Government says it is concerned about the continued use of children as guides for visually impaired people, as their access to education is affected.

Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale says it is disheartening for children to miss school as their visually impaired parents and relatives.

Dr Hamukale said this vice was detrimental to children and their right to education and would result in a new generation of street kids.

“You are disadvantaging young people by using them as guides. You may not realize it but you are robbing them of an opportunity to be in school,” he said.

He appealed to persons with disabilities not to perpetuate the vice but instead manage the situation to prevent breeding an uneducated crop of future trouble makers.

ZANIS reports that Dr Hamukale said this when he officiated at a capacity building workshop on rights for persons with disabilities, organized by the Human Rights Commission in Livingstone on Monday.

He said government took great interest in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

And Human Rights Commission Chief of Information, Education and Training Mweelwa Muleya said disability was part of life and a reflection of human diversity.

Mr. Muleya called for the removal of barriers that prevented persons with disabilities from fully participating in economic activities.

He said the Human Rights Commission was holding workshops countrywide for persons with disabilities (as rights holders); duty bearers and journalists to highlight the rights of persons with disabilities.

Meanwhile, government says it is against discrimination of persons with disabilities with regards to employment opportunities.

Dr Hamukale says that even with the required academic qualifications, persons with disabilities were deliberately left out by prospective employers.

Dr Hamukale stressed the need for persons with disabilities to contribute to economic activities as they possessed numerous talents and skills in various fields.

“As government we want to build an all-inclusive society so our appeal to employers is to reserve a particular percentage of available vacancies for qualified persons with disabilities.

China’s Foreign Ministry says Zambia has not justified the arrest of its citizens.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official met Counsellor at the Zambian Embassy in Beijing Geoffrey Banda on Sunday to urge the release of 31 arrested Chinese citizens.

The Department of Immigration arrested 31 Chinese on Thursday from seven mine companies in he Copperbelt Province for allegedly buying illegal copper ore.

Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Lin Songtian in a meeting with Mr Banda expressed objection toward the Zambian government’s arrest of the citizens.

Among the group under arrest is a pregnant woman and two others who are suffering from Malaria and the ministry urged that they be treated on humanitarian grounds.

The Chinese foreign ministry official said that the Zambian immigration officials had no convincing evidence on which to make their arrests and also claimed that they failed to prove their identity before arresting the citizens.

Lin also urged the Zambian government to release them as soon as possible and treat them humanely while they are being held.

“China expresses serious concern and resolute opposition to this,” the ministry cited Lin as saying.

China hoped that Zambia could handle the incident appropriately and as soon as possible, and release those who are innocent, Lin said.

And Mr Banda said China’s position and concerns are understandable, adding that the situation will be reported to Lusaka immediately.

He added that Zambia treasures the bilateral relationship between the two countries, and is willing to work with China closely to deal with the case properly.

The Chinese Embassy in Zambia has also held discussions with the Zambian government for the release and has visited the arrested Chinese citizens.

The two-month pregnant woman was among five women arrested during police raids in the town of Chingola last week.

She is the newlywed wife of a translator working for a privately-owned Chinese mining firm and she only arrived in Zambia last month, according to Red Star News, an online news website run by the Chengdu Business Daily.

The woman’s husband was quoted as saying that his wife was confined with a group of other women and was in a bad condition, but he had not been able yet to visit her in jail.

The man said a bail request for his wife was refused, but the authorities did not provide him with a reason why.

On Saturday, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo told Reporters that foreigners should not get involved in mining-related operations such as smelting without proper licences.

Mr. Kampyongo also accused the Chinese citizens of employing youths to steal copper and precious minerals.
Officials from the Chinese embassy in Zambia had visited those in detention and asked for a screening of the Chinese suspects and for their early release.

The Foreign Ministry also said China supported Zambia’s crackdown on illegal mining, but the country’s authorities had not provided strong evidence to justify the arrests.

United Party for National Development (UPND)President Hakainde Hichilema says he would have loved to celebrate his birthday with family and thanking God.

Mr. Hichilema says he could not celebrate his 55th birthday owing to human circumstances that prevented his joyous day.

Coke Studio Africa 2017 promises to be a melting pot of music talents bringing together renowned music producers and top-notch artists drawn from various parts of the continent.

Coke Studio, has merged its two flagship shows Coke Studio Africa and Coke Studio South Africa into one, bigger, better Coke Studio Africa 2017.
Rapper Slap Dee will represent Zambia in the production, which now also includes artists from South Africa, Rwanda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Togo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, DRC, Ethiopia, Cameroon. The last edition featured Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, DRC, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo, while South Africa had its own production that also featured Cleo Ice Queen from Zambia.
“Coke Studio Africa showcases Africa’s incredible music by combining different artists and genres to inspire a new generation of African music fans. With the expanded show, we aim to bring the continent alive through a fusion of music and culture that celebrates our diversity,” said Monali Shah, the Senior Content Excellence Manager for Coca-Cola Southern and East African Business Unit and Coke Studio Africa Project Director.
“Music is the heartbeat and the soul of many diverse communities throughout Africa. From Bongo, to Kwaito, to Lingala and other genres across Africa, Coke Studio Africa is helping introduce these different musical styles to new communities for the first time, while maintaining a long tradition of Coca-Cola’s use of music to build its brands,” she continued.
Like the previous editions, Coke Studio aims to inspire and introduce Africa’s music talents to a new and wider audience through interaction, collaboration and cooperation among musical artists while also building a strong brand connection with Africa’s young and growing population.  Africa is full of great music talent in communities, cities and countries, and Coke Studio Africa can give these artists wider exposure, while enabling greater interaction, collaboration and cooperation to create inspirational new sounds
Some of the renowned names this season include Slap Dee from Zambia, Khaligraph Jones & Band Becca from Kenya, Rayvanny, Izzo Bizness, Nandy from Tanzania, Sami Dan from Ethiopia, Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo and Sheebah, Ykee Benda representing Uganda, Nasty C, Busiswa, Mashayabhuqe from South Africa, Youssoupha from Democratic Republic of Congo, Runtown and Yemi from Nigeria.
Adding to the list are Dji Tafinha from Angola, Laura Beg from Mauritius, Jah Prayzah and Slapdee from Central Africa Republic, Bisa Kdei and Worlasi from Ghana, Betty G from Ethiopia, Bruce Melodie, Shellsy Baronet & Mr. Bow from Mozambique, Denise from Madagascar and Ozane from Togo, Freeda from Namibia.
Key names in this year’s production are reputable producers such as Yuvir Pillay Nivedan a.k.a Sketchy Bongo from South Africa, Kiff No beat from Ivory Coast, Nahreel from Tanzania amongst others.
“Music has always been the heartbeat and soul of Africa, but the Internet, social media and creativity is taking artists from their communities and cities and allowing them to reach an audience across the continent which is being supported through initiatives such as Coke Studio Africa,” said Coca-Cola Marketing Activiations Manager for Zimbabwe and Zambia, Takunda Jinda.
Coke Studio Africa 2017 is expected to air from August in South and Central Africa markets and from September onwards in East and West Africa.

And former Copperbelt minister Mwenya Musenge is tomorrow scheduled to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee to respond to charges of bringing the party’s name into disrepute.

PF secretary general Davies Mwila said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that no member has been stopped from contesting the top position in 2020.

“The general conference will be there is 2020. So if our colleagues want to stand let them say so, they are free.

“And no one will tell them they do not have the rights. They have the right to stand. That is the position of the party,” Mr Mwila said.

Last week, Mr Mwila said President Lungu is the party’s preferred candidate in the 2021 elections.

But his statement received sharp reactions from Roan member of Parliament (MP) Chishimba Kambwili, who said the ruling party was making a political short cut and that the general conference should choose the man to lead to the next general elections.

Mr Kambwili contested the PF presidency in 2014.

Mr Lungu won the national presidential mid-term election in January 2015 following the death of former President Michael Sata in October of the same year.

Mr Mwila said he had provided guidance to party members on the PF leadership and direction and made references to other democracies in the world which had preferred candidates.

He said the party has already settled for its favoured candidate to lead the PF to the next general election in 2021.

“I guided whilst in Kasama, I said we had a preferred candidate by the name of Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and I referred to America and the UK (United Kingdom) democracy that the incumbent is not supposed to be challenged. That is what I referred to,” he said.

The PF is in July next year scheduled to start conducting elections for party structures in the build-up to the general conference in 2020.

Meanwhile Mr Mwila says former Copperbelt Minister and Chimwemwe member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge will appear before the PF national disciplinary committee to answer charges of bringing the party’s name into disrepute.

“Mr Musenge will appear before the disciplinary committee on Tuesday. So I do not want to discuss this matter. The matter will be dealt with by the national disciplinary committee. So by Tuesday we will be able to resolve it,” he said.

Mr Musenge has been criticising the PF and President Lungu in statements published in the media.

I WAS thrown out of Chimbokaila prison by prison warders like a gate crusher when I went to visit the incarcerated UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, former Copperbelt minister Mwenye Musenge has complained.

And the Zambia Correctional Service commissioner General, Percy Chato has dared Musenge to lodge his complaint to the court of law if he felt agrieved, saying Mr. Musenge should not expect to visit inmates at correctional centres anyhow without following the laid down procedures.

In an interview, Mr. Musenge alleged that some senior officials instructed prisoner warders to block him from visiting the incarcerated UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on Friday.

Mr. Musenge accused some top officials of having called and threatened a named prison warder to flash him out of the correctional centre before he could visit Mr. Hichilema.

He explained that they were allowed in and only managed to meet Obvious Mwaliteta, but immediately when he was about to meet Mr. Hichilema, the prisoner warder flashed him out without an explanation.

“After we were allowed in, of course we only managed to meet Obvious Mwaliteta. But unfortunately when I was in the process of meeting HH, I was quickly flashed out.

“I only saw the officer (prisoner warder) receiving what seemed to be a very threatening call and he quickly flashed me out without any explanation. Its quiet sad that we were not even allowed to greet HH,” Mr. Musenge said.

Mr. Musenge said it was unfortunately that despite the court order that people should be allowed to visit Mr. Hichilema, some top officials were defying orders.

But the Zambia Correctional Service commissioner General who was a bit reluctant to comment on the matter dared Mr. Musenge to lodge his complaint to the court if he felt aggrieved.

Mr. Chato who could not refute nor agree with Mr Musenge’s accusations said according to the prison Act, there were lain down procedures when visiting inmates.

“Every visit is subjected to Prison Act 97, no one is allowed to come anyhow without following the laid down procedures.

“You know there is a court order already and I wouldn’t want to comment further, but if Hon. Musenge is aggrieved, let him lodge his complaint to the court of law and then we will explain why he was turned away because we can’t start explaining on the media an issue which a court gave an order.

“The truth is, you don’t expect to visit inmates at correctional centres anyhow without following the laid down procedures,” Mr. Chato said.