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Western Provincial Agriculture Coordinating Officer Alex Chilala (r) showing ripe rice grains to Mongu District Commissioner Susiku Kamona (c) and Chief Namutwi (l) during the launch program for Rice Seed Harvesting activities supported by Steward Globe Limited (AFRISEED) at Namushakende Farming Institute in Mongu
Rice Farmers in Limulunga district of Western have expressed satisfaction with the improved rice farming technology and the use of new rice varieties under the Agricultural Productivity Programme in Southern Africa (APPSA).
Speaking during an exchange visit in Nangila area, Kamwezi Shanika who had been empowered with SUPA MG new rice and used controlled spacing said she used few seeds but the yield is more unlike when she used recycled seed.
And Likando Nyambe of Usha area applauded government for taking a bold decision to inculcate the promotion of rice growing adding she was able to fill bags and secure food for her household.
Government has been making strides through the US$200,000 APPSA project that has been rolling out its implementation since 2015 by empowering farmers with 1 Kilogram of Rice to demonstrate to how improved farming technology and certified rice varieties would promote higher yield.
And speaking when addressing farmers at Nangili area of Limulunga District, Mongu Senior field Crops Officer said 20 lead farmers and 400 follower farmers in Western Province have been benefiting from the Agricultural Productivity Programme in Southern Africa APPSA.
She encouraged the local people to ensure that the certified seeds are stored for other members in the community to appreciate the new farming Initiative.
And Limulunga District Commissioner Litambo Ndombo told ZANIS in an interview that government is committed to ensuring that people in rural Zambia are empowered to increase their levels of agriculture productivity.
Mr. Ndombo said it was gratifying that people have seen the need to improve their farming adding that cultivation should move handy with higher productivity.
He urged the local farmers to take advantage of the initiative because it would contribute to alienating hunger as well as to promote the country’s food security.
The programme which has rounded Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia is been carried out in Northern, Muchinga and Western Province and has been benefiting Kalabo, Mongu, Senanga and Limulunga districts in selected areas.
Ministry of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga
Government says it remains committed to implementation of the decentralization policy.
Speaking in Ndola, Local Government Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga said the Ministry of Local Government had noted a measure of resistance in some institutions.
Mr. Malupenga said the Ministry of Local Government was passionate in pushing forward the agenda and ensuring that nothing stood in the way of the implementation process.
The PS emphasized that the decentralization policy was a constitutional matter and the ministry was bound to ensure that it was realized.
He disclosed that despite the policy not having been fully implemented, the exercise has recorded unprecedented progress where it has been implemented.
And Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe said the issue of the decentralization process should not be taken lightly.
Mr. Nundwe said for the country to develop, there was need for the system to tap into ideas from the ordinary citizenry.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Local Government was critical in driving the policy as it will facilitate the developmental agenda of the country.
FILE: President Rupiah Banda ( in white shirt) tours Chipata Trades Training Institute (CTTI) after commissioning the first phase of the construction of infrastructure at the institute in Chipata
Four students from Chipata Trades Training Institute have been arrested in connection with the riot that took place at the learning institution in the early hours of Monday this week.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, Eastern Province Commissioner of Police Luckson Sakala said the students who include the Union President were arrested yesterday.
Mr. Sakala could however not disclose the names of the suspects for fear of jeopardizing investigations.
He said the students who are currently in police custody are cooperating with police and more arrests are expected to be made.
The Police Commissioner stated that the suspects will be charged today and subsequently appear in court soon.
Mr Sakala disclosed that the value of the damaged property is over K200 000.
Meanwhile, Provincial Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kasolo said all full time students at the institution will be required to re-apply and explain why they involved themselves in such a conduct.
He pointed out that once accepted the students will have to pay for the damages caused.
Mr. Kasolo said government will not condone lawlessness among students in the province.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Hon. Dora Siliya, MP
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya has said that any calls for the removal of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) Director General Mary Tshuma only be dealt with by the Ministry of Finance.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Ms Siliya, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said that as a result she did not have any information on whether the FIC Director General will be dismissed or the board dissolved.
Ms Siliya further added that the intention to create the Financial Intelligence Centre was not that it should unnecessarily alarm the public through publication of raw intelligence data. Government position was that when raw intelligence data is gathered by the centre, it should be given to the relevant government agencies.
There has been calls from some PF members to have the FIC board disolved and the Director General Mary Tshuma fired. The PF has insisted on calls to have FIC Board dissolved and the arrest of its Director General on claims of professional misconduct.
NAREP leader Elias Chipimo
The uproar about FIC came to the public attention when National Restoration Party (NAREP) embarked on collecting signatures from Zambian people in order for people who plundered public resources, citing the FIC report, to be brought to book.
According to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC)’s 2017 Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing Trends Report released, Zambia incurred losses last year linked to financial crimes such as corruption and tax evasion among others amounting to K4.5 billion.
The NAREP leader Elias Chipimo said his party was disappointed by FIC’s disclosure, and urged well-meaning Zambians to append their signatures in protest against indiscriminate money laundering linked to financial crimes such as corruption and tax evasion in 2017 in the country.
Mr. Chipimo echoed with the FIC director-general Mary Tshuma saying corruption is sky-rocketing in Zambia.
According to Mr. Chipimo, the trend of this laundering is connected to politically-exposed persons being involved in suspected corruption.
“The revelations by FIC that K4.5 billion was laundered in Zambia makes sad reading. Let us stop the rot. Our party has come up with the petition collecting signatures from people in order to bring the perpetrators of public resources to book,” the angrily Mr. Chipimo said.
He said the battle against corruption in the country would not relent as innocent citizens were made to suffer and meaningful development could not be attained because of corrupt people.
Mr. Chipimo observed that future FIC reports will be irrelevant if no prosecutions on the reported cases of corruption to relevant law enforcement agencies were executed.
Attorney General Likando Kalaluka who was the guest of honour in launching the report said government was deeply concerned with the increase of financial and economic crimes currently being recorded in the country.
Mr. Kalaluka who is also Anti – Money Laundering Authority Chairperson charged that the fight against money laundering and terrorism related financial crimes calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders.
He said that government has provided the legal and institution framework in which those charged with responsibilities of fighting financial crimes could carry out their mandate.
Chishimba Kambwili.
And Recently, National Democratic Congress NDC Consultant Chishimba Kambwili threatened to protest naked along Cairo road should Financial Intelligence Center Director Mary Tshuma be fired.
Mr. Kambwili told Journalists that he was ready to undress and protest along Cairo Road if the PF government disbands the FIC.
He said FIC is one of the few remaining governance institutions and needs to be protected from such attacks.
Mr Kambwili said demands by the PF to have the FIC Board dissolved and its Director General fired and prosecuted vindicates stakeholders that have been revealing alleged corruption in the public sector.
Keith Mweemba and Pep President Sean Tembo
Meanwhile, the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP), has said that it will stage a protest against what it has described as the continued harassment and intimidation of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and its Officers by the Patriotic Front for simply being resolute in carrying out its primary mandate.
Party president Sean Tembo said that he has since notified the Zambia Police Service regarding the protest, in compliance with Section 5 subsection (4) of the Public Order Act, Cap 113 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Tembo explained that the protest against the harassment and intimidation of the FIC will be staged on Wednesday, 27th June 2018 starting at 10:00 hrs.
Mr Tembo added that Protestors will assemble at the main entrance of parliament buildings and thereafter proceed with the march to Ministry of Justice, where a Petition will be presented to the Minister of Justice or his
Socialist Party general secretary, Cosmas Musumali and the party’s 2021 presidential candidate and deputy general secretary, Fred M’membe,
Fred M’membe and Socialist Party general secretary Cosmas Musumali have sued Rainbow Party general secretary Wynter Kabimba in the Lusaka High Court for defamation of character and they are seeking an injunction to restrain him from issuing homosexual remarks against them.
Dr M’membe, the Socialist Party’s 2021 presidential candidate and Dr Musumali have also cited Daily Nation Newspaper Limited and Millennium Radio station manager Patricia Chibiliti.
According to a statement of claim filed in court, Dr M’membe and Dr Musumali are seeking damages for defamation of character following homosexual remarks the defendants issued and published against them.
The plaintiffs stated that on or about April 3 this year, the defendants jointly and severally published or caused to be published during a radio interview and live Facebook false and malicious words concerning the plaintiffs.
It was stated that Kabimba while laughing and giggling the false and malicious words of or concerning the plaintiffs, before the volume was cut off of the live feed stated that; “You want me to be a homosexual in order to run a political party? With so many women in Lusaka, Why?”
Kabimba had also alleged that the financiers of the Socialist Party had objectionable sexual orientation.
The defendants jointly and severally published an article headlined, “Kabimba Spills Beans”, where he said the Socialist Party leaders broke away from Rainbow Party because they disagreed with their views on sexual orientation and radical approach against prayers.
It is alleged that Kabimba repeated the defamatory contents with intent to damage the reputation of the plaintiffs as persons aspiring to form government in Zambia.
Dr M’membe and Dr Musumali said the words complained of in their natural and ordinary meaning meant and were understood to mean that the plaintiffs were dishonest and lacked integrity thus not fit to hold public office as leaders of a political party.
The plaintiffs further stated that the accusations also meant that the Socialist Party was founded on immoral principles and values and that they got funding from immoral people and thus did not meet the ethical and integrity standards of a political party.
Dr M’membe and Dr Musumali contended that on April 4, the defendants and each of them refused to correct, retract and or tender an apology notwithstanding the written demand to do so and also did not bother to verify the truth of the wild and false statements before publishing them.
“The first defendant published the words complained of with intent to damage the reputation of the defendants as persons aspiring to form government in Zambia,” the plaintiffs stated.
They added that unless restrained by the court, the defendants and each of them would continue to publish or cause to be published the said or similar words defamatory to the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs are therefore, claiming damages for defamation, exemplary damages and an injunction to restrain the defendants, their agents or servants from further publication of any defamatory articles about the plaintiffs.
Delegates at the Political Party CEOs meetings taking a group photo
The differences among political parties regarding the leadership of the dialogue process has been ironed out as the political parties have unanimously agreed that the Church Mother Bodies should chair the dialogue process while ZCID remains at the centre of the process by facilitating the process.
At the conclusion of a two day meeting for National Secretaries and General Secretaries held at Karina Inn in Siavonga stated the following, the ZCID Board Chairperson issued the following statement.
We the under signed National Secretaries and Secretary Generals representing various political parties and the people of Zambia confirm our commitment to the National Dialogue Process. We have fully deliberated on the matters associated with the national dialogue and have come to the following common agreement:
We agree that the process shall be facilitated by ZCID and chaired by Church Mother Bodies;
We agree that the broad thematic areas to be considered at the Summit of Presidents shall include the following:
Constitutional and Institutional Reforms
Separation of Powers and Judicial Independence
Tolerance, Freedom of Assembly and Civility in Politics
Electoral Reforms
We further agree to form a technical committee comprising of legal representatives from political parties and other identified stakeholders that shall look into key issues;
We agree to mandate ZCID to immediately meet with the Church to set the program for the dialogue process;
We have thus proposed a draft agenda and roadmap for the dialogue process;
We wholeheartedly undertake to keep each other engaged in continued consultation to achieve our common objectives; and
We reaffirm our commitment to the dialogue process in the interest of all Zambians.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has dismissed online newspaper allegations against Supreme Court Judges and private lawyers.
Online media have been reporting allegations of corruption against three judges of the Supreme Court that dismissed the case of Savenda and Stanbic. A lower court had awarded $20 million to Savendah for being reported to the Credit Bureau. Savenda claimed this action denied him business opportunities.
However, the Supreme Court dismissed the case as Savendah were listed in the Creditors Burea for failure to pay their overdrafts, loans and other debt commitments.
And LAZ has stated that the judgement passed by a 3-man panel Court was a judgement of the entire Supreme Court Bench of 13 Judges.
The online reports claim that senior lawyer, Eric Silwamba SC, bribed the three panel judges to obtain a favourable judgement.
Street Vendors in Kabwe have expressed sadness with the seven day ultimatum from the council directing them to move out of the streets to various designated markets.
Kabwe Street Vendors Association President Teddy Sinkala, says the seven day notice is not enough for street vendors to move out of the streets and find designated places for their business.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe, Mr Sinkala said his members are willing to move out of the streets but the seven day grace period is not enough.
The Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC), on Monday issued a seven day ultimatum to street vendors who have resorted to using various service provider booths to vacate the streets or face the wrath of the law.
However, Mr Sinkala observed that most street vendors face financial challenges and a short notice for them to vacate the booths will not only push them out of business but injure their businesses.
He said instead of asking the street vendors to vacate the streets, the local authority should consider giving them more time to re-organise themselves.
Mr Sinkala has since appealed to KMC to give the street vendors ample time while it finishes constructing the Kasanda market to create space for the traders.
He also advised the street vendors to be patient and cooperate with the authority and use the approved procedures in trying to convince the council management to consider legalizing their businesses.
Mukula LogsThe Zambia Army soldiers in Isoka District in Muchinga Province have arrested 10 people found branding the Mukula logs in in Milongo area in readiness for export.
Muchinga Police Commissioner Chola Katanga has confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Isoka adding that Zambia Army has apprehended 10 people in of Isoka in connection with Mukula illegal trading.
Mr Katanga said the 10 suspects are in police custody awaiting to appear in court soon
He said that the 10 suspects have been charged with the offence of being in possession of biological resource contrary to Section 120 (b) of the Environmental Act of 2011.
Mr. Katanga said the 10 suspects were found in Milongo village rebranding the Mukula logs in readiness for illegal export.
Mr. Katanga named the suspects as Gift Nyirenda 42, of Location compound in Isoka ,Baldwin Gondwe 30 of Mpika ,Keppy Silweya 65 of Kawama Village , Osia Simwanza 25 , Wezzy simukonda 35.
Others are Haward Silungwe 26, Wisdom Sichande 34, Abraham Siwale 32, Sampa Chipili 19 and David Ngambi .
The Ministry of Health has embarked on the dissemination of information to the public on the newly enacted National Health Insurance Act.
Ministry of Health Assistant Director, Health Promotion and Social Determinant Wezi Kaonga said with the enactment of the National Health Insurance Scheme, the public is assured of receiving quality health care anywhere in the country.
Dr. Kaonga said this is why government is investing heavily in infrastructure development especially with the construction health facilities countrywide and equipping them with medical aid.
He said that contributions that will come through the Health Insurance Scheme will go a long way in reducing expenses with the universal health coverage regardless of one’s social status.
Dr. Kaonga said that the Ministry of Health in its transformation agenda, commits to continue with infrastructure development aimed at giving quality health care to every Zambian in order to have a healthy and productive nation.
He said that in ensuring a healthy and productive nation, the Ministry of health is seriously considering the social determinants of health that determines the well – being of an individual, adding that this can only be achieved through the involvement of various stakeholders and partners in the provision of quality health care.
Dr. Kaonga said this when he paid a courtesy call on Acting Muchinga Permanent Secretary Misheck Ng’ambi at his office in Chinsali.
And Acting Muchinga Permanent Secretary Misheck Ng’ambi has implored health workers in the province to ensure they carry out their work diligently.
Mr. Ng’ambi also appealed to the Ministry of Health to consider expanding the health facility at Kamwala in Chinsali Central, because of the increase in population in the region.
The National Health Insurance Act which become law on April 9, 2018 seeks to provide sound financing for the national health system; provide for a universal access to quality insured health care services; establish the National Health Insurance Management Authority and provide for its functions and powers, among others.
Kabompo District Water and Sanitation Health ( (DWASHE) Coordinator Bonaventure Haakoma has appealed to the office of the District Education Board (DEBS) to consider revamping the implementation of all sanitation related programmes in schools to help improve the sanitation status.
Mr. Haakoma said DWASHE committee needs to work in collaboration with DEBS to help revamp sanitation programmes in various schools such as the school lead total sanitation programmes (SLTS).
He said doing so will in the long run complement the Community Lead Total Sanitation programme (CLTS) currently being implemented in the district.
He said this during an exit meeting from Kabompo District by AKROS Research from providing technical support and capacity building of the Kabompo DWASHE committee in sanitation implementation in Kabompo yesterday.
Speaking at the same event acting Kabompo DWASHE Committee Chairperson Richard Kasoma who is also DEBS said the office is making strides in the area of sanitation.
He said the scchool curriculum has been revised to include hygiene and children are being used to disseminate information to the parents through letters on issues of sanitation and hygiene.
Rev. Kasoma however, appealed to the DWASHE members not to be reluctant in carrying out their role as the exiting of AKROS in providing support in sanitation programme simply means the district is now ready to handle the programme with the expertise and knowledge that has been received from the partner.
He said it is a common practice that officers will come up with powerful strategies and yet fail to apply and implement them in a real situation scenario.
Meanwhile, AKROS research officer, Frank Ndalama said the institution has concluded its mandate as agreed and the exit means the district is ready.
Mr. Ndalama appealed to the committee to continue with the same effort in implementing government programmes even those unrelated to CLTS to ensure that the district attains an ODF status soon.
He said collaborative strategies designed should always be enforced to produce the intended results in any area.
Kabompo Central Ward Councilor Victor Muhanga has bemoaned the death of a 30 year old man who died after being given herbs by relatives to stop him from drinking beer.
Mr. Muhanga said told ZANIS in an interview today that people should stop administering herbs to others because it is dangerous due to the unknown contents and dosage.He said it is sad to lose such a young energetic young man in such a manner as such deaths are avoidable.
Mr. Muhanga advised families to learn to utilize counseling services from clinics and hospitals to help people addicted to any drug or alcohol abuse as herbal medicines have never been a good choice for solutions.Police in Kabompo confirmed having arrested and detained one suspect a relative to the deceased in the matter who was brought with the herbs.The incident happened on Wednesday, 6thJune, 2018 at M8 compound.
The deceased has been identified as Misheck Kasoka, 30, of Katupisha village in Chief Sikufele and his relative identified as Charles Kapusu.
Meanwhile, the area councilor has also condemned the death of a 65 year old woman of Kabulamema area in Kabompo district who was recently found dead with a broken skull, suspected to have been a victim of witchcraft.
Mr Muhanga has appealed to the traditional leadership of Kabompo to help intervene by counseling their subjects against such acts as not all old people are wizards.He said people should not suspect and kill elderly people because it is barbaric and inhuman to do so, adding that police should strongly investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book.
File: Mass drug administration for the elimination of Trachoma
Senior Chief Nkula of the Bemba speaking people in Chinsali district in Muchinga Province has warned parents in his chiefdom who will ignore taking their children for the Trachoma prevention exercise of stern action.
Chief Nkula said the welfare of children should be held with the highest significance with regard to their health, saying all parents who will not adhere to the directive by the Ministry of Health in the district, will face serious consequences.
The exercise follows a report of a threat of an outbreak of trachoma in Shiwang’andu and Chinsali districts.
The Senior Chief sounded the warning yesterday when a team from the District Health Office from Chinsali paid a courtesy call on him to inform him about the three day prevention exercise which will be launched today in Chinsali.
He charged that as an advocate of Children’s rights, he will closely monitor the exercise to see to it that all the children in the area have access to the Trachoma drug.
He said the efforts by the Ministry of Health are welcome and will support them to ensure the effective implementation of the exercise.
Chief Nkula further advised the Health office in Chinsali to provide mobile clinics when carrying out such exercises as they are able to cover a huge number of people in a short time.
He lamented that clinics especially in Chinsali are located in distant areas stressing that access to such urgent facilities may prove to be difficult by the local people.
And speaking on behalf of the District Health Director Dr. David Silweya, Clinical Care Officer Andrew Chulu said some selected schools will be used as health centres for people to have easy access.
Mr. Chulu charged that the idea of using schools as health centres for accessing the trachoma drug will help achieve the 90 percent target of people to be covered.
Meanwhile, Chinsali District Administrative Officer Davie Mulambya who represented the District Commissioner Mr. Maximo Chitambi thanked the Chief for his support.
Mr. Mulambya also appealed to the Chief to inform other Chiefs in Muchinga over the exercise so that they can also create awareness in their chiefdoms.
The programme which is sponsored by Sight Savers Zambia came as a result of a research that was conducted in the area which revealed that a threat of Trachoma outbreak in Shiwang’andu and Chinsali districts is likely to ensue thereby, preventive measures being urgently launched.
Trachoma is a contagious bacterial infection of the eyes that causes swelling on the inner surface of the eye lids and if not treated earlier it leads to blindness.
The University of Zambia has dissociated itself from the misinformation generated through social media on the well intended degree programme in Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) which will be funded by UNESCO.This is according to a statement issued to the media by Public Relations manager Damaseke Chibale.
Mr. Chibale said Witchcraft is a crime in Zambia as prescribed in Chapter 90 of the Laws of Zambia( The Witchcraft Act.) He said in line with the Witchcraft Act the University of Zambia Senate would not approve such a purported degree programme.The new degree programme in ICH, funded by UNESCO is yet to be developed and approved by the Univeristy of Zambia Senate.
According to UNESCO 2003 convention “intangible cultural heritage” means the practices,representations,expressions,knowledge ,skills – as well as the instruments,objects,artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith -that communities ,groups and in some cases individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
Mr. Chibale said Zambia as a nation and a people is rich in these tangible cultural heritage which include Gule Wa Mukulu and Makishi Dance.
