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Buteko market in Mufulira has been burnt to ashes destroying goods worth millions of Kwacha.
The fire swept through the market around 01:00 hours this morning and destroyed goods worth millions of Kwacha.
Mufulira Mayor Gift Mushinge confirmed the development in an interview but said the cause of the fire has not been established.
Ms Tembo who could not quantify the loss, said the fire brigade and Mopani Mines Fire Fighters had rushed to the scene and were only able to contain the inferno around 04:00 Hours.
File:National Council for Construction Principal Architecture Chance Kaonga confers with National Council for Construction Executive Director Mathew Ngulube during the meeting at Protea Hotel Lusaka Tower
National Council for Construction (NCC) Executive Director, Mathew Ngulube says a task force has been constituted to come up with ways of how foreign contractors can implement the 20% policy on sub contraction to local contractors.
It is Government Policy that a minimum of 20% of all Government-funded road contracts awarded by the Road Development Agency (RDA), Local Road Authorities (LRAs) and other Government institutions should be executed by Zambian citizens owned companies in line with the shareholding structure specified in the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act No. 9 of 2006.
Speaking to Q-news in a telephone interview, Mr. Ngulube said the task force will be chaired by local contractors.
He said the task force will meet next week Tuesday to finalize how best foreign contractors can implement this policy.
Mr Nguluba said the resolutions of the meeting will then be sent to President Edgar Lungu through his Special Assistant for Projects Implementation and Monitoring, Andrew Chellah to guide on how the implementation can be done without affecting the projects that are ongoing.
The NCC will ensure that the implementation of the 20% sub contraction to local contractors achieves its intended objective.
An 18 year old boy of habeenzu village of Chief Nalubamba Chiefdom in Namwala District in Southern Province has pleaded not guilty to a case of child defilement.
This is in a matter where the 18 year old boy appeared before Namwala Magistrate Wilton Mweemba for plea and is accused of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a named girl under the age of 16 years.
Particulars of the offence are that the 18 year old boy on unknown dates between the 1st and 24th of June 2018 in the Namwala District had unlawful carnal knowledge of a named girl under the age of 16 years contrary to section 138 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
The matter has since been adjourned to 17th July 2018 by Namwala Magistrate Wilton Mweemba for commencement of trial in a Juvenile court.
Government has directed the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to write to Facebook, asking the US social media giant to close down a number of fake pages which were created by crooks in the name of government ministers and even the president to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said the government has unearthed a scam in which about 155 fake Facebook accounts have been created in the name of President Edgar Lungu and another 434 in the names of ministers and other senior officials by fraudsters.
“So far about 49 cases have been discovered and as government we are aware that there could be so many other fake Facebook accounts fraudsters have created through which they are defrauding people,” she said during her weekly press briefing.
Siliya, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said the Zambia Information and Communications Technology has been directed to write to Facebook to close down the accounts and urged citizens to be careful on how they use social media as fraudsters have invaded the social media space.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Hon. Dora Siliya, MPChief Government Spokesperson, Dora Siliya has said that President Edgar Lungu will continue to travel with or without austerity measures in place.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Ms Siliya, however, stated that this did not mean that the President will travel unnecessarily, adding that each trip President Lungu makes abroad is about the country and not about him as an individual.
Ms.Siliya said that the President’s job description includes selling Zambia abroad to attract investment, adding that if the President does not travel, people in the country will be sharing poverty.
Ms. Siliya who is also Information and broadcasting services minister further stated that all the trips that President Lungu makes both outside and within the country are budgeted for.
The Minister said that government always anticipates where President Lungu is likely to travel when formulating the national budget.
And on the Turkey trip that generated criticism, President Edgar Lungu said that his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was desirous to enhancing bilateral relations between Zambia and Turkey.
President Lungu disclosed that President Erdogan informed him when the two leaders held a high-level bilateral meeting.
President Lungu further stated that his Turkish counterpart was committed towards improving diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.
The President stated that Mr. Erdogan has promised to visit Zambia soon.
“Well from us from Zambia being part of the invited guests, I think we have learnt a lot. We want to see how we can enhance our bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Turkey,” President Lungu said.
He said he was happy that the ministers and other officials in his delegation held fruitful meetings with the Turkish private sector who showed interest in investing in Zambia.
“We are already working with some of the private partners like in the energy sector. I have said in the past quoting some scholars who have said that there is no finishing line to development. I think mankind keeps developing. So in tourism, Turkey has done very well,” President Lungu said.
He said Zambia’s tourism and agriculture sectors are on the right development trajectory and it is through cooperation with countries like Turkey that they can record more growth.
“We are talking of value addition in Zambia, and I think that time is gone when African countries thrived by exporting raw materials and we want to export finished products and we can only do so if we industrialise our economies,” he said.
He pointed out that Zambia could learn from Turkey’s advanced agricultural practices such as agro-processing and value addition in order for the country to export finished products as opposed to raw goods.
Mr. Lungu disclosed that government has added a new dimension to economic diplomacy by ensuring ministers include businessmen in their delegations to explore possible public private partnerships (PPP).
“So I think that it will not be ministerial trips anymore it will be business trips, ministers accompanied by businessmen visiting to see how they can cooperate in public private partnerships.
“And I think criticism will always be there , come to think of it, every time the President goes out of the country there is a lot of talk but I think that it is worth it,” President Lungu said.
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe
The Copperbelt Provincial Administration says it has scaled up screening of people for Ebola at border posts that are entering the country through Kasumbalesa and other border areas .
ZANIS reports that Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe said in an interview today that provincial administration is taking stringent measures to ensure no case of Ebola is recorded in the province.
Mr Nundwe said health workers have been stationed at all border areas and at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International airport to screen everyone entering the province from the Democratic Republic of Congo where 66 confirmed Ebola cases have been recorded.
He said the epidemic awareness activities are also on going at all border areas.
Mr Nundwe said this today during a provincial epidemic preparedness committee meeting held in Ndola.
And Provincial Health Director Dr Alex Makupe informed the committee that the province has stocked enough drugs at health facilities in case of any reported case of Ebola disease.
Vision Africa Regional Network (VAREN) has built 223 toilets in 53 Community schools in Luapula province at a cost of 2.3 Million Kwacha.
Organization Executive Director Jackson Mwenya says the toilet facilities have been built with the support of UNICEF and DFID in Mansa, Chembe and Milenge district
Mr. Mwenya says the construction of the facilities is aimed at improving sanitation conditions in community schools which have been left behind in sanitation issues after being declared government schools.
He noted that VAREN found it appropriate to supplement government efforts by constructing pit latrines in community schools so as to overcome the poor sanitary conditions especially for the girl child who has to undergo the menstrual cycle every month.
He said VAREN focused on providing inclusive latrines in the three districts to deal with challenges such as those of menstrual hygiene management.
Mr. Mwenya indicated that the inclusive latrines have the component of attending to the girl child concerning menstrual hygiene management to enable them continue with school even when they are on menstrual period.
He has since appealed to government to consider budgeting for Menstrual Hygiene Management saying that is the only way the girl child will learn in a hygienic environment.
First Lady Esther Lungu cuts a ribbon with IIROSA Regional Director -Southern Africa Sheikh Walid R. EL Saadi and Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya during the Commissioning of the eye hospital at Chipata Central Hospital, where she also launched an eye camp set by the Esther Lungu Foundation Trust in partnership with the International Islamic Relief Organization for Southern Africa (IIROSA) and the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, July 10,2018 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAZambia’s Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Chitalu Chilufya, has stated that in a quest to provide quality health services across the continuum of care, the Zambian government requires a critical component of health systems strengthening which is health care financing .
He stated that this concept involved identifying key partners who would ably promote what the Zambian people aspire for.
Dr Chilufya stated that the Esther Lungu foundation had proved to be one such key ally in health care financing through advocacy and lobbying for financial and material assistance from cooperating partners both locally and abroad.
“Madam First lady, I want to go on record that the support we are getting from the Esther Lungu foundation is unprecedented in the health sector. We have witnessed unprecedented advocacy towards health systems strengthening through health care financing.
“We do not take for granted your hard work. You traverse the nation serving lives through reproductive health services advocacy. In Lundazi not so long ago and today, a mission that will restore sight to and change the landscape of the people in Chipata and beyond,” he said.
He reiterated that the First ladys efforts in global health distinguished her as a lead global health advocate.
“Indeed, in global health advocacy, we are seeing resources trickling into the country. You are forging partnerships with strategic partners within the country and beyond. And we are seeing the dividends,” he said.
“As a health sector, we want to place on record our deepest appreciation for your support. And we want to say we will take advantage of this political will, this motherly and indeed Godly nature that you have to save lives and we will work even closer with You,” he added.
Dr Chilufya said this in Chipata on the 10th of July when the first lady Mrs Esther Lungu commissioned the eye department at the Chipata central hospital which has been constructed courtesy of the Christian blind mission of Germany as well as kicked off the 10 day surgical eye camp that would see thousands of residents screened and treated for eye problems courtesy of several cooperating partners which included the Esther Lungu foundation trust, the Muslim world league , the International Islam relief organisation of southern africa , the Ministry of health and the Ministry of defence respectively .
A witchdoctor has been put on his defense for unlawful possession of a leopard skin.
This is in a matter where Louis Munyama, a resident of Tibwe village in Chief Chikanta’s chiefdom in Kalomo District in Central Province is charged with unlawful possession of prescribed government trophy namely a leopard pelt valued at K7, 200.
Munyama denied the charge.
Magistrate Mugala Chalwe put Munyama on his defense after the prosecution closed its case.
“After going through the evidence from the prosecution. I have appreciated the evidence of the prosecution because they have established a prima facie case against you. I therefore put you on your defense” Magistrate Chalwe said.
Wildlife Police Officer from Ngoma Wildlife Camp Fey Munkombwe testified that he received a call from the Seniour officers that a man in Chikanta areas was in possession of a leopard pelt and in no time two other officers were called and they drove to Chikanta.
He said that they arrived around 03:00 hours and knocked on the door of Mr. Munyama’s house and later entered his house and after a search found a leopard pelt and when asked to produce a certificate of ownership, he could not produce.
Munkombwe said that Munyama later led them to his shrine where they also searched but could not find anything there.
He told the court that Munyama was then apprehended and taken to Ngoma Wildlife police post where he was charged with the subject offence.
Munkombwe identified the leopard pelt that Munyama allegedly was found in possession and a certificate of identification issued by the Seniour investigations officer.
The second witness was Josephat Mposaile who also testified in a similar manner.
And in cross examination Mr Munyama asked Mposaile as to who should be in possession of a leopard pelt.
“Who should possess a leopard skin, me a witchdoctor or you a wildlife police officer from Department of national parks and wildlife? Mr. Munyama asked.
Mposaile responded that no one is allowed except one who has a valid certificate.
The other witness was Maswabi Nyambe who testified on how he identified the leopard skin and produced a certificate of identity of the skin.
Mr. Maswabi told the court that when the suspect was availed to him, he differentiated the leopard pelt from a cheetah pelt and also valued the leopard pelt and indicated its value on the certificate of identification and handed him to the arresting officer.
In his defense, Mr. Munyama who identified himself as a Witchdoctor and famer testified that on the material day around 03:30 he heard a knock on his door and when he opened he found three people he came to know as police wildlife officers.
He said that one of the officers had a sack and then the officers searched his house and when they could not find anything, he led them to his shrine where they also searched but found nothing.
He told the court that the officers later told him that he was the owner of a leopard pelt which was in a sack.
Mr. Munyama narrated that he later led the officers to the Chief’s place but he was not around and instead they went to Seniour headman who told them that Mr. Munyama was not a poacher but a witchdoctor.
The court heard that the officers later drove him to Ngoma Wildlife Police where he was charged for the subject office.
The matter has been adjourned for judgment on July 17, 2018.
A 20 year old woman of Mumba village in Chieftainess Chungu of Luwingu district in Northern Province was yesterday axed to death by her brother in law for accepting marriage with another man.
Both Luwingu District Commissioner Alick Kampamba and Northern Province, Deputy Police commissioner Edwin Bwanga confirmed the development to Zambia News and Information services (ZANIS) in luwingu.
Mr Bwanga said that Rabecca Mulenga was murdered by her brother in law Gilbert Mwape who is married to her elder sister.
This is after Rabecca accepted marriage with another man who approached her parents to start process of marriage arrangements.
Mr. Bwanga said this annoyed Gilbert who wanted to maintain both his wife and her young sister in the marriage.
He explained that after committing murder Gilbert later ran into a nearby bush where he went to commit suicide by hanging himself on a tree.
Mr Bwanga said Police in luwingu rushed to the area and retrieved the dead bodies of both Rabecca Mulenga and Gilbert Mwape and took them to luwingu district hospital mortuary.
Community Development and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary Rev. Howard SikwelaTourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Reverend Howard Sikwela has expressed concern that many women are being used as conduits in illegal wildlife trade.
Speaking when Wildlife Crime Prevention (WCP) Awareness Manager, Luwi Ngulika paid a courtesy call on him at his office yesterday morning, Dr. Sikwela urged that the organization does more sensitization especially for women who end up suffering when arrested at the cost of male poachers.
He said just like in drug trafficking, women fall victim as they are being used in the marketing and selling of contrabands like illegal game meat.
The PS urged the Awareness Manager to go flat out and tell the women the dangers that come with such risky business engagements.
He said Government couldn’t manage to go it alone in bringing down wildlife crime hence the need to engage with other stakeholders like WCP.
And Ngulika said her organization cherished the support from the Ministry and wished for continued partnership for posterity.
She said there is need to change the narrative in the way people look at the conservation efforts that are being made by all parties involved for the benefit of all Zambians.
Ngulika said Zambians need to know the value of wildlife and hence the need to leave a legacy of conservation efforts.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe.
A sodomy case involving a senior civil servant working for the office of the president in Luwingu district failed to take off because the docket was not made available by the public prosecutors.
Appearing before Luwingu magistrate Davy Simfukwe was Moses Chanda aged 33 facing three counts of unnatural offence contrary to section 155 (a) of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Facts before the court were that on 26th June 2018, Mr Chanda is alleged to have had canal knowledge of a 15 year old boy whom he gave K20.00 for appreciation.
In second count, on 27th June 2018, Mr Chanda is alleged to have committed a similar act with a 15 year old boy and on 28th June 2018, Mr Chanda is alleged to have repeated the act and gave the boy K60.00 for appreciation contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The matter has been adjourned to 26th July 2018 for mention and 14th August 2018 for commencement trial.
Magistrate Simfukwe has since grated him a cash bail of K25, 000, with two working sureties of managerial position and reporting at the Zambia police every, after, two weeks.
Green Eagles have leapt to third place on the FAZ Super Division table on Wednesday following a 3-0 home win over Lusaka Dynamos at Independence Stadium in Choma.
The Choma side jumped from 6th to 3rd displacing Zanaco from the spot heading into this weekend’s Round 24 fixtures.
Anos Tembo struck twice in the 18th and 60th minutes to take his tally to six goals this season.
In-between, Lazarus Phiri sent Eagles 2-0 into the break with a 35th minute goal.
Aggrey Chiyangi’s side has to 42 points from 23 matches while Zanaco, who drop to fourth, have 41 points.
Eagles are fifteen points behind leaders Zesco United.
Dynamos stay 8th on 34 points after 21 games played with two matches in hand against Power Dynamos and Nchanga Rangers.
Sven Vandenbroek has given his early impression of the local league.
The new Chipolopolo coach graced the big Kitwe derby at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe between hosts Power Dynamos and Nkana that ended 2-2. .
Twenty -four hours later he sampled some junior football when the Zambia Under-20 drew 3-3 at home win South Africa in a friendly at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
“I think the intensity of the games and physicality was at the high level,” Vandenbroek said.
“But technically I think they can always increase their skills but that is for something for club coaches to improve in practice sessions or in a match situation.”
Vandenbroek has been handed an open-ended contract over five 2019 AFCON Group K qualifying matches that end in March 2019.
