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Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri and NATSAVE Chief Executive Officer Mukwandi Chibesakunda admiring the merchandise during the Lionesses of Africa breakfast
Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri has warned of stern action against women who shield their husbands and partners in Sexual and Gender Based Violence Cases involving children.
Mrs. Phiri says it is saddening that some women opt to protect marriages at the expense of their children being defiled by their husbands.
She says most defilement cases involve family members but are only reported when a child is impregnated or infected with diseases.
Mrs. Phiri was reacting to the recent report of a 13 year old girl who was allegedly defiled and impregnated by her step father in Lusaka`s Mtendere township.
She said it is unlikely that a child could be undergoing emotional and physical trauma without being noticed by a mother who lives under the same roof.
Mrs Phiri said a child who is abused can easily be noticed especially by a Mother but some women tend to keep quiet for fear of losing their marriages.
And, Mrs. Phiri yesterday retrieved the girl from the abusive home and took her to the University Teaching Hospital -UTH- for treatment.
This is contained in statement issued to ZNBC News by Ministry of Gender Media Liaison Officer Mwape Mwenya.
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Jean Kapata
Minister of Lands Jean Kapata is displeased with the violence that led to the shooting of a Patriotic Front (PF) cadre in the leg by a police officer in Solwezi.
Ms Kapata said it is sad that a place where peace is supposed to prevail can allow such an incidence to happen. She has since called on the police to refrain from being partisan and have the suspect police officer arrested.
Ms Kapata also urged the youths to stay away from any form of violence to avoid endangering their lives.
She said this when she addressed a public meeting to drum up support for Tumvwangani PF candidate Emmanuel Mupapanya ahead of the November 20, 2018 by-elections in Solwezi.
Meanwhile, PF Provincial Chairperson Jackson Kungo said President Edgar Lungu is committed to continue developing the province hence the need to vote for a PF Councilor.
Mr Kungo urged the people in the ward to turn up in numbers to cast their vote on the voting day.
PF and United Party for National Development (UPND), supporters engaged themselves in violent clashes but police have not availed details on the fracas yet.
The Nchelenge Magistrate court has sentenced a 22 year old man of Malulu village, Chief Kambwali’s area in Nchelenge district to five years imprisonment with hard labour for having sex with a pregnant goat.
Magistrate Emmanuel Mukoma sentenced Reuben Mwaba to prison after he found him guilty of one count of bestiality.
Facts of the matter are that on November 2, 2018, the complainant Ronald Mwenya of Mutono village was at his home around 09:00 hours when he heard his goat bleating.
Mwenya in the company of his friend Moses Mwape, went to check on the goat and found Mwaba in a kneeling position, naked having sex with the goat.
Mwaba was then pulled away from the goat and taken to Nchelenge police station together with the goat where he was formally arrested and charged with bestiality.
When asked if the facts were correct, Mwaba responded affirmatively adding that he did not wish to amend the facts.
Delivering judgement, Magistrate Mukoma convicted Mwaba upon his own plea of guilty.
In mitigation, Mwaba pleaded with the court to exercise lenience as he was a first offender and taking care of his young sister.
Magistrate Mukoma said he had taken into consideration that Mwaba was a first offender who admitted the charge without wasting the court’s time but rather said offences of such nature are becoming rampant and offenders cannot go without being punished.
He therefore jailed Mwaba to five years imprisonment with hard labour effective on the date of arrest and informed him of his right to appeal to the high court within fourteen days if not satisfied.
President Edgar Lungu with Minister of Finance Margrate Mwanakatwe on his arrival at Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingston for IDA Conference in Livingston e
President Edgar Lungu warned those who are maneuvering and holding dark corner meetings to reposition themselves for positions to stop and concentrate on working hard.
President Lungu says he is aware of those who are working hard to build the party and those who are trying to destabilize it.
He was speaking on arrival at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone this morning
And President Lungu who was accompanied by his Press aide Amos Chanda said no one will direct him on whom to fire or hire because that power is exclusively vested in him.
He further said the power to appoint and dismiss Patriotic Front members subject to disciplinary measures is also vested in him.
President Lungu said just because members of the party employed his government does not give them power to direct who should be fired and hired.
He was received in Livingstone by Southern Province Minister, Edify Hamukale, Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe and National Planning Minister Alexander Chiteme.
Others are member of the PF Central Committee Kebby Mbewe and Southern Province PF Chairperson Lawrence Eavns among others.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale said the province is peaceful.
President Edgar Lungu with World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva and Minister of Finance Margrate Mwanakatwe at the IDA Conference in Livingstone
President Edgar Lungu has reiterated to the international community that none of the state-owned enterprises has been sold to any foreign entity.
President Lungu who has described as falsehoods the purported sale of ZAFFICO, ZESCO and ZNBC has urged the international community to ignore such rumours.
He urged the international community to seek credible and verifiable government information.
The head of state saID government intends to list state owned enterprises on the stock market to make them viable and transparent, a move supported by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
President Lungu was speaking in Livingstone when he officially opened the World Bank’s International Development Association -IDA- High Level Mid Term Review Meeting.
The Head of State who is accompanied by his Press Aid Amos Chanda was received by Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe and some World Bank officials among other government and party officials.
IDA is part of the World Bank Group which was created in 1960 to complement the International Bank for reconstruction with a mandate to provide grants and concessional loans to countries on non-commercial basis.
Through provision of affordable development finance, IDA helps countries to increase their pace of economic growth, reduce inequalities and improve people’s living standards.
IDA is the largest single provider of funds to economic and human development projects in the world’s economically challenged nations.
The financial power house’s assistance in Zambia is about 1.2 Billion United States Dollars comprising 21 projects in essential areas of energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, health, education and environment.
Peasant Farmers transporting bags of Maize to the FRA Shem satellite depot in Isoka.
Government has registered over one million small scale farmers countrywide in an exercise to modernize the agriculture sector.
Ministry of Agriculture Principal Farm Management Officer, Henry Mugomba, says 1,155,000 small scale farmers were registered in the 2017/2018 farming season.
Mr. Mugomba disclosed that government is targeting to capture two million farmers by 31st January 2019 in the ongoing farmer registration exercise aimed at improving advisory services to farmers using Information Communication Technology (ICT).
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mugomba said this following an orientation program on farmer data capture for officers in the department of agriculture in Ikelenge.
The farmer registration program is being spearheaded by the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS).
Meanwhile Smart Zambia Senior ICT officer, Regina Simbao, says warehouse managers in Ikelenge are now ready to use the ZIAMIS redeeming application to make inputs available to farmers.
Ms. Simbao expressed happiness with the progress made by warehouse managers in the district for tagging a sealing of 2000 farmers in the 2018/2019 farming season.
Lungu, of SuperSport United in South Africa, and Chiluya, of USA second tier side Bethlehem Steel FC , are due to join the Zambia camp in South Africa today.
“Gampani Lungu and Prosper Chiluya will on Tuesday morning join the squad in South Africa. Gampani joins to replace the injured Fashion Sakala. The coach has called Prosper in order to have many defensive options,” FAZ spokesperson Desmond Katongo said.
Fashion Sakala, of Belgian club KV Oostende, withdrew from the team on Monday citing an injury he sustained in league action over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo enter the second day of their five-day camp in Johannesburg on Tuesday ahead of their November 18 away clash against Mozambique in Maputo in their penultimate round Group K qualifier.
Zambia are bottom of Group K on 4 points, three behind leaders Namibia and second placed Mozambique who are tied on 7 points.
The Patriotic Front (PF) says Zambia needs infrastructure development for the country to achieve goals enshrined in the Vision 2030.
PF Secretary General Davis Mwila says according to the party’s Comprehensive Manifesto, infrastructure development is critical to achieve Zambia’s objective of becoming a prosperous middle-income country by the year 2030.
Mr. Mwila also says all-weather roads, accessible schools and hospitals, international standard airports, maritime transport systems and social housing are instrumental in bringing positive changes in the lives of people in society.
He says other factors that impact positively on people’s lives are rural and urban electrification systems, and portable drinkable water services.
Mr. Mwila says low quantity, quality and less access to infrastructure seriously hampers any country’s competitiveness at regional, continental and global levels.
He says low competitiveness due to lack of adequate infrastructure could in turn hamper Zambia’s foreign direct investment in manufacturing and other strategic industries which the country intends to develop.
Mr. Mwila says the PF government spearheaded by late President Michael Sata and incumbent President Edgar Lungu remains resolute to deliver infrastructure development as a means of bringing about inclusive economic growth and development.
This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC News in Lusaka on Monday.
Inspector General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja has recommended for the immediate dismissal of a Police officer that was allegedly soliciting for a bribe and assaulting a motorist.
The video that has gone viral on Social Media, shows a motorist being verbally assaulted by a Police Officer who later insults and pulls out the vehicle insurance and road tax disks.
Mr. Kanganja says the Police Officer does not deserve to be in the Police Service.
He says more details will be availed on Tuesday after the conclusion of procedures.
Meanwhile, Government says civil servants who were fired recently for theft of government money the Ministry of General Education and Infrastructure Development are free to go to court and contest the action taken against them.
Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Christopher Mvunga says government is on firm ground regarding the action it took to fire the erring civil servants and is ready to defend its position.
Mr. Mvunga says the amended Public Financial Act gives powers to the Secretary to the Treasury to fire or discipline any civil servant who found to have misappropriated, stolen or engaged in any financial irregularities irrespective of their positions in government.
He told ZNBC News in an interview that the action was also taken in line with the civil service disciplinary regulations.
Mr. Mvunga has warned civil servants that the era of laissez faire are over and anyone found to be engaged in any financial regularities including those cited in the Auditor General’s report will be disciplined accordingly in line with the amended Public Financial Act.
He has further warned that government will no longer wait for six months before public service workers retire imprest.
IMF team with Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe
The International Monetary Fund has described as constructive, the recent discussions it has had with the Zambian Government and other stakeholders.
In a statement released at the conclusion of its mission team to Zambia, the IMF said the discussions were held in a constructive spirit.
The IMF staff team led by Dhaneshwar Ghura visited Lusaka during November 5–9, 2018 to discuss recent economic developments and prospects.
Mr. Ghura said the mission discussed recent economic developments and economic prospects with the Zambian authorities.
He said discussions also covered the main elements of the draft 2019 budget being currently debated in Parliament and the authorities’ policies and strategies for restoring fiscal and debt sustainability while maintaining growth.
“These technical discussions are a key input in the preparations for the next Article IV consultation mission tentatively scheduled for early 2019.”
“The IMF staff met with Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe, Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya, other senior government and BoZ officials; members of Parliament; and representatives of the private sector, civil society organizations, and Zambia’s development partners.”
“The staff wishes to express its gratitude to the Zambian authorities and the various stakeholders for the constructive spirit in which all discussions were held.”
He said these technical discussions are a key input in the preparations for the next Article IV consultation mission tentatively scheduled for early 2019
Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Lawrence Sichalwe
Government has expressed concern at the slow pace at which palaces for traditional leaders across the country are being constructed
Minister of Chiefs and Traditional affairs Lawrence Sichalwe has since promised that government will ensure that works are expedited so that traditional leaders are given decent accommodation.
Mr Sichalwe told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that government is concerned with the welfare of traditional leaders especially with accommodation, adding that most of them still live in deplorable houses.
The minister explained that this is why government will work hard to ensure that contractors engaged to carry out the works, speed up the process and ensure that the first phase of constructing 30 houses is concluded.
He explained that so far out of the 30 targeted in the first phase, 14 have been completed out of which three have already being handed over while 11 will be handed over once complete.
Mr Sichalwe noted that once the first phase is complete, the Ministry will embark on the second phase until all the traditional leaders in the country are provided with decent and habitable accommodation.
In 2015, government embarked on phase one of the construction of chiefs’ palaces countrywide at a cost of K1.2 million in order to provide decent accommodation to traditional leaders
Meanwhile Mr Sichalwe has disclosed that government is saddened with the loss of three chiefs in a space of a week.
He has therefore, appealed to royal establishments in the respective chiefdoms to conduct successions peacefully and properly in order to avoid succession disputes, which he said can affect the development of the areas.
Among the chiefs who have died include Chieftainess Choongo of the Tonga speaking people of Monze district in Southern province, Chief Mwenetate of the Nkoya people of Luampa district in Western, and Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba people of Kasama District in Northern Province.
FILE: Manyama residents in Kalumbila district lining up to cast their vote in this year’s General election at Shiinda polling station at Manyama school in Kalumbila on Thursday .Picture by BETRAM KAOMA /ZANIS
The Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence has resumed its public sittings in Serenje district in Central Province to receive oral and written submissions from members of the public.
Commission Chairperson, Munalula Lisimba said the Commission has reached its final phase of its country wide sittings, Central and some parts of Lusaka provinces being the last.
The Commission will there after submit the report to President Edgar Lungu by December 31, 2018.
Justice Lisimba has since called on political parties, being key stakeholders in the exercise, to turn out in large numbers and make their submissions.
And Serenje District Commissioner (DC), Francis Kalipenta who officially opened the public sittings said the district did not record any cases of violence in the 2016 General Elections.
He however, thanked President Lungu for instituting the inquiry which is a noble cause that needs to be supported as it is aimed at fostering peace in the country.
And a former retiree, Ewen Chansa 72, said there were no cases of violence recorded in Serenje district.
Mr. Chansa also submitted that the poor reading culture has caused people not to be knowledgeable of certain issues enshrined in national documents such as the Constitution hence, resort to violence.
He added that Parliamentarians are in the habit of issuing statements that cause injury to other parties or individuals.
Mr. Chansa further submitted that the media also played a role in influencing people to vote the way they did in 2016.
And a retired Head Teacher, Remmy Kaleleka 58, contradicted the earlier petitioner and the District Commissioner who said there was no violence recorded in Serenje district.
He said that although he did not witness the actual violence, he had friends who were victims of violence in the 2016 elections.
He said one of his friends who he visited in hospital was caught up in a fracas of violence that happened between the MMD and the PF in Chipendeshi area.
And Abraham Kalembu 72, submitted that political clashes are often caused by political cadres.
Another petitioner Mwaka Nkandu 32, submitted that some of the reasons why people voted in a certain way in the area was that they felt government has neglected them because of inadequate staff in the civil service i.e. lack of medical staff and teachers.
Meanwhile, Friday Nkandu 48, submitted that some of the party cadres who he described has having ‘huge muscles’ clad in party regalia in military form, intimidated people to turn out to vote as they feared being beaten.
Another petitioner Patrick Muncha 33, a Patriotic Front (PF) Ward Councillor of Mahilo in Muchinga Constituency said the violence in the 2016 elections was partly caused by tribal remarks, name calling and insults.
Mr. Muncha recommended that offenders perpetrating violence should be given stiffer punishment to curb the vice.
On voter registration, he submitted that it should be an ongoing process and must not only be conducted when there are elections.
The Ward Councillor added that, ample time should be given to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) before elections to conduct voter registration.
Minister of Youth and Sport Moses Mawere says government is prioritizing the promotion of entrepreneurship among the youths.
Mr Mawere said government fully supports the global entrepreneurship week which aims at exposing young people to benefits of entrepreneurship through different activities and also to motivate them to explore their own entrepreneurial ideas.
He explained that since its creation in 2008, more than 10 million people from 102 countries have participated in entrepreneurial-related activities during the Youth Entrepreneurship Week.
Mr Mawere said this yesterday when he officiated at the workshop on entrepreneurship, organised by the Lusaka Youth Resource Centre, the National Youth Development Council (NYDC) and the Technical Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA).
“Around the world, researchers and policy makers engage in discussions to examine the underlying policies necessary to promote entrepreneurial growth. This is more than just an awareness campaign. It is a platform for connection and collaboration, engaging all players along the entrepreneurship spectrum in strengthening ecosystems around the world”, he said.
Mr Mawere disclosed that his Ministry has continued to establish youth resource centres, such as the Lusaka youth resource centre to provide skills training to youth for both formal employment and self-employment.
The theme for this year’s global entrepreneurship week is “recognising women, youth and inclusion in entrepreneurship”.
Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga, says government will continue supporting public and private nursing schools in order to contribute to human resource development in the health sector.
Mr. Mushanga said government embarked on upgrading and constructing new health facilities and training institutions to meet the demand of providing quality healthcare services to the citizenry of Zambia.
He added that new health posts have also been constructed to improve care provision in the hard to reach areas as well as providing job opportunities.
ZANIS reports that the Provincial Minister said this during the 2nd Central Province Combined Graduation Ceremony for Agape College of Nursing, Chitambo School of Nursing and Kabwe School of Nursing and Midwifery at Kwame Nkrumah University in Kabwe.
Mr. Mushanga disclosed that government has awarded Kabwe General Hospital the status of a Central Hospital, noting that the facility will be open to run high level specialty cases.
He, however, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to practice the profession with wisdom and courage.
And Central Province Health Director, Charles Msiska, said the hard work of the teaching staff at the three training schools reflected in the more than 95 per cent pass rate.
He further encouraged the graduating students to take pride in how far they have come and have faith in how far they can go in executing their duties.
Meanwhile, the General Nursing Council of Zambia (GNCZ) Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Banda, said his organisation will continue supporting nurses and midwifery training programs as well as colleges by providing guidelines, technical support and enforcing compliance to set standards and professionalism.
Dr. Banda said this in a speech read on his behalf by GNCZ Standards and Compliance Specialist, Judith Chipili.
He further urged the nurses to practice their profession with humility through action and not only by word of mouth.
A total of 263 nurses graduated from the three training institutions in Central Province.
