A 16-YEAR old boy is battling for his life at the Kitwe Teaching Hospital nursing gunshot wounds after Chinese investors running Bolo Mine in Chambishi shot him after they found him collecting firewood close to their mine.

The Chinese nationals then bolted for their compound and locked themselves inside and unleashed dogs on state security who had gone to investigate the shooting.

Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga yesterday told the Daily Nation in an interview that the boy, identified as John Mumba of Kalusale area, had gone to fetch firewood when the Chinese shot him before running away and locking themselves at their premises.

She said after the incident, the Chinese ran to their compound, locked up the gate and doors to their houses but that the police managed to fish them out.

“Following the shooting incident, police made a follow-up and established that he was shot by the Chinese. We went to the company where all of them hid and they were fished out and arrested.

“All the 10 involved in running Bolo Mine were taken to Chambishi police station. Eight were given bond but the other two are still in custody for causing grievous bodily harm (GBH),” she said.

A source present at the time of the arrest of the Chinese said the assailants had had initially released their guard dogs after locking the gate to their premises to prevent anyone from entering the compound and repel the police from going in to arrest the shooter. The source said the arrest was initially temporarily suspended following “a stalemate between the vicious dogs and the police” but that reinforcement was quickly called for and that officers believed to have been from the anti-robbery squad forced their way into the compound and according to eye witnesses, police had to call for reinforcement to gain entry and arrest the suspects.

Ms. Katanga said the bullet lodged from John’s back and tore its way to the front part of the body, and the victim was rushed to Chambishi Government hospital where he was admitted before being referred to Kitwe Teaching Hospital

Minister of Foreign Affairs JOE MALANJI signed on behalf of Zambia, while AU Commission Chairperson MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT signed on behalf of the African Union in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Others that witnessed the signing ceremony were Mines Minister RICHARD MUSUKWA, Zambia’s Representative to the African Union SUSAN SIKANETA, Anti-Corruption Commission Director General KAPETWA PHIRI , Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Office of the Vice President, Stephen MWANSA, and other AU staff.

And Speaking after the signing ceremony, AU Commission Chairperson MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMA says it is encouraging that Zambia had accepted to host the secretariat.

And Minister of Foreign Affairs, JOE MALANJI said that it was high time that Zambia is accorded the status it deserves for liberating the African continent.

Mr. MALANJI says bringing the ECOSOCC secretariat to Zambia, will help Zambia get the must needed exposure not just from members states but allow the cooperating partners.

He told ZNBC News in an interview that once the country shows it prowess in host such secretariats will be given other secretariats to host.

Mr. MALANJI says the setting up of the secretariat also shows the confidence that members states and other partners in the Government of President EDGAR LUNGU.

He further thanked all member states that supported the bid for Zambia to host the ECOSOCC Secretariat.

Anti-Corruption Commission Director General, KAPETWA PHIRI says there is need to inculcate ethical values in the youth in a bid to fight corruption.
Mr. PHIRI says once the mindset is changed, a corrupt free Zambia is possible.

Speaking on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Nouakchott Mauritania, Mr PHIRI told ZNBC News that engaging youths and children at a tender age is the best way to fight the scourge.

He says the Commission intends to give an opportunity to youths to attend the Youth Conference in ABUJA, Nigeria so that they too can appreciate the challenges of Corruption.

Mr PHIRI says there is need for the youth to know that what they are not given , they must not take or rather must not abuse their power.

He explained that the ACC will now go flat out to ensure YOUTH advocacy take centre stage in the fight against corruption.

Mr PHIRI also stated that the Commission has already started ensuring the Corruption topics are in the School curriculum and intends to take it up to university.

Meanwhile, Minister of Mines , RICHARD MUSUKWA says Corruption needs to be fought at all levels, in the mining sector, if the benefit must accrue to the country.
Mr MUSUKWA says this is inclusive of Job placement, contracts and Supply goods and services.

And Mr .MUSUKWA says Corruption can erode the aspects of tax collection, financial leakages through transfer pricing and over pricing of goods and services.
He says it is for this reason that government wants a complete overhaul in terms of the mineral value chain, so that it is done in an open and transparent manner.
Mr MUSUKWA says this will help curb illicit flows in the mining sector.

Speaking on the side lines of the AU Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania , Mr MUSUKWA says government knows that the mining sector is the cornerstone of the countries development and that corruption must not be allowed to thrive.

Mr MUSUKWA is part of the Zambian delegation which is being led by Vice President INONGE WINA

Meanwhile, Mr. Sinkamba has commended the Legislature for consistently exerting pressure on the Executive to implement the medical cannabis laws enacted as far back as 1967.

Reacting to Government’s position in parliament yesterday that it had no plans to implement medical cannabis laws through the Zambia National Service, Mr. Sinkamba said since the Legislature and the Executive have had their say on the matter, it now apparent that the ball is in the court of the Judiciary to play its backstopping role and have a decisive say on the next steps concerning the matter.

“Parliament exercised its constitutional role by passing medical cannabis laws as far back as 1967. It has also consistently reminded the Executive to implement these laws. However, the Executive has impugned the Legislature by negating to implement the medical cannabis laws for more than 50 years, despite several reminders by the public and the Legislature to do so. Since the matter has been taken to courts of law, it is now abundantly clear that the ball is now in the hands of the Judiciary to play its constitutional backstopping role,” Mr. Sinkamba said.

He is confident that the glitch will soon be over.

“You see, this country imports pesticides such as rogor. This pesticide is used almost every for people to commit suicide or kill their enemies. Yet, the pesticide has never been banned and is sold openly without any prescription. Cars kill people every day, yet cars are licensed daily. No single person has ever been reported to have died from cannabis over-dose. As the Green Party, we think that we will soon be turning around the corner and implement these laws which for so long have been negated by the Executive without any justifiable cause. We think that fifty years of impunity is enough. There always must come a time in life when one has to say and enough is enough and for once do the right thing,” he added.

Yesterday in parliament, Chimwemwe Member of Parliament Mwila Mutale asked Government whether it had plans to implement the medical cannabis laws through the Zambia National Service.

In response, Government said it had no such plans. The response prompted several Members of Parliament to question the rationale by Government to sideline medical cannabis laws on the pretext of abuse when it had licensed the consumption and importation of more dangerous drugs such as alcohol which in fact had more devastating health effects on the public than cannabis.

?
Last year, Mr. Sinkamba, who has been an advocate of medical cannabis laws since 2013 sued the Minister of Health for refusing to issue him a licence to cultivate, manufacture, export and import cannabis for medical purposes pursuant to provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1967 and the Medicines and Allied Substances Act of 2013 as well as the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1993. The matter is pending for determination before the Court of Appeal.

The Football Association of Zambia has resolved to appoint Deputy General Secretary Adrian Adry Kashman Kashala as acting General Secretary with effect 1st July 2018.

This follows the departure of Mr Ponga Liwewe .

According to a statement from FAZ, the decision to appoint Mr. Kashala was made following an Executive Committee meeting held today at Football House.

Movement for Multiparty Democracy has sent a message of condolences to the Nigerian people on the loss of over 52 people who died in the Otedola Bridge accident in Lagos.

In a statement issued to the media party National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda said the party mourns with the people of Nigeria and that the party wishes strength and fortitude to the victims’ families, health and speedy recovery to those injured, as well as unity and consolidation to the people of Nigeria during this painful and turbulent time.

“Movement for Multi Party Democracy National Secretary wishes to send out a message of condolences to President Buhari and the Nigerian people at large most especially to the victims of the petrol tanker explosion that occured on Otedola bridge in Lagos a day ago in the evening.

“I extend sincere condolences over the truck tanker explosion in LAGOS, where 9 persons were burnt beyond recognition while 54 cars were burnt in the inferno and left many injured. This is a huge challenge facing your country today. We mourn with the entire nation and observe a solemn and solitude moment that has gripped the entire nation. We stand together.

“On behalf of our party President Hon. Felix Mutati, the entire party membership and on my own behalf, I wish strength and fortitude to the victims’ families, health and speedy recovery to those injured, as well as unity and consolidation to the people of Nigeria at this painful and turbulent time,” he said.

He has since advised the Zambian government to drew lessons from the accident in Lagos and prevent such incidents from occurring by moving dangerous goods in transit to safer modes of transportation such as the use of railway.

“We seek to take this opportunity to advise our government to draw lessons from such horrific accidents occasioned through the transportation of oil products by road.

He has lamented over the continued use of roads to transport highly flammable substances thereby risking the lives of the huge numbers of people who use road transport daily.

“We take cognisance that Fuel tankers, with their flammable, moveable loads, are especially susceptible to rollovers—with disastrous consequences.Fuel tankers are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road, carrying loads that make them vulnerable to rollover and explosions.

“It is for this reason as a party that we recommend safety measures specifically designed to prevent such unforeseen catastrophic accidents and reducing rollovers. We urge government through the line ministries to serious reconsider the usage of rail in the transportation of hazardous, explosives and highly flammable substances.”

He adds “The advantage of rail transport is that the infrastructure is already in place and already spans across Zambia–all it needs is to be re-utilized.

The party Ceo has assured the Zambian government of their support and participation in discussions relating to the overall management of the transport and energy sector in preventing calamities.

“We want to reassure government of our support in finding lasting solutions in the management of our energy sector.”