A teacher at Kaoma high school was found dead last Thursday evening at his girl Friend’s house in unclear circumstances.

ZANIS reports that police sources and Kaoma hospital authorities confirmed the incident in separate interviews and named the deceased as Masauso Isiteketo,35 of teacher’s compound who allegedly collapsed at his girlfriend ‘s house in prison compound in the early hours of Thursday.

The sources said Mr. Isiteketo who is also a police reserve at Kaoma Central earlier went for a drinking spree and had supper together at her residence where he met his fate.

It is further alleged that upon their arrival at the woman’s house, the deceased demanded for sex but after his girlfriend told him she was having her monthly period , the deceased collapsed and was later rushed to hospital where he was pronounced as brought in dead.

Kaoma hospital authorities revealed that the deceased whose body is laying in the facility’s mortuary had allegedly taken some sex booster which may have led to his death.

And police who have since recorded a statement from the girlfriend said they did not suspect any foul play

A postmortem is being awaited to ascertain the cause of death.

About 100 residents of Masaiti District in Copperbelt province have received full tuition Scholarships from Lubuto University of Luanshya.

The scholarships are for various diploma and undergraduate courses in Engineering and social sciences and are in partnership with the office of the Council Chairperson in Masaiti district.

And Masaiti Council Chairperson, Christine Chande, lauded the initiative to award scholarships to youths in Masaiti saying the move would guarantee equal access to education in the district.

Lubuto University Vice Chancellor, John Mukange, says the scholarships are meant to complement government efforts in educating Zambians especially those from rural areas.

Dr Mukange disclosed that the institution has offered similar opportunities in other districts such as Mufulira and Chingola in order to improve access to higher education to Zambians.

Dr Mukange further encouraged the recipients to seize the opportunity and make meaningful contributions in the academia of the country.

ZANIS reports that the Lubuto University Vice Chancellor was speaking in Masaiti during the launch of the scholarship programme in the district.

And Masaiti Council Chairperson, Christine Chande, lauded the initiative to award scholarships to youths in Masaiti saying the move would guarantee equal access to education in the district.

Ms Chande disclosed that government will continue partnering with stakeholders to provide meaningful education for people across the country.

Ms Chande said it was for this reason that Masaiti council has allocated Land to Lubuto University to construct a modern main campus in Masaiti which will house among others sports facilities, hostels, theatres, and laboratories.

“This is a rare opportunity for our people and I urge them to use the chance correctly because opportunities like these do not come too often or at all, “she said.

Meanwhile, youths and residents of Masaiti have commended Lubuto University for providing scholarships to them.

Musonda Chisankano , one of the recipient of the scholarship to Study Environmental Health, says more institutions must emulate Lubuto in order to elevate education standards in the country.

Mr Chisankano said with the scholarship he would now be able to pursue his dreams which were practically impossible before due to lacking finances.

His colleague , Lewis Mulenga, who is physically challenged and living with his grandfather says the scholarship to study biology at the institution will help relieve the burden on his family to take him to school.

“I only have my grandfather and without this scholarship I was never going to go to school. So I am very grateful for government and cooperating partners for helping me, especially Lubuto University,” he said.

Joseph Mwamba, who is blind and received a full scholarship to study secondary teaching says the course will enable him contribute to education in the country.

Mr Mwamba has since called on all recipients to prudently use the opportunity to not only better their lives but their communities as well.

Vice President Inonge Wina has assured the people of Western Province that Government is determined to change the economic status of the province.

Mrs. Wina said President Edgar Lungu wants to see the country prosper through initiating various developmental projects such as fish farming to benefit the youths and mothers in Western Province and beyond.

The Vice President has also called on the people of western province to embark on tree planting as part of the climate change resilient practices.

Mrs. Wina emphasized that every person in the Province should plant at least five trees in their yards and fields.

The Vice President said this on arrival at Mongu airport yesterday for a working visit to western province.

And the PF in Western Province has vowed not allow anyone insulting President Lungu and other leaders in the region.

PF Provincial Chairman Charles Mututwa, said the PF has graduated from politics of insults to that of actions and bringing social change in the country.

Mr. Mututwa said those interested in speaking ill of the Head of State will not be entertained as the President has done much for the people of the Province.

He has encouraged members of the opposition join the ruling party as it has grown from a small boat to a big ship with enough space for new entrants to fit in.

.

The Vice President is in Western Province for her two-day official visit to inspect Government Projects and Commission two multi-million processing companies, namely Country Millers and Aqua Plant in Mongu district.

Mrs. Wina is being accompanied by Lands Minister, Jean Kapata , Minster in the Office of the Vice President , Silvia Chalikosa and PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri.

And Republican Vice President Inonge Wina has directed the Zambia National Service ( ZNS ) and the Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS ) to explore and venture into the vast investment potential in Western Province.

Mrs. Wina said it will be encouraging to have the first commercial rain-fed and irrigated rice, maize, wheat and sugar farms in the province in the near future.

She said this in Mongu District of Western Province yesterday when she officially commissioned the Country Millers and Country Aqua plants that were constructed at a total cost of K15 million.

The Republican Vice President said it is gratifying that the desire to create investment potential in the province has started with Country Millers and other investors who have commenced the value addition drive, adding that inputs from both small scale and commercial farmers is also needed.

“ Home-grown investors through family run businesses like Country Millers, are not only meeting the local market demands but are ready to export various products to the rest of the country with potential to enter the regional and international market, “ she said.

She however mentioned that such investments cannot flourish if not properly supported by an enabling environment that will empower the rural economies which in turn, will create employment opportunities and wealth especially among the youth.

The Republican Vice President has further assured the local investor that government will ensure that it gives maximum support to other investments the company may wish to undertake in Western Province and other parts of the country.

And Country Millers representative Mundia Mukumbuta disclosed that the main purpose of constructing the milling plant was to reduce on the hardships that women used to face of having to pound maize and walk long distances to access hammer mills.

Ms. Mundia also noted that the company that started operating in March 2017 has contributed in reducing the high rate of unemployment among the youths by creating employment for 50 people.

Meanwhile, the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has commended government for facilitating the construction of the milling and water plants by creating a conducive environment for investors to acquire loans.

Speaking on behalf of BRE, Induna Imandi said the facilities will help the business industry save money and time as they will be accessing mealie meal and water within the province.

By Peter Sinkamba, Greens President

Poverty in Zambia is self-induced. If those who voted in 2014 and 2016 elections were serious with reducing their poverty, voting for the Green Party, Zambia would have helped the country jump out of the poverty frying pan by now.

Take for instance the U.S. where legal marijuana industry kicked off in 2014, the same time the Green Party floated the idea to the electorate, the marijuana business has become very big business in the U.S.

As at January, 2018, there are 30 States that now allow marijuana for medical use, 16 States allow Cannabidiol (CBD), 9 States and the District of Columbia now allow for recreational marijuana use. And more states are lining up to join the legalization wave.

The emerging industry generated nearly $9 billion revenue in sales in 2017, according to Tom Adams, managing director of BDS Analytics, which tracks the cannabis industry.

Just come to think of it: marijuana sales in 2017 were equivalent to the revenue for entire snack bar industry and was also more than the annual revenue from diapers in the entire U.S.

This year, the national marijuana sales are expected to rise to $11 billion and projected to reach $21 billion in 2021.

Meanwhile, copper revenue in Zambia from all mines put together, including ba jerabo, has plummeted from $6 billion in 2014 to $3 billion in 2017. Put different, the marijuana business has risen from zero in 2014 to four times Zambia’s copper revenue in 2017.

Provided the mentality of Zambia voters remains focused on petty issued, we should just as well forget jumping out the poverty frying pan.

COMMISSION of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence chairperson, Munalula Lisimba says the political violence and regional voting patterns that characterized the 2016 elections needs to be checked thoroughly.

Justice Lisimba says the patterns needed be urgently addressed as they have the potential to destroy the unity and democracy the country has
enjoyed.

“ The root causes of these vices that preceded even in the previous elections must be established in an effort to promote a united and peaceful violent free Zambia during or after
elections in future, “ said Justice Lisimba.

He made the remarks when his team paid a courtesy call on Chief Chikanta at his Habulile’s Chuungu palace in Kalomo yesterday.

And Chikanta of the Tonga people in Kalomo district of Southern province has claimed that the voting pattern in the region in the past elections has come as a result of developmental neglect to some areas by government.

Making his submission to the Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence in Dundumwezi constituency of Kalomo yesterday, the traditional ruler said the voting pattern in the country is determined by the problems people are facing in a particular locale and not on ethnical grounds.

The traditional ruler , who is also Southern province royal foundation chairperson, said the voting pattern was an issue based one and cautioned politicians to avoid using hate speech as a tool to propagate their party manifestos during campaigns.

He cited out Dundumwezi constituency which occupies three quarters of his chiefdom where the electorates gave the ruling party over 30,000 votes against a paltry 225 votes in the presidential 2016 race , as a practical example.

The chief submitted that such a pattern was due to its constituents having suffered long to underdevelopment by government and even in the previous regimes despite the area being the most agriculture productive zone in the province, with no good feeders and mobile communication networks.

“People voted in such a pattern because they feel neglected and sidelined. What criteria is used to bring development to an area, you have the population and production but government seems not to be appreciating, Sometimes people do not talk but when they vote, they talk.” Chief Chikanta said.

However, the traditional leader hastened to commend President Edgar Lungu as the first one to answer to the Dundumwezi area’s demands for development.

Mobile communication towers, he pointed out, have since been installed and are operational in some parts of the constituency alongside with the upgrading of the Kalomo – Dundumwezi road which will be an all – weather standard one with the funding of the African Development Bank under the Climate Resilience project.

In the recent past, chief Chikanta has persistently lamented of poor road network, electricity grid connectivity and mobile communication facilities in the area claiming that out of the 19 constituencies in the province, only Dundumwezi was affected in that aspect.

Meanwhile, a convoy of support staff of the commission and other government officials including Kalomo district commissioner, Cosmas Chiiba’s officers that went to Dundumwezi for submissions yesterday (Friday) was temporarily prevented from crossing to the other side of the road at Muyobe stream as bridge to the area was submerged due to heavy rains forcing the team to wait for several hours until the water level subdued.