In a Saturday morning fellowship at Choma Central Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, President Hakainde Hichilema, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, delivered a message of encouragement to fellow Christians. The President urged congregants to remain steadfast in their Christian faith, serving as beacons of peace and promoters of love at both the family and national levels.

During the service, President Hichilema addressed the concerning trend of insults and disrespect prevalent among many young people on social media. He expressed his sadness over such behavior and called on the Church to play a crucial role in instilling good morals and a sense of hard work in all citizens.

“As Zambians, we depend on the Church to instill good morals and a sense of hard work in all citizens for the betterment of our community,” President Hichilema emphasized during the greeting session.

The President further called on Zambians to love one another and extend help when needed, fostering a sense of unity and compassion in the society. He acknowledged the pivotal role of the Church in promoting love, peace, and unity in the country.

In addition to his message, President Hichilema advised the Church to explore agricultural ventures as a means of raising funds for the completion of the Church, currently under construction. He expressed his hope that the Church would actively contribute to the well-being of the community, both spiritually and economically.

Lusaka Province, under the leadership of Minister Sheal Mulyata, has achieved a significant milestone by recording zero audit queries for the year, marking it as one of the notable accomplishments. The announcement was made during the end-of-year thanksgiving event and prayers organized for workers under the Lusaka Provincial Administration.

Mrs. Mulyata expressed pride in the achievement, acknowledging that attaining zero audit queries was a commendable feat for the provincial administration. She highlighted the challenges involved in maintaining such a record but commended the collective efforts that made it possible.

In addition to achieving zero audit queries, Mrs. Mulyata pointed out that the province had effectively utilized the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). She affirmed that all allocated funds were spent for their intended purposes, reflecting responsible financial management.

The announcement was made by Provincial Permanent Secretary Robert Kamalata on behalf of Mrs. Mulyata during the thanksgiving event. In her speech, Mrs. Mulyata urged civil servants in the province to contribute to creating a conducive working environment in their respective offices. She emphasized the importance of enjoying the time spent at work, considering the significant amount of time workers dedicate to their offices.

“We spend most of our time here, and there is no need to harbor bitterness in our offices,” Mrs. Mulyata stated.

Expressing gratitude for the hard work exhibited by the officers throughout the year 2023, Mrs. Mulyata conveyed her optimism for more success stories in the coming year, 2024. She concluded her remarks by urging members of the staff to celebrate the New Year responsibly.

In response to safety concerns, the government, through Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo, has issued a ban on small-scale mining activities at the Sensele Open Pit mine. This decision comes following recent accidents at the mine, prompting the need for heightened security measures and evaluation of mining operations.

Minister Matambo announced the ban during a media briefing held in Chingola, emphasizing that the government has taken steps to secure the pit, and no mining activities will be permitted inside or outside the designated area. To enforce compliance, police officers have been deployed to monitor activities and ensure the safety of the mine.

During the briefing, Minister Matambo revealed that the rescue operation at Sensele Mine has been scaled back due to heavy rains and the unsafe conditions within the mine. The government aims to minimize risks during adverse weather conditions, prioritizing the safety of rescue teams and potential hazards to miners.

Addressing the families of the remaining missing miners at Sensele, Minister Matambo assured them that full-scale rescue operations would resume once the weather conditions improve. The decision to temporarily halt the operation is a precautionary measure to avoid further accidents and protect the well-being of all involved.

Chingola District Administrative Officer Stephen Monze provided an update on the families of the missing miners, indicating that 67 families have come forward, claiming to have relatives among the remaining missing miners at Sensele. The government remains committed to ensuring transparency and communication with the affected families as the situation unfolds.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has officially announced the lifting of the ban on Mr. Simataa Simataa, the former FAZ president, following a thorough review by the Ethics Committee. The ban, imposed in April 2018, has been revoked, allowing Mr. Simataa to actively participate in football activities.

Reuben Kamanga, the General Secretary of FAZ, shared the decision of the Ethics Committee in a statement, highlighting the committee’s adherence to established standard principles and a comprehensive review of all circumstances surrounding the matter.

“Given all the circumstances surrounding this matter, the Ethics Committee guided by established standard principles of comfortable satisfaction and personal conviction of the panel forthwith lifts the life ban sanction imposed on Mr. Simataa Simataa,” the statement reads.

The life ban, initially issued for breaching the FAZ Ethics Code, particularly Article 13 (3) of the 2012 FIFA Code of Ethics, has been rescinded, granting Mr. Simataa the freedom to engage in football-related activities.

Reuben Kamanga welcomed Mr. Simataa back to the football community, expressing FAZ’s best wishes for his future endeavors. Kamanga acknowledged that football could benefit significantly from Mr. Simataa’s vast experience.

“We welcome Mr. Simataa back to football and wish him all the best. Football can still gain a lot from his vast experience,” Kamanga stated.

In response to the decision, Simataa expressed gratitude to FAZ for the reconsideration of his ban.

“I would like to thank the FAZ for being magnanimous enough to review their own decision even as per FIFA requirements of the FIFA Ethics Code. They have done a good thing,” Simataa remarked.

He further extended his appreciation to friends who stood by him during this period, emphasizing the need for unity and collective progress within the football community.

“I would like to thank all my friends who have stood by me all this time; I just want to say let us move on, let us go ahead. Football is for all of us,” Simataa concluded.