The Weather Forecast for February 2018 shows that the northern half of the country has increased chances for recording normal to above normal rainfall.

According to the weather bulletin obtained from the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), areas surrounding Lusaka, Southern, and Western provinces are likely to receive below to normal rainfall.

In the Month of March 2018, Muchinga and Northern provinces will have a high chance of receiving normal to above normal rainfall.

While, the southern part of the country will have increased chances of recording below to normal rainfall in the same month.

The ZMD bulletin revealed that the continued suppression of rainfall accompanied by high temperatures in selected parts of the country especially over the Southern half of the country has led to substantial moisture deficits which is likely to adversely affect the growth of crops.

The weather bulletin further highlighted that the poor rainfall distribution has negatively impacted the growth of maize at early stages especially in the southern half of the country.

Meanwhile, ZMD has further disclosed that the southern half of the country is expected to record flash floods despite the area recording below to normal rainfall.

The department explained that the flash floods will be induced by high intensity of rainfall events.

In a related development, ZMD said abnormal dryness will continue to strengthen and expand for the rest of January in selected parts of the country adding that, the sad development will place additional moisture stress on crops.

Northern Province Police Commissioner Richard Mweene has condemned the vice of spouse killing which he said has become rampant in the region.

Mr. Mweene said it was unfortunate that spouses have resorted to killing each other because of marital disputes instead of resolving such differences amicably.

He said the trend is worrying because it is leaving many children orphaned.

Mr. Mweene has since appealed to couples to engage marriage counsellors in settling their marital problems rather than resorting to killing each other.

He noted that if couples fail to co-exist, it was better to separate stating that no one has a right to take the life of another person.

He was commenting on two recent cases where a Mpulungu woman killed her husband whilst another man of Chilubi district killed his wife.

Mr. Mweene added that the case where a Kasama businessman last week shot his wife before turning the gun on himself following a marital problem was also worrying.

And Mr. Mweene said the media has a critical role to play in fighting the scourge of gender based violence and spouse killing.

He said this was because the media plays an active role in informing and educating the public on various issues.

Mr. Mweene noted that a holistic measure is required in order to enforce the fight against the scourge that is depriving children of their parents and leaving them languishing.

He has since called on the church and various stakeholder to equally come on board and help fight the vice.

African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has said the African Union is yet to digest sentiments which United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump issued recently when he described the continent in a manner not befitting a world leader.

ZANIS reports from Ethiopia that Mr. Mahamat made the remarks when he addressed the Foreign Affairs Ministers during the official opening of the 32nd session of the African Union Executive Council today.

President Donald Trump, during the late 2017, recognised Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

Israeli President Mahmoud Abbas, among others warned that America’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would jeopardise the White House’s nascent Middle East peace efforts.

And the African Union Commission Chairperson said there was need for African leaders to strengthen their financial independence in order to avoid dependency syndrome from the developed world.

Mr. Mahamat emphasised that financial independence among African countries is essential and therefore should not be viewed as irrational but a collective responsibility.

He said time has come for the continent to look ahead and focus on building its financial capacities through its abundant natural resources and other expertise.

“Africa is gradually positioning itself to begin financing its own economic growth and development”, he stated.

He urged the Foreign Affairs Ministers to do more if the continent is to realise its goal on boosting financial capacity.

Mr. Mahamat also recognised the new Foreign Affairs Ministers who among them include Zambia’s Joseph Malanji and welcomed them to the session.

Furthermore, the African Union Commission observed that collective responsibility from Africa and the whole world was required if the continent was to advance its economic development and address its many challenges such as terrorism.

Meanwhile, African Union Commission Under-Secretary General, Vera Songwe, who is also United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary observed that despite the inroads concerning the fight against corruption, the vice has continued to hurt many Africans.

Dr. Songwe however recognised some countries that have made progress towards addressing corruption.

This year’s 30th ordinary session of the African Union theme is dubbed, ‘winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.’

Other Zambian ministers who attended the African Union Executive Council today are of Mines and Minerals Development Christopher Yaluma and of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Susan Sikaneta was also in attendance while senior government officials were Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chalwe Lombe, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President Stephen Mwansa and Anti-Corruption Commission Director General Kapetwa Phiri.

Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has reaffirmed on the need for society to respect the independence of the Judiciary.

Mr. Lubinda said society should not perceive judges as being ‘corrupt’ people but rather respect the verdicts passed by the Judges if the country is to be appreciated.

The Minister said the character of a person in public domain whether a judge or ordinary member from the society needs to be respected.

ZANIS reports that the Minister was speaking in Lusaka today, during a dialogue meeting with members of the Magistrate and Judges Association of Zambia (MAJAZ).

“Decisions made by the judiciary should be respected. I’m dismayed by some members of society who, when they hear a verdict passed by a Judge, they call them all sort of names especially on the character of a person,” he said.

Mr. Lubinda further said the judiciary is an autonomous body therefore, society should respect the judgments passed.

He however, urged members of the MAJAZ to be professional in the execution of their duties.

And speaking earlier, MAJAZ President Fides Hamaundu called on government to consider increasing the number of judicial officers in the judiciary in order to expedite cases.

Magistrate Hamaundu who lamented that the courts in Zambia are faced with a critical shortage of personnel, further appealed to government to consider funding the Association.

She stated that the Association was last funded five years ago therefore, incapacitating the operations of the Association.