Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Over 4,600 people in Lukanga Swamps in Kapiri Mposhi district have been vaccinated against cholera.This is out of 5,000 people targeted to receive the vaccine to avert the outbreak of the viral disease in the area.
According to the World Health Organisation, cholera vaccination is a complementary cholera prevention and control measure, which can be implemented in the short-to-medium term, while access to other primary prevention measures such as safe water and sanitation improve.Recent scientific research suggests that the first dose alone of the vaccine provides short-term protection.A study by Ferreras et al. (2018) in Zambia concluded that single-dose regimens provide protection in populations with less exposure to cholera, such as those in Lusaka and much of Africa.
During the 2018 first quarter District Development Coordinating Committee Meeting (DDCC) District Health Senior Environmental Health Officer Nephat Banda
said the District Medical Office (DMO) decided to administer the vaccine in Lukanga Swamps following the presence of Vibrio Cholerae in all the seven samples of water collected in the area.
“Late last year, we tested water in the swamps and it was discovered that the water was contaminated, so we embarked on implementing various interventions among them vaccinating 4, 665 people against cholera,” Mr. Banda said.
Mr. Banda noted that the area which is susceptible to cholera all year round had not recorded any case of the viral disease partly because of the timely administration of the vaccine.He stated that his office is still on the ground implementing various interventions that include sensitization campaigns in the area on hygienic practices.
“Lukanga Swamps is endemic to cholera and when we started recording the disease elsewhere in the country we had to implement interventions to serve the live of the people,” Mr. Banda said.
And the DDCC has commended government for extending the fishing ban in all the fisheries in view of the outbreak of Cholera in the country.
Research shows that although cholera occurs throughout Africa, its highest incidence is concentrated in a small proportion of the continent. Prioritising high-risk areas could substantially increase the efficiency of cholera control programmes.
Mufumbwe United Party for National Development (UPND) District Party Secretary Kelvin Mahipu has commended the Patriotic Front (PF) members for the tolerance exhibited during this year’s youth day celebrations.
Mr. Mahipu said the act of tolerance and brotherhood shown between the two political parties in the district should be encouraged adding that, politics of violence has never developed a country anywhere in the world.
He urged all political parties in the country to fight each other through party ideologies and not violence.
And PF North-Western Provincial Youth Vice Chairperson Herod Zholomi has described the move by UPND members to take part in the commemoration of this year’s youth day as progressive.
Mr. Zholomi said it is important for people to put aside their political affiliation and participate in events such as youth day and women day celebrations as they can be opportunities for peace building and developmental discussions.
He encouraged the UPND members in the district to ensure that they participate in all future events.
The duo was speaking to ZANIS in Mufumbwe yesterday after the commemoration of this year’s youth day.
Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 218 C.
Toss sweet potatoes, green onions and sweet onions with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking pan. Arrange the potatoes in 1 layer and roast them until tender, about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through roasting,
Stir together coriander, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl. Whisk together lime juice and remaining tablespoon of oil in a medium bowl.
Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with the coriander, salt and lime mixture and top with extra coriander, stirring gently to combine.
Serving
Serve hot, alone or as a side with meat, chicken or fish.
Kanta Temba is a Cake maker and decorator|Lusaka Times Food columnist|TV show host
Cast members from popular telenovela, Zuba , spent their Youth Day (12th March) interacting with their fans at Lusaka’s Makeni Mall. Fans were delighted to meet their favorite characters, such as Zuba, Thando, Suwi, Lute, Joshua, among others, and had a chance to chat with them and take pictures.
Pictures from the event
Catch ZUBA on DSTV’s Zambezi Magic channel 160. Monday to Thursday at 20:00hrs
Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina (right), the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia accompanied by Zambia’s Deputy Permanent Eepresentative and Charge’ d’ Affairs Christine Kalamwina arriving at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York for the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on Monday.
Vice-President Mrs Inonge Mutukwa Wina has told the United Nations (UN) that any nation that suppresses the voice of a woman in matters of national development will be setting itself a disastrous future for the next generation.
Vice President Wina has advised United Nations Member States never to fall guilty of the offence of marginalising and discriminating women in national development because the female gender remains critical to the sustainable economic progression of all nations across the globe.
Delivering a key note address to the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) side event themed; “The voice of women in rural areas for sustainable healthy future:”, Vice-President Wina said the limited number of women in decision-making positions and control over land usage has contributed to low agriculture productivity among nations.
She stated that low agriculture productivity has often led to food insecurity among nations which has subsequently resulted into poor health among women particularly for those living in rural areas
Vice-President Wina observed that women often make significant contributions to agriculture and rural economies across the globe especially in developing countries where the female gender represents the majority of up to more than 70 percent of the labour force.
“Any nation that suppresses the voice of a woman in any matter of national importance sets the state for a disastrous future for the next generation. May we never be found guilty of this offence! Women often have limited decision-making power and control over land usage and later on the outputs. This contributes to low agriculture productivity and food insecurity leading to poor health among women and girls, especially those living in rural areas,” Vice-President Wina said.
The Vice-President explained that formulating effective land tenure policies and legal reforms which would take into account prevailing customs and practices among nations should improve modern land administration which is key to ensuring women’s healthy future.
She stated further that without an efficient and effective land administration system, meaningful development would continue to elude nations to achieve sustainable food security and improved nutrition as well as natural resource management.
She said women and their organisation should be given a voice and fully participate in the decision-making process affecting their well being in rural areas.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has placed high priority on the need to address malnutrition by committing Member States to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. One of the greatest challenge facing countries especially in the developing world, is malnutrition in all its forms, as women and girls continue to struggle with food insecurity. It is critical to ensure that policies are developed which enhance agriculture productivity and food security as this will inevitably lead to increased standards of health for women and girls,” the Vice-President said.
Vice-President Wina said the Government of Zambia has acknowledged that women often have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be used in climate change mitigation, disaster reaction, and adaptation and eco-friendly agriculture farming methods and is actively promoting the participation of women in dealing with effects of climate change.
She said Government has since developed a Climate Change Gender Action Plan meant to build a knowledge base on health; gender and climate change linkages and strengthen the mainstreaming of gender into national health policies to ensure sustainability.
This article has been prompted by the two red flags raised by Bank of Zambia Governor, Dr. Denny Kalyalya. The Governor is concerned about commercial banks’ high interest rates despite Central bank intervention and the low level of reserves despite high copper prices. This article addresses the Governor’s first concern. The second concern may be addressed in future articles. As a nation, we need to debate these economic issues as solutions to the country’s problems lie within us and economic issues should concern all across the political divide.
The creation of jobs for its citizens should be one of the top most priorities for any responsible government. This is so because if the government was to laser focus on job creation alone as an objective, it will solve most economic problems as jobs leads to more economic activity(growth), more tax collection, poverty alleviation and other multiply effects. It is because of the importance of jobs for citizens that countries like the USA track jobs numbers on a monthly basis. For example, the USA created 303,000 jobs in February, 2018
Governor decries high interest rates
During the press conference when presenting the monetary policy statement on February 22, 2018, the Governor observed that Bank interest rates remained high and he did not seem to know the reason why commercial banks’ still kept their interest rates high.
“Our view is that they (lending rates) should be coming down because we have consistently reduced the policy rate, we have also consistently reduced the statutory reserve ratio”, he responded to the question why lending rates were high. He further advised the media to ask banks to explain reasons why rates were high despite the convention wisdom that they should be coming down and responding to BOZ measures like it happens in other countries.
It was evident from the Governor’s answer and his referring journalists to commercial banks that the Central Bank is frustrated with Commercial banks not reacting to the reductions in the key drivers of interest rates. The Governor was indirectly crying for help from individual patriots like this writer and other stakeholders including government.
The Governor is not the only one to complain about the high interest rates and commercial banks intransigency to reduce them substantially. In December, 2017, the former finance Minister, Felix Mutati complained about the same.
“We have made interventions to enable banks have sufficient credit lending space to the private sector but the response is very slow, the cost of money is still high and we urge banks to reduce them and profit margins will not be affected,” He said
The understanding by experts is that the major factors that led to the increase in interest rates and a reduction in lending by banks (credit crunch) in 2015/16 were the following risks: the liquidity risk as the Central bank mopped up cash, the interest risk as the Central bank increased the monetary policy rate.
The major drivers of lending rates in Zambia are inflation rates, monetary policy rates and statutory reserves. The inflation rate in Zambia for February, 2018 is 6.1%, the monetary policy rate is 9.75% and statutory reserves are 5%. However, the average bank lending rates, on the other hand, is about 25% which is a premium of 19% above inflation rate as positive interest rate for banks. There are few countries in the world where one would find such kind of bank profiteering. This is even more concerning due to the fact that the majority of banks in Zambia are foreign owned and the profits earned are externalized to foreign shareholders and do not stay in Zambia.
In its editorial of 15 December, 2017, the Zambia Daily Mail observed the following: “Government has expressed frustration at the reluctance by commercial banks to reduce interest rates despite the reduction of the national monetary policy and statutory reserve ratio by BOZ. Lending rates have continued to be scandalously high in Zambia. This is not putting the banks in positive light in the eyes of the public. Capitalist tendencies seem to be at the core of the obstinacy.”
What is so curious is that when inflation shot up to about 23% in 2015 and the Central Bank put in measures to mop up liquidity in the market to reduce inflation, banks were quick to raise their interest rates to as high as 48% which resulted in increased defaults and write offs losses, property repossessions and resulting in a credit crunch (banks reducing lending to businesses and households). The Central bank measures have achieved the desired results and inflation has been reduced to single digits with commercial banks keeping more of their cash ( have more liquidity) but they are not responding by reducing interest rates quickly and substantially. In light of interventions by the Central Bank, Bank interest rate should be in the region of 12%-15% and comparable to the region which is way above inflation and the policy rate.
Bank Charge skyrocketing
Apart from the high interest rates, there has been public outcry about the high fees being charged by Zambian banks. Analysts have argued that the current charges are discouraging Zambians from opening bank account thereby denying the banks the funds for onward lending for investment. It estimated that over 80 percent of Zambians do not have bank accounts. It could easily be inferred that current behavior of Banks of resorting to charging customers all sorts of bank charges including for depositing money is to partly cover for the short fall income from their core source of income which is interest. They want to earn money without assuming any credit risk when the managers’ job is the management of risk.
There are those that argue that although Zambia has 19 commercial banks, 80% are foreign owned and the top 6 control make up 70% of market share which in effect explains the monopoly tendencies we see as the few big banks control the market. The high bank charges are known to the Central Bank but as with interest rates, our Central Bank appears to be toothless to control these foreign banks. The big foreign Commercial Banks appear to call the shots in Zambia.
Delaying economic recovery and killing jobs
The effect of the high interest rates is that businesses are not able to borrow to expand their operations or finance working capital needs and create jobs. Households/consumers on the other hand are also unable to borrow so that they can create demand in the economy for goods and services with positive multiplier effects on economic activity.
There is overwhelming evidence at the Central bank and the Central Statistics that private sector lending has been declining drastically. The only entity the banks are lending to is government at risk free rate but it does not create jobs. This is contributing to the cash shortage in the economy in general and consequently leading to low economic activity and wide spread unemployment.
The reduction in the cost of borrowing is one the key drivers in the creation of private sector jobs in the shortest possible time as it touches all sectors of the economy including agriculture. It is in this respect that the Zambian Banking system can justifiably being accused of killing jobs as well as being greedy and not contributing to the growth of the economy but wanting to earn risk free income from government bonds and bank charges.
Market failure and Government intervention
The current situation that is obtaining in the Zambian financial market is a clear testimony of the failure of the market and therefore other measures such as the intervention in the market by Government ought to be explored for the sake of the country’s economy.
It is important to point out that Government intervention when markets fail are normal, and nobody should not cry wolf in the case of Zambia. For those with short memories, Banks’s corporate greed was responsible for the USA sub prime crisis, the consequential credit crunch, world recession and the 2008 financial crisis which threatened the World economy. President Barack Obama had to take brave and bold steps to intervene through various steps including more regulations for financial institutions.
In neighbouring Zimbabwe, on 23 February2017, the local paper reported an outcry about the super profits made by banks whose profits had increased by 42% year on year because of charging “unacceptable charges” and “extortionist fees”.
“The super profits announcement was immediately followed by an announcement by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya in his 2017 monetary policy statement that he had capped interest rates at 12% per annum from 18% and further reduced bank charges,” The Daily Nation reported.
Political Pressure
In view of the market failure alluded to above, there are various options that Zambians can explore to force banks to reduce interest rates and reduce their profit margins to help grow the economy and create jobs. The actions should include political pressure which is totally absent at the moment. This is an issue the Opposition can also use to gain political mileage if they calibrate the messaging in such way that it appeals to Zambians and show that the current administration has failed to rein in banks to reduce interest rates and create jobs.
On the other hand, it is recommended that the Government should explore strategies that can put maximum pressure on Banks to act through political statements at the highest level possible. The threat of legislation against irresponsible or cartel behaviors by the financial market players should also be looked at. The Government could also consider re-introducing a higher tax rate of about 40-45% for banks as was the case some years back.
Interest rate Cap
Another measure ,as last resort, although not advisable in a market economy, would be for the Bank of Zambia to revisit the re-introduction of capping interest rates because Zambian Banks like those in Zimbabwe have failed to self regulate. This is also a lesson to the Zambian government that multinationals including mines cannot be trusted to act in the best interests of the host country or the World economy as the 2008 financial crisis proved. They serve the interests of managers and shareholders. There is need for monitoring their behavior and if necessary put in place reasonable regulations as a deterrent. These big institutions need constant oversight on various matters including compliance to agreements they signed when they made investment or when obtaining licences.
In order for Zambia to realize our full economic potential, it is time our leaders showed the same zeal and boldness to deal with foreign investors’ transgressions such as banks, Mines, Chinese contractors and others, the same way they demonstrated with matters that affect the ordinary Zambians such as removal of subsidies on electricity and fuel, reduction of subsidies on farmers’ inputs, removal of Venders from the streets to contain cholera and imposition various tariffs and levies.
There is no shadow of doubt that jobs can be created within twelve months if sufficient political will is demonstrated and practical intervention are made. Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no evidence from both the ruling Party and the Opposition to show that there are laser focused on this important issue of creating jobs for Zambians especially the youth. They are rather concerned with their own jobs thus all the talk is about the 2021 election which is three years away instead of the current problem of youth unemployment which is time bomb.
The writer is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a financial management expert. He is an independent and non partisan commentator/analyst. He has lived in the diaspora in England, South Africa and Botswana for over 25 years.
Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo has made three changes to the team that will face ASEC Mimosa this Sunday in their must-win 2018 CAF Champions League away clash in Abidjan.
Chembo has axed three regulars who include two veterans namely defender Dauti Musekwa and striker Jackson Mwanza.
Also axed is Enock Sabamukumana following a lacklustre start to the 2018 season by the highly rated Burundi international midfielder.
In the team is new boy striker Adams Zikiru who scored four goals on his competitive Zesco debut in a 7-0 home win over JKU of Zanzibar on February 21 during the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
Zikiru is also set for his debut CAF Champions League trip after he was overlooked for the 0-0 first leg draw against JKU in Zanzibar on February 10.
Chembo has also named dead-ball specialist and defender Bornwell Silengo to his travelling party for the first time in 2018 continental action.
Silengo has yet to feature in the 2018 CAF Champions League but has scored three goals, all from free kicks in two 2018 Charity Shield games for Zesco.
Midfielder Misheck Chaila will also travel to Cote d’Ivoire after he was left out of last month’s trip to Zanzibar.
Meanwhile, Zesco head to Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday trailing 1-0 from the first leg match played on March 7 in Ndola at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
A draw or defeat for them this Sunday in Abidjan will see Zesco relegated to next month’s last 32 of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda, Dieudonne Ntibahezwa
Defenders: Bornwell Silengo, Solomon Sakala, Simon Silwimba, David Owino, Marcel Kalonda, Fackson Kapumbu
Midfielders: Mwape Mwelwa, John Chingandu, Kondwani Mtonga, Mwape Mwelwa, Misheck Chaila, Anthony Akumu,Lameck Banda
Government has called on youths in the country to engage themselves in various Information and Communication Technology (ICT ) activities that can sustain their lives than waiting to be employed by Government.
Muchinga Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Davy Chanda said this during this year’s youth day commemorations that took place at Presidents Park in Chinsali district today.
Mr. Chanda said the theme for this year’s youth day commemoration states clearly that youths should involve themselves in issues of ICTs which can change their living standards.
He cited repairing and selling electronic devices among others as activities that can create job opportunities rather than involving themselves in bad vices.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary said ICT if taken seriously by the young people can change the economy of the country for the better and contribute to an increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He added that Government is also committed to creating opportunities for the youths not only through ICTs but across all the sectors of the economy.
And the DPS added that in Muchinga Province over 60 youth projects and 10 institutions involved in youth work have benefited funds from the youth development programme under the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development.
He said this shows that Government is also committed to improving the lives of the young people.
The guest of honor who also toured various stands emphasized on the need to have quality products by the exhibitors that can compete with other projects in other provinces.
He said once exhibitors have quality products it will also improve their markets.
And speaking earlier a youth representative Chanda Kaimba said the youths acknowledge the efforts of Government which has recognised and prioritized the contribution of ICT to mankind and the socio-economic development of Zambia.
Mr. Kaimba said young people face a number of challenges such as high levels of youth unemployment and under employment, alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and early marriages among other vices.
He further called on Government to consider making internet services more affordable and widely accessible by introducing technology hubs and incubators that will provide working spaces and ICT business support services to help fight the vices.
Mr. Kaimba added that youths also appreciate Government for the launch of “The Youth Connekt Zambia” which is designed to enhance skills development, access to job and finances.
This year’s youth day cerebrations in Chinsali district in Muchinga Province was characterised by a number of activities.
The celebrations were attended by various youths from Schools, Churches and Political Parties among others including heads of Government departments and the private sector.
Scores of Mongu residents in Western Province today joined the rest of the country in celebrating youth day.
The celebration was characterized with songs, laying of wreath and match-past in remembrance of youths who fought for the liberalization of Zambia from its colonial masters.
University of Barotseland student Christine Musole said it is unfortunate that many youths in the province are unproductive and spend much of their time on insignificant matters.
Ms. Musole has since requested Youths in the Province to partner with government in its developmental agenda and use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for beneficial purpose.
She was quick to mention that HIV/AIDS affecting youths in the province is also a major source of concern and has therefore, asked key stakeholders to find ways of averting the scourge in the region.
Ms. Musole pointed out that the major driver of the epidemic is the high poverty levels due to lack of business opportunities adding that, most youths in the province are left out in decision making process and several developmental projects.
Meanwhile, Mongu District Commissioner (DC) Susiku Kamona who was the guest of honor at the event has expressed optimism of government commitments in addressing the plight of youths in the province.
Mr. Kamona said Government is giving out seed loans to empower youth street vendors for improving their livelihoods.
The DC noted that over K450, 000 kwacha has since been loaned out to at least 300 youth street vendors in Kaoma, Mongu, Nalolo and Senanga.
This year’s youth day celebration was held under the theme “Leveraging opportunities for Youth through information and communication technology.
Kampamba Chintu has bounced back to the Chipolopolo technical bench.
Chintu returns to the Zambia bench exactly a year after he was dropped from Wedson’s backroom staff.
The 2012 AFCON winner and ex- Kabwe Warriors defender and coach takes the place of Green Eagles Aggrey Chiynagi who has left the bench as first assistant.
Also out is physical trainer Milos Buzjic.
But second assistant Beston Chambeshi has been retained.
Chintu is currently assistant coach at Power Dynamos.
And Chintu joined the Zambia bench on Monday when the team entered camp in Lusaka ahead of next week’s hosting of the four-nation tournament at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola from March 22-25.
“I have worked with Chintu before and I think he is an asset,” Chipolopolo coach Wedson Nyirenda said after Monday morning training in Lusaka.
“He is a good guy and I think he makes it easy because he is self-motivated when he is doing his job.
“He has been there with the national team before with my predecessors.”
Chintu was first appointed to the Zambia bench by ex-coach Herve Renard in 2013.
President Lungu greets UPND president Hakainde Hichilema during the memorial service of the Late President Michael Chilufya Sata at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka
Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says Africa is looking at how Zambia will reciprocate following the reconciliation between Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Kenya’s president and opposition leader have promised to begin a process of reconciliation following last year’s bitterly contested election.
Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga called each other “brothers” during a surprise joint TV address.
Mr. Cheembe tells QTV News via telephone that the two Kenyan leaders have not waited upon external forces for them to consider reconciling as brothers saying Zambia should emulate that bold decision exhibited by the two Kenyan leaders.
He is also hopeful that the dialogue process that is spearhead by Commonwealth Special Envoy Professor Ibrahim Gambari will bring positive change in the country.
He says there is need for all stakeholders to support this process as it is wholly owned by Zambians.
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has called on the government to lift the fishing ban immediately saying it has taken long as some people depend on this activity.
And the UPND leader has assured the nation that if elected into office, his priority in government will to remove all the inefficiencies in the agriculture sector accusing the PF Government of destroying the agriculture sector.
Speaking during the card renewal exercise in Kasama District of Northern Province, Mr. Hichilema says his administration will help poor farmers with free agro inputs.
He says farming is a business so his administration will create a market for farmers by also making the cost of agro inputs bearable.
Mr. Hichilema has also assured marketeers that if voted into office, his administration will give them loans and trading places since the PF has chased them from the trading centers.
And UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba has called on the Northern Province Residents to work hard to remove the PF and President Edgar Lungu from office for allegedly bringing misery on the people of Zambia.
Armed Robbers last night invaded the resident of the Catholic Bishop in Chipata with intent of committing a felony.
The robbers who entered the Bishop’s resident by breaking the front door, climbed a two storey house to the bedroom of Bishop George Lungu searching and demanding for money from him.
Both Eastern Province Police Chief Luckson Sakala and Father Mathias Mchona Phiri who spoke on behalf of Bishop Lungu confirmed the incident to ZANIS that happened at about 23:30 hours.
Fr Phiri said the robbers who were armed with guns and machetes first tied up the security guards before attacking the resident Priest, Fr Richard Chiyanjano Phiri.
And in a press statement released to ZANIS, Eastern Province Police Chief Luckson Sakala said he received a report on the robbery that took place at the Catholic Bishop resident at St. Anne’s Cathedral that Catholic thieves broke into bishop’s resident last night.
Commissioner Sakala said the criminals were ten (10) in number and that they were armed with pistols and machetes.
Mr. Sakala said criminals broke into the house through the main door by breaking it and that in the process got away with a laptop and two phones belonging to the bishop.
He said the robbers got disturbed and run away after the alert priest Fr Mathias Phiri pressed the alarm button to alert the G4 Security and police.
The Police Commissioner added that police have since launched a manhunt for the criminals who are believed to be hiding within the city of Chipata.
He stated that police will intensify patrols from 18 to 06 hours every day, adding that the operations are not meant to scare people in the community but rather enforce security particularly in Chipata.
Mr. Sakala has since appealed to the general public to be alert and report any suspicious looking persons they might come across.
In 2016, criminals again invaded Catholic Bishop Lungu at this same resident and got away with various items.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sakala also reported the attempted bank robbery that happened in Lundazi at ZANACO bank on 10th March, 2018 around 23:00hrs.
He said three criminals broke into the bank, but run away when Lundazi police raided the premises after the tip from the general public who alerted police about the presence of criminals from Lusaka in the district.
Mr. Sakala said police in Lundazi have launched a manhunt for the thieves who in the process of running away left various instruments for breaking the building, and that the vehicle number they were using is known but said it could not be disclosed to avoid jeopardizing with investigations.
Defence Minister Davies ChamaActing President Davies Chama this morning led hundreds of youths in Lusaka commemorating the 2018 Youth Day at the Freedom Statue.
This year’s youth day celebration is being held under the theme “Leveraging opportunities for youth through Information and Communication Technologies”.
Mr. Chama, who is also Defense Minister, laid wreaths at the Freedom Statue in honour of the youths who died in the liberation struggle.
The Defense Minister, who represented President Edgar Lungu at the solemn wreath laying ceremony, arrived at the statue around 09hrs and was received by Cabinet ministers, service chiefs and Patriotic Front (PF) officials.
Mr. Chama later led service chiefs, diplomats accredited to Zambia and youth representatives in laying wreaths at the freedom statue after a gun salute.
The Zambia Army brass band played solemn music during the proceedings.
And Minister of Sports and Youth Development Moses Mawere says the government wants the youths of this country to use ICT responsibly for their own benefit.
Mr. Mawere, in interpreting this year’s theme, says youths should not misuse ICT instead they should use it to develop themselves.
And Member of Parliament for Mansa Central, Dr Chitalu Chilufya has donated 20 laptops valued at 100,000 to Mansa Central and Bahati Constituencies respectively.
The Minister who is in Mansa to commemorate this years Youth day with the young People of his constituency said that he would work to ensure that the youths of the area were top on his empowerment agenda which was in line with the Patriotic Front Government of His Excellency President Edgar C. Lungu to see to it that opportunities are created for young People in the nation through use of ICT.
He stated that for that reason, he was giving out 10 computers to Bahati Constituency and 10 to Mansa Central which would be used to open up business centres which would be another source of employment for the local youths.
He stated that this would provide an opportunity for many youths in the two constituencies to become computer literate and also tech-Savvy apart from the economic gains the Computers would provide through the business centres which would be opened.
Meanwhile, Luapula Province Minister, Hon. Nickson Chilangwa has stated that Government is alive to the challenges that the youths of Luapula Province are facing and that top of the agenda for government was to address Youth Unemployment. He stated that as a Province they were working on gains from the Luapula Expo to empower youths with tools for various business ventures.
He stated that one such gain was the partnership with Zambian breweries PLC which had donated a ratten machine to the youths who make rattan furniture to improve their business.
And the Luapula Province Minister has asked young People to desist from being used as tools of political violence. He stated that being insultious and disrespectful and violent would not provide the young People with the much needed jobs but would only deprive them of opportunities at gainful employment.
