain calls for such job cuts.

“However, threats by mining conglomerates to reduce labor at this time of the year are not strange. We are fully aware that unions in the mining sector will soon be meeting respective mining houses to negotiate for improved salaries and other working conditions for its members. In such situations, it is common for most business entities to resort to blackmail so as to hoodwink stakeholders.”

He added, We urge Mopani Mines not to fall into such a trap. Mopani Mines is a good corporate citizen.As a party, we urge them to reflect on their plans which will certainly have far reaching consequences if left unchecked. We understand, that most mines have operational challenges. However, these challenges can be resolved ably through consultations with relevant stakeholders.”

“We further urge unions in the mining sector should speak out with one voice and ensure that no jobs are lost. It is rather strange that only one particular union is speaking out against the pending job cuts. We want to implore unions in the extractive industries not to depart from their core business of speaking out for workers.Workers should be effectively be represented by their elected representatives.”