Malagasy people have gone to the polls today with Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji who is the head of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission for the Republic of Madagascar, leading a team to observe the electoral process in Antananarivo.

Mr. Malanji led a team wgich observed the opening of voting at Lycee Faravohitra polling station in the City.

Both SADC Special Envoy, former Mozambican Head of State, President Joachim Chisano and Alternate SADC Head of Observer Mission Dr. Katele Kalumba led other teams to other polling stations in the city.

By 06:00 hours, a few people had trekked to polling stations to cast their votes with long queues forming up by 07:00hours.

Mr. Malanji is accompanied to the alternate SADC Electoral Observer Mission in the Republic of Madagascar by Dr. Katele Kalumba and Zambia’s Ambassador to Madagascar Emmanuel Mwamba.

Madagascar goes to the Presidential Polls today while Parliamentary elections will be held in April 2019.

The Polls have attracted 36 candidates that include four former Presidents; Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Andy Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka.

A second round is expected if no candidate scores 50+1 in the first run.

The second run is scheduled to be on 29th December 2018.

The MMD Die Hard Youth wing has applauded its party president Felix Mutati for having served as minister in the Patriotic Front Government.

President Edgar Lungu yesterday revoked the appointment of Mr. Mutati as Minister of Works and Supply and withdrew his nomination as Member of Parliament and replaced him with Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya.

MMD Die Hard National Youth Coordinator Gerald Chiluba said the decision by Mr. Mutati to serve in government was purely on the basis of wanting to serve the Zambian people and they are not shy to point at the success scored when he served as minister of finance and later minister of works and supply.

Mr. Chiluba said the party youth wing will take the recent development as an opportunity to embark on a more accelerated drive of party mobilisation.

He said the Youth wing will stand with Mr. Mutati and they look forward to tirelessly working with him in taking the party to higher heights.

Government says it remains committed to ensure that the judiciary remains an independent arm in the execution of justice in the country .

Justice Minister Given Lubinda says for this reason Judges, Magistrates and Justices shall remain independent, impartial entities subject to the Constitution and the law under Article 91 (2) of the Constitution, only.

Contributing to the policy debate for his ministry in parliament this evening, the Minister of Justice appealed to government through the Ministry of Finance to release adequate funds in order to smoothen and expedite court cases.

Mr. Lubinda expressed gratitude that his ministry has had an increment in budgetary allocation for 2019.

“Noting the limited resource envelope, I’m happy that the judiciary also got an increase in budgetary allocation for 2019,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lubinda has brushed aside assertions that Government interferes with cases for high profile persons in Zambia courts.

“There is no biasness in addressing cases of high profile persons who come in conflict with the law,” he assured the House.

He explained that as the judiciary is committed to expedite court cases , there is no interference in whatsoever to cases of high profile people.

The Minister cited that some cases of high profiled people are still in court.

“The courts make their own informed decision without any interference. Justice must be prevail to all regardless of status. It’s not fair to generalize dispensation of court cases based on the profile of a person,” said Mr Lubinda.

And Mr. Lubinda has encourage more women to take keen interest in studying the law as a career adding that it is regrettable that the judiciary is currently male dominated..

On infrastructure, the minister said government is committed to building more courts in the country.

In line with government’s programme to decongest Lusaka, road expansion and construction of fly over bridges at a cost of US$290 million have progressed and are expected to be complete by December 2021.

The project which is being done by Afcons, an Indian construction company, is aimed at reducing congestion in the capital city and will see the construction of four fly-over bridges, five junctions and expansion of selected roads.

ZANIS reports that the project which is being financed by Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India with 85 percent and the 15 percent from government of Zambia, once completed will make Lusaka become come one of the modern cities in Africa.

Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale who conducted a spot check on the works today has expressed satisfaction with the quality of works that has being done so far on the project.

The Minister was speaking in Lusaka today, after touring some selected roads and the construction site of the flyover bridges.

“ Currently it is difficult to do business in Lusaka as people have to spend a lot of time their productive time on roads due to congestion.

“ This is why government will remain committed to ensuring that the situation is changed through the Lusaka master plan, “ the minister said.

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The three-year project will see the construction of ring roads from Makeni to Mumbwa Road, and further connect to the Great North Road after National Heroes stadium to make Lusaka a smart city.

Great East Road from Arcades to Lusaka central business district will have two lanes on the fly-over bridge, while the existing four lanes will be expanded to six lanes.

Afcons Infrastructure Limited Project Manager Subrata Banyopadhyay who disclosed this to the minister said that the company is committed to complete the project within the set time frame.

He also pledged to respect labour laws and that the company’s labour force consists of over 85 percent locals adding that it will only import labour that cannot be sourced locally.

The Lusaka city decongestion project started in September 2018 and are expected to be completed by December 2021.

National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), Director General Yollard Kachinda has challenged domestic workers to be enforcers of compliance by ensuring that employers remit monthly contributions.

Mr Kachinda said the future of workers in the informal and formal sector will only be secured upon retirement if their respective employers make monthly contributions.

ZANIS reports that he was speaking during the launch of the NAPSA and MTN mobile solution for payment of contributions.

Mr Kachinda urged workers to utilize the newly launched mobile product to constantly check their monthly contribution statements made by their employers.

He complained that compliance levels among employers is very low compared to people working in the informal sector.

Mr Kachinda explained that out of the 6 million plus Zambians in employment, only 900 thousand are currently remitting monthly contributions.

And MTN Zambia Chief Executive Officer Charles Molapisi said the partnership between NAPSA and mobile money operators is fundamental in the mobile money ecosystem.

Mr Molapisi said the strategic partnership will enhance the effective and faster transmission of funds in Zambia.

He explained that the product innovation is a response to the need for easier, convenient and affordable ways to pay NAPSA.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services targets to reach 700,000 beneficiaries of the social cash transfer by the end of this year. Minister of Community Development, Olipa Phiri disclosed this when she paid a courtesy call on Chief Kanyama and beneficiaries in Mwinilunga.

Ms.Phiri said the number of beneficiaries in North Western Province will increase from 36,000 to 51,000 by next month. Ms. Phiri says will continue to provide support to persons with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children.

She said that under the food security pack , her ministry has supported over 7,000 beneficiaries in Mwinilunga District, adding that in the 2018/2019 farming season, 645 vulnerable but viable farmers will be supported with agriculture inputs.

Meanwhile, the International Labour Organization has called for increased financing on the social cash transfer ( SCT ) programme if it is to have an impact on eradicating extreme poverty in Zambia.

ILO Chief Technical Advisor on Social Security for Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Luca Pellerano says this is because the current social protection interventions in place were inadequate to tackle poverty in the sub-region.

“ There is need for continued revising of the current amount beneficiaries were receiving and also increase taxes so that financing of the programme can be fully met, “ says Mr. Pellerano.

ILO technocrat said this during a Social Protection Public Discussion on Social Protection Financing held under the theme : “ How do we get it right?” in Lusaka, today.

Mr. Pellerano noted that Zambia was still spending less on social protection programmes compared to other countries in the region. He said the Seventh National Development Plan target of increasing social protection coverage will only be achieved if financing is increased and relook at the value beneficiary were receiving.

And government on the other hand says poverty levels were still high in rural Zambia and standing at 54.4% .

Ministry Of Community Development and Social Services Representative Manzunzo Zulu says , “ with such a scenario programmes such as social cash transfer and other interventions government was implementing remain key in addressing poverty.”

“ It is imperative that financing of social protection programmes are enhanced as this will stimulate economic growth, continue reducing poverty and promote social justice, “ he said.

Speaking Earlier Assistant Dean in the School of Humanities and Social Science Moses Chewe expressed happiness that the discussion was been held at the University of Zambia saying this will help in giving an in depth understanding of social protection in Zambia.

Mr Chewe urged students and members of the public should acquaint themselves with the rich research findings from the presentations so as in coming up with solutions affecting the country.

The public discussion was organized and sponsored by the International Labour Organization(ILO) in partnership with UNZA, Irish AID, CSPR and JCTR.

The Zambia Forestry and Forest Industry Corporation (ZAFFICO) has refuted allegations that the company has been sold to a foreign company.

ZAFFICO Board Chairperson Trevor Kaunda said the company has not been sold to any foreign company, but remains fully owned by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

Mr. Kaunda has assured the general public that there has been no such transactions of transfer that has taken place between ZAFFICO and a foreign company.

He noted that the top management has since decided to visit ZAFFICO offices in the province, to interact and reassure workers and stakeholders that the company has not been sold to anyone.

ZANIS Reports that the Chairperson said this today in Ndola when ZAFFICO management and Industrial Development Corporation management paid a courtesy call on Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe.

And Copperbelt Minister Japhen Mwakalombe says the province is happy that the team has decided to come and clear the allegations surrounding the matter.

Mr. Mwakalombe further said government is saddened that people resort to rioting over matters, before getting clarification from the relevant authorities.

The Minister has also appealed to everyone who is in a habit of spreading falsehood, to always remain factual before causing panic in the nation.

Mr. Mwakalombe has also called on the media to verify facts before reporting, adding that people take what comes from the media as the gospel truth.

Yesterday some members of public took to the streets of Kitwe, to riot over allegations that ZAFFICO has been sold to foreign investors.

Government says it remains committed to upgrading slums and addressing the 1.5 million housing deficit in the country.

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela said urbanization in Zambia grows at 4.3% per annum which entails that 1, 93000 housing units should be built annually.

Mr.Chitotela explained that his Ministry takes cognizant of the fact that the urban poor people have been having challenges to access basic services.

He said this when he officiated at the Slum Dwellers International Southern Africa Hub meeting in Lusaka today.

“Urbanization in Zambia is growing at 4.3% which entails that 1, 93000 housing units per year. We are aware that some people who live in slums have a lot of challenges which we are going to address. Urban poor people have been having challenges to access basic services. Starting next year we will be building 10 houses per year for the aged people in the country,” he said.

Mr.Chitotela said going forward government will continue to partner with other stakeholders in upgrading the slums.

He cited Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation (ZHPPF) as some of the key stakeholders that are partnering with government in addressing this task.

Meanwhile, Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation (ZHPPF) representative Veronica Kalulushi said 51% of urban people in Zambia have no access to clean water and sanitation.

Ms.Katulushi said in order to complement government’s efforts in reducing the slums challenges her federation has so far constructed 587 houses in the country.

She further disclosed that through partnering with other stakeholders ZHPPF has sourced for over K2 million which is sitting in the account meant for slum upgrades.

And Slum Dwellers international Management Committee Representative Sheilla Magara such the meetings are a good platform in raising the awareness about the existence of slums.