President Edgar Lungu has denounced those perpetrating violence in the on-going campaigns for the Lusaka Mayoral elections. President Lungu said the United Party for National Development (UPND)should withdraw from the Mayoral race if they are not ready to contest.

The Head of State has stated that he will not allow elections to be postponed because of one person who is desperate to be President. President Lungu has also directed the Police to investigate cases of violence and bring culprits to book.

President Lungu was speaking during a rally in Bauleni to drum up support for PF Mayoral candidate, Miles Sampa. President Lungu urged the electorate to vote for Mr. Sampa as he is a tried and tested candidate.

And PF Secretary General, Davies Mwila also urged people to vote for Mr. Sampa so that he can represent their interests well. Also in attendance was Kanchibiya Member of Parliament, Martin Malama who has denounced perpetuators of violence and that such politicians are not fit to be in leadership.

On Thursday, President Lungu expressed disgust at the irresponsible behaviour of some opposition leaders who are going round telling their members to fight with pangas in so called self defence when there was nothing to defend themselves against as the purported violence was but a figment of the imagination of the said opposition leader.

President Lungu has urged the residents of Matero and the nation at large to examine the motives of such a leader who will gladly send other people’s children into the battle field whilst his own children were safely tacked away in schools abroad.

He stated that the so called violence that the opposition UPND leader was spoiling for was not a portion for the Zambian people who had lived in peace for the past 50 years and encouraged the citizens to continue being peaceful and guard jealously the peace that had earned the nation a good name and standing around the world, peace which had been fought for and obtained by the nation’s founding parents such as Dr Kaunda and his comrades.

And President Lungu has stated that only the PF would deliver development to Matero and Lusaka as a whole because they hold the key to the wallet.

He wondered how an opposition mayor would work when all the councillors save for one were PF stating that a vote for the opposition would be a wasted vote.

“The ones who will bring water here, bring roads and hospitals as well as schools are the PF . How can someone say things will change in Lusaka if you vote in a UPND Mayor. It defeats logic. Where will they get the money? The custodian of the money is My Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe. And the one in charge of the local government is again my Minister, Vincent Mwale. I appointed them. So which formular will the opposition use to obtain the money to develop Lusaka?” The President wondered .

And President Lungu has stated that the Patriotic Front is becoming more and more attractive as a party and government owing to the massive development that was being witnessed during its reign.

” PF is very attractive . Even those that left are now in the forefront claiming to be PF. Welcome back to the Party. We will receive you all. But a word of caution. Change your behaviour because if you don’t, we will ground you,” he said.

Voting in the Mayoral by-elections is slated for JULY 26. 2018.

President Edgar Lungu has today visited COMESA market which was gutted by fire last night.

And the President has directed Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo to work with Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale and the Lusaka City Council to find an alternative trading place for the traders where they can operate from temporarily.

President Lungu said he is devastated with the development as it has affected many traders as well as families.

And the Head of State said he was also deeply saddened by the death of a Tanzanian female trader whose life was lost in the inferno as she was trying to rescue her merchandise.

He stated that government will do everything possible to find out what caused the inferno at the market so that such incidences could be prevented in future.

The President also noted that the fires that have gutted some markets lately is a lesson to government to ensure that markets which will be constructed are fire proof and easily accessible.

President Lungu said this would help to put off the fire in a shortest possible time in case of such incidences in future.

He noted that the fire brigade department put in a lot of efforts to put off the fire but had difficulties to have access inside the market which made the whole process take some time.

Comesa market has about 1,500 shops out of which 80% of it has been gutted by fire and by 11:00hrs today, the fire brigade department was still trying to put off the remains of the fire.

President Lungu also took time to visit the ongoing construction works at Simon Mwewa market to have first hand information on the progress of the works

Rhumba maestro Koffi Olomide is this month end coming to Zambia for two shows in Lusaka and Kitwe.

The all-time music hitmaker makes a return for another anticipated hot performance set for Government Complex banquet hall in Lusaka on the 27th July and later move to Kitwe the following day at Mindolo Dam.

Last time Koffi dated Zambia, his shows were cancelled following his alleged physical abuse of one of his dancers that caused a public outcry. However, Koffi apologised to the world and the women folk.

Organisers say Koffi’s return is to accord many of his fans the best of the musician who considers Zambia one of his biggest market for his music. The singer, who is considered one of Africa’s influential musicians and great stage performers, will be with his energetic dancers and band members who are geared to treat fans to live and authentic music.

The extension of Koffi’s performance to the Copperbelt is deliberately meant to give the fans there a rare opportunity to watch the singer who has continued to release hit after hit every year in.

Recently, he released, ‘ Sisi Silvie’ the remix and ‘Effervescent et Service’ featuring Fally Ipupa. Both songs plus many of his greatest hits will be showcased at the two shows whose tickets are already selling at Mobile City Mukuba Mall, East Point Discothèque in Ndola and Lusaka and many other outlets.

Vice President Inonge Wina has said that government will wait for the investigative wings to ascertain the cause of the fire which gutted COMESA Market in Lusaka last night before making any statements.

A Tanzanian woman who was trading at the market died from suffocation as she tried to retrieve her goods.

Ms Wina has told parliament during the vice president’s question time that it’s too early to predict the outcome of the findings the investigations.

Ms Wina said that it’s only after the police have determined the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire, will government inform the public of the findings.

Last night, goods worth million of Kwacha were destroyed in the fire that swept through COMESA market which is a trading place for mostly cross border traders.

The fire whose cause is not known is believed to have started around 20:00 hours.

Fire engines from the Lusaka City Council, Zambia Airports Corporation and Zambia Air Force struggled late in the night to put out of the fire.

The fire at COMESA market followed ANOTHER FIRE tHAT guttED Buteko market in Mufulira on Wednesday. Last year on 5th July, LUSAKA City market was gutted in a fire.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has visited the Comesa Market to witness the damage done by the fire

The IMF says the talks remain frozen because the Zambian government’s borrowing plans compromised the country’s debt sustainability.

This is according to a statement by IMF Spokesman Gerry Rice during a news conference at the IMF Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr Rice’s statement throws cold water on the Zambian government’s latest moves to reactive the IMF talks after key officials claimed that the talks are back on track.

On Thursday, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said a team of officials from the IMF is expected in Zambia next week to continue the consultative process for a bailout package.

Mr Yamba said the IMF officials’ visit to Zambia follows the successful submission of data which the global lender requested for and that the meeting is expected to reconcile figures between the two parties and find the best way forward.

But Mr Rice said there are no pending talks over an IMF bailout package for Zambia.

“Reports that the government has provided the IMF with all the information needed for the purposes of reengaging with the program. Zambia hopes the program can be taken to IMF’s Board in September. Basically the question is: what’s the status? Is that true? To which I can say, again, on Zambia, discussions on a possible Fund-supported program have been suspended because the authority’s borrowing plans compromised the country’s debt sustainability and, in our view, undermine its macroeconomic stability,” Mr Rice said.

Mr. Rice added, “So on June 14, 2018, they authorities indeed announced a set of measures aimed at addressing these debt sustainability concerns. The Fund has not yet received the specifics of the authority’s new debt plans, nor the revised budget numbers, that include the impact of the recently-announced consolidation measures.”

“Therefore, it’s premature to discuss the appropriateness, the fitness, for any potential reengagement regarding a program discussion, which is consistent with the statement we had issued earlier this year.”

The National Biosafety Authority has granted chain store Choppies Superstores a permit to import products that may contain Genetically Modified Organisms.

This was after the chain store made an application for the importation of products that are made from or may contain GMOS in May this year.

Among the products the chain store will import and place on the market include instant choppies porridge, chilli beef flavored soup, oxtail flavored soup, chakalaka flavored soup, brown onion soup and choppies corn flakes.

The NBA Board, during their last meeting held on Friday July 6, 2018, approved the application for a permit to import products that may contain GMOS by choppies superstores following a recommendation from the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

The SAC, after conducting a risk assessment, found that the products that choppies superstores sought to import did not contain toxins and allergens that might cause harm to the humans, animals and the environment.

In April this year, the NBA accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health, Lusaka City Council and the police swung into action and pounced on the unsuspecting lake road and Ibex Choppies Superstores confiscating food products worth over K21, 000 which were brought in the country and placed on the market without obtaining approval from the authority.

The chain store was also directed to withdraw all products containing GMOS from the shelves across the country that were being sold without prior approval from the authority.

Meanwhile, the NBA has issued 23 permits since 2015 to various companies for the importation and or placing on the market of products that may contain GMOS.

The import permits are valid for 5 years while permits for placing on the market range between three to six months to ensure compliance and prevent companies from contravening the law.