The Human Rights Commission has commended government, co-operating and development partners for successively hosting United Nations Refugee Day today.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has applauded the Zambian government and its co-operating partners for the continued and accelerated efforts made towards promoting and protecting the rights of asylum seekers.

Human rights commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga said in a statement made available to ZANIS today that the commission has in the last three weeks been assessing the human rights situation in various refugee transit camps and resettlements such as Kenani Refugee Transit Centre and Mantapala Refugee Settlement in Luapula Province.

Others are Maheba Refugee Settlement in North-western Province and Mushakende Refugee Settlement in Western Province.

Mr. Mwandenga said the overall findings were that the Zambian government with financial and technical assistance from various partners such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), local and international Non-Governmental Organisations and the respective local communities is doing its best to promote and protect the rights of asylum seekers.

He stated that the commission further commends government for developing and implementing a comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) at Mantapala Refugee Resettlement which focusses on both humanitarian and sustainable livelihoods of asylum seekers in an integrated manner with the local communities.

Mr. Mwandenga pointed out that the on-going construction of learning, health, water supply and sanitation and security related infrastructure at Mantapala is highly commendable as it will contribute to the promotion and protection of the rights of both the asylum seekers, as well as the host communities.

He however called on the International Community and various stakeholders to scale up financial, technical and moral support to the Zambian Government to enable it meet its international obligation of supporting asylum seekers.

The United Nations Refugee Day was declared in 2000 with a view of raising global awareness on the global shared responsibilities for millions of children, women and men who are forced to flee their countries mainly from threats of persecution, violence and conflict.

Currently, the global estimated number of refugees is 68.5 million and as of February 2018, Zambia was hosting more than 70,000 refugees.

Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga, has warned Fishermen in Ngabwe district against the use of illegal Fishing gear.

Mr Mushanga said the use of illegal fishing gear such as mosquito nets and other materials is likely to deplete the fish species if left unchecked.

“Fingerlings are the only ones am seeing here, there is none who can show me a big fish. This is un-called for and should be stopped”, he said.

He urged the Fisheries Department in the district to increase patrols and stiffen marine security.

He added that 2 offices will be deployed near the Kafue River in Ngabwe for easy monitoring of fishing activities.

He also disclosed that government would hold capacity building workshops for the fishermen to equip them with the right information and skills in fishing.

“People need to learn modern fishing activities for sustainability of the fish”, he said.

He further added that the fishing industry has potential to develop the area and create employment opportunities hence the need for sustainable fishing methods.

He has urged the district heads of government departments and other key stakeholders to take advantage of the forth coming provincial expo and showcase Ngabwe’s economic potential.

Government says it has no intentions of demanding for the recall of British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane-Dyet for the perceived breach of diplomatic etiquette.

Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya dispelled fears that High Commissioner Cochrane-Dyet will face deportation following his recent comments and tweeting about corruption allegations following the 2017 report of the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Addressing Journalists at her office in Lusaka, Ms Siliya who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services explained that Ambassador Cochrane-Dyet’s situation is different from recalled Cuban Ambassador to Zambia Nelson Pages Vilas .

In April this year, government requested the recall of Cuban Ambassador to Zambia Nelson Pages Vilas for breaching diplomatic practice by openly supporting the newly launched opposition Socialist Party.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Zambia Fergus Cochrane-Dyet is reported to have commended the Zambia Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) for exposing trails of corruption in the country in its 2017 report.

Speaking after a group of EU Ambassadors paid a courtesy call on the FIC Director Mary Tshuma at her office, Mr Cochrane-Dyet is further reported to have said that it was imperative for the Zambian government to take seriously the allegations of corruption highlighted in the FIC report.

Ms Siliya however pointed out that there is an established channel for diplomats to air their grievances to government, adding that Zambia cherishes its working relationships with other countries as well as development and cooperation partners.

She however stressed that the Financial Intelligence Centre as a government institution misconducted itself professionally for releasing the report to the public and civil society before presenting it to President Edgar Lungu and other relevant law enforcement agencies.

She said the report contained information that needed further investigation but had put private citizens and public interests mentioned in the report in jeopardy if the intelligence is proved otherwise.

Ms Siliya maintained that government is committed to rectifying the challenges that were faced in the implementation of the E-voucher system during the just ended farming season.

She stated that her counterpart from the Ministry of Agriculture Michael Katambo has assured that the ministry is working round the clock to ensure that the e-voucher meets all stakeholder expectations in the forthcoming farming season.

And the Minister prodded journalists to champion their cause by ensuring that they form a professional body to look into their interests.

Ms Siliya said journalists need to have a professional body modelled on the lines of the Law Association of Zambia in order to improve journalism standards and enforce ethical and professional practice in the country.

Three People have died while others have sustained serious injuries in an accident that happened today five kilometers north of Monze district in Southern Province.

Zambia Police Service Public Relations Officer Esther Katongo said the accident involved a motor vehicle Toyota Ragius registration number ALT 475 with 12 people on board reported to be National Democratic Congress Party (NDC) members.

In a statement availed to ZANIS today, Ms. Katongo said the vehicle was being driven by Patrick Phiri whose age has not yet been established.

“Two people including a driver, died while nine others sustained serious injuries in an accident which happened today around 0800 hours five kilometers north of Monze. The victims were rushing to attend burial for the Late Mr. Daniel Munkombwe, “she stated.

She explained that the accident happened when the driver of the motor vehicle tried to overtake a truck and in the process careered off the road, hit into a tree and overturned.

Ms. Katongo pointed out that all the victims were rushed to Monze Hospital where three died saying that nine are admitted while one who had slight injuries was treated and discharged.

The bodies of the deceased are in Monze Hospital mortuary.

Several people are reportedly to have died while others are injured after the collapse of the infamous black mountain in Kitwe this morning.

Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga who is on the scene in Kitwe has not yet confirmed on the number of people who are allegedly have died and injured.

Ms Katanga said today police will give details of the accident later in the day as rescue operations are still going on.

In February this year government allowed small scale miners in Kitwe to start operating the black mountain as a way of empowering the unemployed youths.

Three people were yesterday burnt to ashes Monday following a head on collision along Kafue – Chirundu road near Nanduba area in Chikankata district of Southern Province.

And a rush by ZANIS to the scene of the accident yesterday found two unidentified bodies retrieved by the fire brigade while the other body which was burnt beyond recognition was still trapped by 15:00 hrs.

One eye witness interviewed by ZANIS, said the accident happened on Monday at 14:00 hours involving an oil tanker vehicle registration number A CQ 9307 while a corolla vehicle believed to have been carrying four people were burnt to ashes without anyone surviving.

Ms Kalubwe said the driver of the corolla vehicle is believed to have been drunk and that the driver of the oil tanker survived the fatal road accident.

An effort to get a comment from police found guarding the two bodies yesterday proved futile by press time as they referred all queries to Kafue Police Station Officer in Charge who could not be reached by press time.

Another eye witness Charity Njobwe said efforts to save life proved futile because the vehicles burst into flames just after the collision.

Ms Njobwe also said she was disappointed with the Fire Brigade for failure to retrieved other bodies which were still trapped by 17:00 hours yesterday.

She further praised the Zambia Police for keeping vigil at the scene of the accident.

A Lusaka based NGO running an orphanage in George Compound has been suspended with immediate effect after a check revealed that it was keeping the over 80 children in filthy conditions.

NGO Registration Board Chairman Chanda Nonde on Tuesday in the company of the Director General of the Zambia Persons with Disability Julien Mwape announced the suspension of Home of Happiness Orphanage after the tour.

The orphanage has recruited 68 children whose young mothers have abandoned them.

Mr Nonde said the children are being kept in a facility that does not meet the minimum standards.

He observed that the orphanage has recruited the children without consent letters from their families and the government.

Mr Nonde ordered that the Certificate of Registration for the orphanage be withdrawn with effect from today.

He further ordered that the operations of the orphanage may call for the de-registration of the said NGO.

Meanwhile ZAPD Director General Julien Mwape with her team and other stake holders have taken up the task of ensuring children are put in a habitable , suitable temporary place during the period of suspension as the owners look for a new place of operation.

A dilemma has gripped the district administration in Luano district over the eviction order by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for illegal settlers to vacate South Swaka Forest Reserve.

ZANIS reports that Luano District Commissioner Christopher Chibuye, says it is difficult for his administration to enforce the order because government has since provided infrastructure in various sectors for the over 850 affected squatters.

This came to light when Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga, visited Luano district during his tour of government developmental projects.

Mr Chibuye revealed that government has already constructed schools, health facilities, boreholes and other social amenities for the people who have lived in the forest reserve for many years.

He wondered what government was going to do, not only with the people who would be evicted, but also with the established government institutions that would be abandoned in the Swaka Forest Reserve.

Mr Chibuye said government spent a lot of financial and human resources to construct the infrastructure and to provide the social amenities over a long period of time to the people who are now deemed to be illegal settlers in the forest reserve.

And Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga, acknowledged that such a move would result in wasting government resources.

Mr Mushanga however said he would engage his counterpart in the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and appealed to the district administration to wait for guidance.

He said there was indeed need to involve all stakeholders and find an amicable solution to the problem.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has issued eviction notices to over 850 families in the south Swaka Forest Reserve where government has also constructed roads, schools, health facilities and agricultural camps among other social amenities for people in the same forest over a long period of time.