Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary, Emmanuel Chikoya has attributed to the death of Vespers Shimuzhila a 4th year student at the University of Zambia, Great East Campus as the institution not having a union to represent the students.

Father Chikoya said the students could have not staged a peaceful demonstration to air their grievances if they had a union.

In May last year, Higher Education Minister Nkandu Luo banned activities of unions at UNZA stating that they are recipe for anarchy and chaos at institutions of learning.

In a statement to the media in Lusaka today by CCZ Communications Officer, Michael Mazakaza, Fr. Chikoya noted that what transpired resulting into the death of Ms. Shimuzhila is heart-breaking and must be strongly condemned without reservations.

He said what the Church does not support is destructive demonstrations such as damaging property and closing roads hence, affecting other citizens in the process.

Meanwhile, Fr Chikoya said it is the duty of the Police to ensure that there is law and order at the university adding that, lives are also supposed to be protected not lost.

The clergyman called on Zambia Police Officers to be professional at all times in the execution of their duties.

The CCZ GS and Human Rights Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya have vowed to follow up with the matter until justice is done.

President Edgar Lungu has since called for thorough investigations into the disturbances that occurred at the University of Zambia where a student suffocated following a riot over bursary.

And the Chief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya said that it is regrettable that the riots started after some students attended a UPND press briefing in Lusaka were inflammatory statements were allegedly issued.

UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday reported Economic and Equity Party Leader Chilufya Tayali to Woodlands Police Station for criminal libel, an offence he says he considers serious.

Mr. Hichilema says this is in view of Mr. Tayali is continued libelous statements in total defamation of his standing reputation both as an individual and President of the biggest political party in Zambia the UPND.

He said for a long time now, Mr. Tayali has made unwarranted and unsubstantiated claims against Him.

“Citizens will agree with me that I have been very tolerant of him despite the many defamatory statements he had made against me for simply taking a stand on things and my political beliefs. In the latest libel, Mr. Tayali has been publishing and uttering public statements to the effect that I am responsible for the death of our beloved daughter, Vespers Shimuzhila who died in a police operation at University of Zambia”. He said.

” I am neither the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces nor the Inspector General of Police, why Mr. Tayali wants me cited remains a matter I don’t understand”. Mr. Hichilema who was accompanied to Woodlands Police Station by his lawyers and party officials added.

He said the only motive for dragging his name into a matter that he completely has no responsibility and power to undertake is to stir up citizens resentment against me and UPND.

“We expect the Police to take action against Mr. Tayali without any delay, for justice delayed is justice denied. I equally have the constitutional protection and benefit of the law like any other individual in this country”. said Mr. Hichilema

Meanwhile, Mr. Hichilema has urged Zambians not to be diverted from the real issues affecting them.

“As a party whose central focus is development, we believe that nothing supersedes people power and this is why we say: “people power! Our power and our land”. He said

But Economic and Equity Party Leader Chilufya Tayali has urged the Police not to waste time but arrest Mr. Hichilema because he is guilty of inciting people to rise against government.

“Mr. Hichilema is guilty of the crime including the recent one where a Student even died at the University of Zambia that’s why he has even gone to the police to report me”. He said.

Mr. Tayali added that Mr. Hichilema wants to take over Government through dubious means.

Government has implored traditional leaders and civic leaders to take a leading role in stopping child marriages and exploitation of the girl child.

Justice Minister, Given Lubinda said the noticeable increase of child marriages, especially in rural areas worries government.

He said this when he graced the 27th Lukwakwa traditional ceremony of the Mbunda speaking people at Senior Chief Sikufele’s palace in Manyinga district in North-Western Province yesterday.

Mr. Lubinda said chiefs are key in unifying communities and in the preservation of culture therefore, they must take a leading role in stopping child marriages and exploitation of the girl child in their chiefdoms.

He said the dignity of a girl child should not be compromised because of initiation or culture practices if the country’s traditions are to stand the taste of time.

Mr. Lubinda said government through his ministry will soon come up with a law to protect the welfare of the girl child.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lubinda said President Edgar Lungu has always emphasized on the need for traditional leaders to work closely with government in ensuring development and peace in the nation.

He therefore, advised Senior Chief Sikufele to work in collaboration with other stakeholders in the district in resolving the succession wrangles in chief Chiyengele’s chiefdom in Kabompo district.

And speaking at the same ceremony, Lukwakwa Traditional Ceremony National Chairperson, Gregory Kangwanda commended government for embarking on a number of developmental projects in the district.

Mr. Kangwanda however, appealed for speedy pace on the construction of houses and offices for civil servants who are in dare need of accommodation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji says Japan remains a very important partner to Zambia’s national development.

Mr. Malanji says that is why Zambia continues to strengthen its strategic partnership with the government of Japan in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.

The Minister said this when he delivered an intervention statement on economic transformation for inclusive growth during the Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development -TICAD- in Tokyo, Japan.

Mr. Malanji says there is need to adopt digital technologies to harness efficiency and lower the cost of doing business.

He also said promotion of science, technology and innovation is vital in contributing to economic transformation for inclusive growth.

And speaking when he held talks with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Executive Vice president, Katsumi Hirano on the sidelines of the TICAD Ministerial meeting, Mr. Malanji called for more partnerships between Japanese and Zambian private sectors.

He said Zambia is steadily positioning itself to become a hub for foreign direct investment in the Southern African region.

Mr. Malanji also requested JETRO to encourage especially medium scale investors to travel to Zambia on investment and trade missions.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hirano said JETRO, which promotes mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between Japan and other nations, is optimistic that Japanese companies will greatly contribute to Zambia’s industrialization agenda.

He said Zambia’s prevailing peace and stability profile will assist his organization to encouraging more Japanese investment.

This is contained in a statement availed to diamond news by first secretary for press at the Zambian embassy in Japan.

Mr. Lusambo says the decision to create China City comes after several complaints from Zambians that the Chinese are engaging in businesses which can be done by locals such as Chicken rearing, Saloons and cooking nshima among others.

“Residents in compounds are not happy that the chinese are also engaging in small businesses and they cannot compete because they dont have money, so creating a China City will be a good idea”. He said

He said this will also be done in line with the decision to twin Lusaka Province and Sichuan Province of China in a bid to foster development.

Mr Lusambo told Journalists yesterday that this however is not meant to discriminate the chinese but create an environment for them to conduct businesses without any challenge.

At the same briefing, Mr. Lusambo directed the police to stop unneccessary road blocks in the Province as they are contributing to congestion on the roads.

“Police must only conduct snap checks for 20 or 30 minutes on undesignated check points and move on, this way we will reduce the congeation on the roads”. He said.

Mr. Lusambo said Lusaka only has three Police Check Points, one along Mumbwa road, one along the Kafue road in Chilanga and one along the Great East road after the Airport roundabout.

The Lusaka Province Minister was recently in Chengdu City of China at the invitation of the Sichuan Provincial Government.

And

COP is an international framework, which annually brings together various signatories to various international agreements on Climate Change where parties negotiate international climate policy.

Heads of State and government from several African countries have already confirmed their participation.

“Despite the high level nature of this meeting, President Lungu has respectfully passed this very important assignment on to his Minister in order to observe austerity measures”, said Zambia’s ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita.

Ambassador Mukwita, who is also accredited to Poland on a non-residential basis, said the President continues to delegate high-level assignments to his Vice President Inonge Wina and other Ministers sending a message across the whole of government of the need to observe high levels of financial prudence.

During a meeting of Ambassadors in Warsaw, the Polish capital in June, the Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz extended a high-level invitation to Presidents to attend the meeting in order to add to the importance they attach to issues of climate change.

In accordance with a decision of the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention (COP22) in Marrakesh in November 2016, the successive climate summit will be held in Poland. Poland was selected to host this event within the framework of the Eastern European Group (EEG).

Poland will hold the Presidency of the Climate Convention for the third time having hosted them in both 2008 and in 2013. The 2018 COP24 takes place from the 3rd to the 14th of December.

“As an embassy, one of the activities we are currently engaged in is preparations for the arrival of the Minister and her team which includes coordinating issues of accommodation and transportation with our colleagues in Lusaka and service providers in Poland”, said Ambassador Mukwita in a statement issued by Kellys Kaunda, the first Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Berlin Germany.

Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati says Northern Province is now open for business and ready to contribute towards national growth.

Mr. Mutati said this last night during the Pre-Expo Cocktail party held for invited investors at Lake Chilla Lodge in Mbala.

He revealed that already, from the calculations he had with Provincial Minster Brian Mundubile, practical commitment from the 40 invited investors has exceeded US$ 200 million.

Mr. Mutati who was guest of honour at the Cocktail party has announced that prio to the Northern Province Investment Expo scheduled for November 2018, another event to whip up the appetite for more investor attraction will be held soon to further compel more interest in the development journey that has started adding that this years’ November Expo will exceed any other Expo that has been done and yet to be done anywhere in the country.

“The province is committed to expanding the investment base and encouraged the business community to consider ploughing their money in the area.
The province is rich in various unique products such as Kasama Coffee, Kasama Sugar even Buka fish, the area also stands out as the only place where the First War ended on the continent of Africa”. He said

The occasion was also attended by his Tourism and Arts counterpart Charles Banda who earlier in the day officially launched the Mahogany Air flight to Mbala, at Samora Machel Air Base where he said Government’s vision is to ensure that Zambia becomes a major tourism destination of choice.

Mr. Banda also launched the Kasama flight at Kasama Airport before proceeding to Mbala.

And Mr. Mundubile said his administration looked at three key areas which are agriculture, tourism and the Mpulungu harbour which has since received US$100 million of investment from the Industrial Development Corporation.

“The three areas are already bearing fruits as investors have already shown tremendous responses through the pledged construction of the five star hotel at Kasaba Bay and the presence of Mansa Chilli which is constructing three operational hubs in the province”. Said Mr. Mundubile.

The investors that were present are Zambia Industrial and Commercial Bank, Choppies Limited, Zambian Breweries, Musika Development Initiative, SEEDCO, Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI), Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC), Zamtel and Atlasmara among others.