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President Edgar Lungu President has appointed the current Coperbelt Provincial Minister Bowman Lusambo to a new post Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development.

This is according to a statement released to the media by Statehouse.

Mr Lusambo has replaced Mr Moses Mawere who has been appointed to be Minister of National Planning which was run by the dismissed nominated MP Lucky Mulusa.

The President has also promoted Kitwe’s Law maker Alexander Chiteme to take over from Mr Lusambo as provincial Minister

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 92 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia, the President has also promoted Alexander Chiteme to Copperbelt Province Minister

MONROVIA – Former soccer star George Weah has defeated Vice President Joseph Boakai to win Liberia’s presidential run-off election and succeed incumbent Ellen Johnson Sirleaf next month, the country’s first democratic transition in over 70 years.

With 98.1 percent of the vote counted, Weah led with 61.5 percent to Boakai’s 38.5 percent, National Election Commission Chairman Jerome Korkoyah told reporters in the capital Monrovia on Thursday.

At his party headquarters outside Monrovia, tears streamed down Weah’s face as he greeted supporters from a balcony. Outside, young fans ran through the streets and blared car horns as dusk fell over the city.

“Success for George Weah is victory for the whole country,” a 47-year-old engineer named Randall Zarkpah said as he walked home with his young son.

“When you feel sick for some time and you receive proper medication – that is how I feel now. He will be good for our country. He is King George!”

Weah grew up in Clara Town slum in Monrovia and went on to become the only African to win FIFA World Player of the Year, starring for AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Chelsea.

His rags-to-riches story helped him tap into dissatisfaction with Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year tenure. Sirleaf drew a line under years of civil war but drew criticism for failing to root out corruption or persistent poverty.

Weah’s critics, however, say he has offered few concrete policy proposals. His choice of running mate Jewel Howard-Taylor – ex-wife of Charles Taylor, the former president and warlord serving 50 years in Britain for war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone – has also raised eyebrows.

“I think Weah is not fit for the work. He will see it,” said Anthony Mason, 34, who had gathered at the headquarters of Boakai’s Unity Party for the results.

Weah looked set to sweep 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties in the run-off. Turnout in Tuesday’s vote stood at 56 percent, the election commission said.

Earlier on Thursday, Boakai said he doubted that the vote was “free, fair and transparent”, without elaborating. He did not say whether he might challenge the eventual result.

The second round was delayed by more than a month after the third-place finisher in October’s first round, backed by Boakai, alleged fraud. The Supreme Court ultimately rejected the challenge.

The U.S.-based Carter Center and National Democratic Institute said on Thursday there were notable improvements in the handling of the run-off, echoing positive assessments from other international observers.

Founded by freed U.S. slaves in 1847, Liberia is Africa’s oldest modern republic. But the last democratic transfer of power occurred in 1944, a military coup took place in 1980 and a 14-year civil war ended only in 2003.

Deputy Secretary to Cabinet for Administration Patrick Kangwa has urged District Commissioners (DCs) and Mayors countrywide to work together to implement the Decentralisation policy.

Mr. Kangwa said DCs and Mayors should ensure that they follow what the constitution stipulates on decentralisation so that the wheels of the policy do not slow down.

Speaking in Chongwe district yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Chongwe DC and Mayor, Mr. Kangwa said cabinet remain resolute to implement the decentralisation policy.

He pointed out that DCs and Mayors are servants of the people hence, the need to shoulder the responsibility in serving the people.

Mr. Kamgwa emphasized that no controlling officers should stand against the implementation of policy as it is the only development tool to reach to the people.

He was delighted with the unity that is being exhibited between Chongwe DC and the Mayor as it key for development.

Mr. Kangwa affirmed that Chongwe should take full advantage of Chilimbana iInstitute which is building capacity of local government officers on decentralisation matters.

And both Chongwe DC Frazer Musonda and Mayor Geoffrey Chumbwe said the decentralisation policy will be fully implemented by their offices.

The duo said Chongwe was a role model district as institutional differences have been brushed aside to pave way for quality service delivery to the people in different communities.

Residents of Mufulira district have bemoaned the slow pace of works in the upgrading of Nalikwanda road connecting Chibolya township to the town centre.

The upgrading of the road, which is part of a 2014 project to upgrade about 18 kilometres of township roads in Mufulira to bituminous standard, was expected to be completed by August 2017 but up to date, the road works have not been completed.

A check found that part of the road was partially damaged by rain due to lack of drainages.

Some residents spoken to expressed concern that although the tarring of the road has been completed, lack of road humps is posing a danger to motorists and pedestrians alike.

One of the residents, Wedson Simfukwe appealed to government to ensure that road humps are installed as soon as possible in order to reduce the risk of having road accidents in the area.

“Months have passed since they tarred the road but up to now there are no road humps. This has led to motorists over speeding on this road. Just yesterday, a Corolla overturned on this road and unless something is done, the lives of motorists and pedestrians are at risk,” Mr. Simfukwe said.

He has since appealed to the council to put up road humps as soon as possible.

And another resident, Abigail Kalaluka said the delay in the installation of road humps on Nalikwanda road could lead to loss of lives.

Ms. Kalaluka added that the delay in the construction of drainages on the road could also lead to the road being washed away by the rains, thereby reducing its lifespan.

“We appreciate that government has upgraded this road. But we are just appealing to them to finish up the works fast because the tarring was done somewhere in August yet up to now there are no humps, markings, and even the drainages are incomplete,” Ms. Kalaluka said.

She said part of the road is already being washed away due to lack of drainages.

“I am appealing to government to ensure that the contractor speeds up the pace of works so that money used to construct this road does not just go to waste> If there is any delay in working on the drainages, I think more damage will be done and the road will soon have pot holes,” she stated.

And Mufulira Municipal Council Assistant Public Relations Manager, Thandiwe Tembo assured that works on the road will be completed in the first quarter of 2018.

Ms. Tembo said the delay in the installation of road humps and the drainage works was as a result of the contractor still finishing up works on other roads.

“Nalikwanda road is not yet complete. We are yet to do road signages and markings, drainage works and installation of road humps. As soon as the contractor finishes up works on the other roads that were being upgraded, they will come and do these works on Nalikwanda road,” she explained.

The upgrading of township roads to bituminous standard in Mufulira is being done by China Jiang Xi contractor, and was supposed to have been completed by August 2017.

Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale has said there was need to fight smuggling at all times at Kazungula border post.

Mr. Hamukale explained that there were many ways that make smuggling rampant at a point of entry.

He cited high border charges as compared to other neighbouring countries as some of the factor that promote smuggling in Zambian borders.

Speaking when he addressed different stakeholders at Kazungula district town council, Mr. Hamukale said smuggling of goods to avoid paying tax retards the country’s development.

Meanwhile, chairperson for the clearing and insurance companies at Kazungula border Lackson Phiri disclosed that a lot of people in the area were very ignorant about clearing procedures.

Mr. Phiri explained that most traders did not know about the charges hence they were in the habit of avoiding passing through the normal channel thinking that they would be charged huge sums of money.

He said there were a lot of incidences where people would use illegal routes after buying goods from the neighbouring countries yet certain goods would not even attract a fee.

Mr. Phiri suggested that there should be some sensitization on cross border traders regarding clearing procedures so that they can know about the goods that need to be declared and paid for.

And national chairperson for Cross Border Traders Association (CBTA) Mwape Lukwesa assured the stakeholders that an office will be opened at Kazungula border in March next year to carefully handle issues of smuggling.

Mr. Lukwesa said cross border traders will be sensitized on how best to conduct their businesses efficiently and effectively.

Kitwe city will next year have a modern engineered landfill which will replace the old Uchi dumpsite along the Kitwe-Ndola road.

The new dump site, which will cost about US$5 million, will be located in Mindolo along the Kitwe-Chingola road.

Kitwe Mayor Christopher Kangómbe disclosed the development during an ordinary full council meeting held yesterday.

Mr. Kang’ombe however said there was need to urgently secure the land for the dumpsite since the earmarked area for the site is currently occupied by squatters.

And Kitwe Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga clarified that the local authority will enter into a public-private partnership with another organisation to develop the dumpsite noting that the council cannot manage to fund the development alone.

Mr. Luanga said the council will also consider applying for funds from the central government because of the huge amount of money needed to put up the dumpsite.

He stated that the construction of the dumpsite will start early next while the old one will be closed in February next year.

Earlier, Mr. Kang’ombe said garbage management has been a big challenge for the council this year.

He also said the non-disbursement of ward development funds was another challenge that hampered development in civic wards.

The Kitwe mayor has since urged councillors to engage the grass root and other community based stakeholders in planning community development projects.

Government has released over K1 million to Central Province for the forthcoming national Livestock Census.

Central Province Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator, Alisheke Mutemwa, says K1, 724, 622 has been made available for the training and deployment of enumerators.

Dr Mutemwa says part of the money will go towards the servicing of the 23 vehicles that have been assembled for the undertaking with the help of the provincial administration.

Speaking in an interview in Kabwe yesterday, Dr Mutemwa said the funds released are out of the K2, 807, 622 working budget for the Livestock Census in the province.

He disclosed that the funds received are adequate for the training and deployment of the enumerators as well as for servicing the vehicles.

He further said the same allocation will help to meet the 40 per cent working allowance as the enumerators will be deployed in the field.

Dr Mutemwa said the balance of the budget has not been released yet because it is mainly in allowances for the enumerators after the implementation of the census.

Meanwhile, 161 enumerators that will be involved in the Livestock Census in Central Province have gathered at Paglory University and the training is underway.

Central Province Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator, Alisheke Mutemwa, says the training that started on Saturday is progressing very well.

Dr Mutemwa, who admitted that the programme was delayed, says all the bottlenecks have been amicably resolved and the training is progressing well.

He revealed that the province has divided the enumerators into two categories to cover large scale and commercial farmers and small and medium farmers respectively.

He noted that the province has 16 commercial farmers and that 16 enumerators were specifically engaged and are being trained for that task.

Dr Mutemwa, however, said out of the 145 enumerators in the other category, 102 have been drawn from the general public, 15 from the Fisheries and Livestock, seven from the Ministry of Agriculture and 21 from the Central Statistical Office.

He added that the training is expected to end on January 1, 2018, and that it will immediately be followed with deployment.

The opposition NDC presidential candidate Chishimba Kambwili for 2021 has been begging former MMD members in Masaiti District to go back to their party and leave the area MP in the PF alone, MMD Copperbelt Youth Vice Chairperson Tobias Banda has revealed.

Banda Chairperson narrated that Kambwili apologised to the Masaiti MMD district Executive Committee for being part of the group that told them to work and join PF.

He said NDC has been trying to convince the MMD members in the district to join them but that they had hit a brick wall as members see NDC as a branch of PF which has just changed colours.

He said three weeks ago NDC political consultant went to the district were he apologised to the MMD members and asked them to leave the PF and return to their party because the ruling party had only brought them suffering.

Kambwili said farmers in the district were better off in the MMD because they received their inputs in time.

“Kambwili was telling our people that they made our people suffer, he regrets persuading us(MMD) to forming an alliance with PF. You shouldnt have accepted to form an alliance so that we(PF) should have lost because Edgar Lungu has terribly failed.

“He also told them that the challenges you are facing as famers especially late delivery of farmer support inputs and late payment for your produce had never happened during the MMD. MMD had its own issues but handled agriculture better than what the PF is doing no,” he said.