Polls have opened in the Lusaka mayoral and other local government by-elections taking place around the country.
The Lusaka mayoral by-election is being contested by nine candidates.

These are People‘s Alliance for Change’s Mundia Mukubesa,NDC’s Saboi Imboela, UPND’s Kangwa Chileshe, PF’s Miles Sampa, Republican Progressive People’s Leslie Chikuse,UPP’s Saviour Chishimba, and UNIP’s Alfred Banda.

Others are Madalitso Musukwa of UPPZ and Bwalya Nonde of NAREP.

By-elections are also being held in Chilanga for the council Chairperson and in the newly created districts of Chasefu, Chipangali, Kasenengwa, Lumezi, Lusangazi and Chifunabuli.

Six ward by-elections are also being held.The polls which opened at 06:00 hours are expected to close at 18:00 hours.

Muchinga Minister Sichone has appealed to the small scale farmers in Muchinga province not to sell their crop to briefcase buyers.

He said he has received disturbing reports that small scale farmers in the province have started selling maize at give -away prices to brief case buyers.

Mr. Sichone said small scale farmers should hold on to their crops and sell it to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and other buyers with competitive and fair prices.

FRA is yet to announce the maize floor price for the 2018/ 2019 crop marketing season after ensuring that the moisture content reaches the required level of below 12 percent for maize grain.

Last week President Edgar Lungu directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to revisit the maize price that has been pegged at K65 per 50 kilogramme (kg) of maize. The Head of State said there was need for FRA to adjust the prices upwards so that both the farmers and the consumers were supported.

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) had described the K65 per 50 kilogramme bag of maize as absurd and horrendously low.

Community Development and Social Services Minister Emerine Kabanshi has said, the Zambian Governemnt will work in partnership with persons with disabilities and all stakeholders to ensure their voice is heard and strengthening women’s participation in disability inclusive development.

And the Zambian Governemnt has committed itself to address stigma and discrimination against persons with disability by engaging with traditional leaders, policy makers, the media and persons with disabilities themselves to challenge negative attitudes.

The Minister made the commitment when she made a presentation on gender and disability at the just ended Global Diability Summit that was held in London, United Kingdom on Tuesday.

She said the the government is committed to improving targeting of rural development programmes to ensure they reach women with disabilities adding that governemnt will enhance national level monitoring systems – integrating the Washington Group questions into the 2020 Census and developing a National Disability monitoring and evaluation framework that will enable to track progress on women and girls with disabilities.

“I am delighted to be on the panel to discuss on gender and disability. One of the biggest barriers to disability inclusion is the issue of stigma and discrimination, while the biggest barrier to gender equality is violence often caused by negative social and behavioural norms. These are challenges that are deep rooted in communities in Zambia and elsewhere, and to support development for women and girls with disabilities we need interventions that address discrimination faced at household and community levels,” she said.

The Minister said in an effort to address challenges that physically Challenged people face, His Excellency the President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu launched the 7th National Development Plan (2017-2021) on 21st June 2017, whose theme is “Accelerating development efforts towards the Vision 2030, without leaving anyone behind”. This plan has led a foundation for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

She said taking this approach can prevent violence, reduce discrimination and support people to achieve their potential, overcoming barriers and promoting political, economic and social participation of persons with disabilities.

“We have seen some good results, for example integrating disability into programmes to end violence against women, using technology, such as WhatsApp to create advocacy groups to empower women and girls with disability who are frequently denied services and are not adequately trained or prepared to offer the right support to survivors of violence. We also know there is much more to be done to ensure women and girls with disabilities are able to realise their full potential,” she said.

Hon. Kabanshi said government has taken steps to address these challenges and integrate both gender and disability considerations across all functions of government.

She said the government has recently initiated the disability focal point person system and brought together Permanent Secretaries from different Ministries to discuss mainstreaming disability into planning, budgeting and policy implementation.

And after the summit, the Minister had a meeting with the United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin before she travelled to Zambia to see how the UK can strengthen its partnership with Zambia by supporting growth and poverty reduction and working towards shared prosperity.

Hon. Kabanshi is currently in Scottland for a study visit where she will meet various stakeholders to learn more on Social Protection and how they can effectively be implemented in Zambia.

Minster of Labour Joyce Simukoko has urged employers to release their workers to go and vote in tomorrow’s elections.

Mrs. Simukoko has made the call in line with the Presidents declaration of Thursday July 26 as a public holiday.

In a statement to ZNBC News, the Minister of Labour has called on employers both in the private and public sector not to infringe on the rights of employees and allow them to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

She further says that essential workers can be accommodated in progressive arrangements for them to take part in voting pursuant to the provisions in the Industrial and Labour relations Act.

Selected districts in the country go to the polls tomorrow for the election of Mayor, Council Chairpersons and ward by elections.

Campaigns Expose the Urgent Need to Implement Decentralization Policy BUT Also the Need for Leaders to Frequently Visit Ordinary citizens – JCTR

Following the Electoral Commission of Zambia announcement of the election date for the Mayoral Council election in Lusaka and Council Chairperson positions in select districts which is slated for Thursday, 26th July, 2018; the campaign period has seen candidates and political parties promising many things relating to development. They have included rectifying water challenges, unblocking drainages and pronouncements aimed at ensuring school going children do not drop out of school.

The period has seen political leaders including the Republican President interacting with ordinary citizens to hear their challenges. Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has noted that this practice of leaders going out to interact with the people and appreciate the situation on the ground must not be limited to election campaign period but must become a default style of leadership in this country. JCTR has observed that this type of leadership will serve to facilitate the implementation of decentralization in Zambia.

The Centre has therefore urged the Patriotic Front (PF) government to urgently implement among measures provisions of the decentralization policy such as non – politicized ward development committees to enhance interaction between leaders and ordinary citizens. The Centre has also demanded that leaders, regardless the level, needs to make it a habit to be frequently visiting electorates and ordinary citizens to appreciate the situation on the ground to make informed decisions.

The Centre has further urged electorates in places where elections are taking place to elect candidates who are truly committed to serving the needs of the people at the local level. “Underdevelopment has been perpetuated by the selfishness of political leaders. One such situation has been where election victors abandon electorates and only appear at the time of seeking another mandate”, notes the JCTR.

Congolese Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide has been ordered to appear in the Lusaka Magistrate Court on Friday.

According to a court order obtained in Lusaka today, Koffi whose original name is Antoinne Christopher Agpepa Mumba should appear before Magistrate Sakala on Friday to hear charges of assaulting photo journalist Jean Mandela.

Koffi has been ordered to be present in court until the case is disposed off.

It is alleged that Koffi assaultedJean Mandela on 28th December 2012 contrary to 248 of the penal code cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Earlier on Wednesday, Koffi paid a courtesy call on Lusaka Province Bowman Lusambo who encouraged him to free at Home.

Koffi later laid wreaths at the graves of late former Presidents at Embassy Park.