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Woman, child burnt in fire

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A 31-year-old woman and her 3-year-old child from the Chilyabufu chiefdom in Itezhi-Tezhi, in Southern Province are suffering from severe burns after her husband allegedly poured hot water on them.

Both Itezhi-Tezhi Member of Parliament and Headman Bwato have confirmed the incident that occurred yesterday evening in Banamwaze area in Chilyabufu chiefdom.

According to headman Bwato, Webby Shamatwi, 32, is alleged to have poured hot water on Anna Kapande after discovering her with another man in the house.

 “According to the information we have so far, Shamatwi went to see her wife yesterday only to find her with another man in the house, who immediately fled,” said Headman Bwato.

According to the traditional leader, after the unidentified man fled, Shamatwi and his wife got into a furious fight, which resulted in the wife and child being burned with hot water.

Shamatwi is suspected of being beaten and has sustained injuries, according to the headman, and has been hospitalised at Itezhi-Tezhi district hospital.

Meanwhile, Itezhi Tezhi, Member of Parliament, has lamented the rise in cases of gender-based violence (GBV), despite efforts to combat the scourge.

He stated that GBV will not be tolerated in the Itezhi -ltezhi constituency, and that Shamatwi will report to police as soon as he recovers.

President Hichilema visits Matero After Care Center

President Hakainde Hichilema says the government is committed to addressing the challenges faced by Zambians including the vulnerable people.

Mr Hichilema said the government is keen to solve problems saying it will do everything possible to ensure that the challenges are addressed including the escalating prices of mealie meal.

President Hichilema said the government is committed to ensuring that the livelihood of the people is improved but that he will not allow unscrupulous people to disturb the government’s agenda.

The head of state said this today when he visited Matero after Care Center in Lusaka where he donated some food and cleaning materials.

The head of state said the job of government is to take care of its people and he will ensure that the election promises he made are delivered.

Mr Hichilema commended management at the Matero After Care center for doing a good job by complementing the government’s efforts of taking care of the vulnerable people.

He said the task that the center took was not easy and assured that the government will support the centre to address the challenges it faces.

Mr Hichilema also assured the people of Zambia that his job now is to ensure that prices of mealie are brought down.

He said the price of the commodity is high and he will ensure that this too is addressed in its quickest possible way.

Mr Hichilema said previously there was a challenge of load shedding but it was dealt with adding that the mealie meal challenge will also be addressed.

“ I know the challenges that the people of Zambia are faced with, including the challenges faced by the vulnerable people. But I am assuring you that this will be addressed in its quickest possible time.  I also know the big challenge of mealie meal prices that have gone up. We had load shedding problems we dealt with and this mealie prices too will be dealt too. We are here to serve the problems of the people and it will be done I promise you,” said the Head of State .

And Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata said the government will continue looking after the vulnerable people in the country regardless of their status.

Ms Mulyata said all the challenges that vulnerable people are faced with such as infrastructure, water and transportation among others will be dealt with.

Meanwhile, Matero After Care Operations Committee Chairperson Hellen Samatebele said the center is faced with a number of challenges such as infrastructure and transport.

Ms Samatebele said the center houses a number of people that have been rejected by their families, and those that have served prison sentences and the sick that have lost memory.

She said with all these categories of people, infrastructure and transport is a big challenge adding that more help is needed.

Ms Samatebele who thanked the president for visiting the facility said his visit will be an eye opener so that more organizations can come on board and help in any way they can.

And Patriotic Front Councilor for Muchinga ward 28 Lee Mukupa also thanked the president for the donations made saying they will go a long way in looking after the aged at the center.

Zambian gets 7 years jail in Ethiopia for drug trafficking

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A twenty-eight (28)  year old Zambian man has been sentenced to seven years Imprisonment in Ethiopia for trafficking in narcotic drugs.

Maliki Christopher Phiri of Lusaka was sentenced on August 2, 2023 for being in possession of 1.0 kg of Cocaine, which was concealed in a pair of shoes he was carrying in his bag.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rose Sakala who confirmed the development, said Mr. Phiri was arrested on June 20, 2022 at Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while in transit to India.

Ms Sakala said facts on the matter indicate that Mr. Phiri was given the bag containing drugs by a Nigerian national resident in Zambia at an unidentified Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for onward delivery to India.

He also disclosed that when Mr. Phiri appeared in court, he pleaded guilty to drug trafficking but maintained that he could not recognize the gentleman who handed him the said drugs.

Ms Sakala has called for enhanced awareness campaigns among Zambian travelers considering that the Ethiopian Government has heightened surveillance measures to curb drug trafficking in view of increased cases.

She called for more sensitization against Zambians being used as conduits to transport unknown parcels.

This is contained in a statement availed to ZANIS by First Secretary-Press and Tourism at the Zambia Embassy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia Inutu Mupango Mwanza

Concerns raised over rubble being dumped in drainage during construction on Mosi O Tunya Road

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Local Resident Calls for Authorities to Investigate the Situation

Concerns have been raised by a vigilant local resident regarding the blockage of drainage along Mosi O Tunya Road, specifically the area between Lewanika Mall and Tokyo Way (Ring Road). The resident has expressed unease about rubble being placed in the drainage channel, potentially hindering the natural flow of water.

According to the concerned individual, construction activity is taking place in the vicinity, possibly for the development of a filling station. However, they noted that no official notice or signage, as required by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), has been displayed to inform the public about the ongoing project.

The resident has called on the Lusaka City Council (LCC) and relevant authorities to investigate the situation promptly. They stressed the importance of addressing the issue before it escalates and potentially leads to drainage problems in the area.

Preserving effective drainage systems is crucial for managing stormwater, preventing flooding, and maintaining the overall environmental well-being of the city. The concerned resident’s call for action underscores the importance of adhering to regulations and ensuring transparency in construction projects that may impact public infrastructure.

Efforts are expected to be made by local authorities to assess the situation and take appropriate measures to address the concerns raised by the vigilant resident, ultimately safeguarding the drainage system and the surrounding environment.

President Hichilema Addresses Public Concerns and Highlights Government Achievements

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President Hakainde Hichilema has reassured the Zambian public of his administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges affecting the country’s development. Speaking at a public rally held at Kalikiliki grounds in Lusaka, President Hichilema acknowledged the concerns about the rising price of mealie meal and outlined steps taken to mitigate the issue.

President Hichilema emphasized that the government’s approach to the current maize price is aimed at empowering farmers to increase production, which would ultimately lead to a reduction in the price of the staple food, mealie meal. He urged the public to be patient, emphasizing that resolving these challenges takes time.

During the rally, President Hichilema also highlighted key achievements made by his government in the past two years. These achievements included finalizing a debt restructuring deal, implementing a free education policy that has seen increased enrollment in schools, and raising the constituency development fund to address local challenges.

Additionally, the President noted that progress had been made in the construction of classroom blocks, procurement of desks, employment of civil servants, and the restoration of law and order. These achievements were part of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of the Zambian people.

Munali Member of Parliament Mike Mposha expressed gratitude on behalf of the Munali constituency for the government’s efforts to enhance the well-being of the people. Lusaka Province Minister Sheal Mulyata also commended the community for their strong support and turnout at the rally, highlighting their appreciation for the President’s efforts to improve their lives.

As part of the government’s community engagement, President Hichilema commissioned the drilling of a second borehole at Shine Zambia School, benefiting both the school and the surrounding community. This borehole is one of seven donated by the first family to constituencies in Lusaka, aimed at addressing water and sanitation challenges.

In the morning, President Hichilema interacted with students from the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) and Evelyn Hone College (EHC). He expressed his commitment to providing a conducive learning environment and increasing bursary allocations to support students.

As part of his personal contribution, President Hichilema donated a borehole to each of the learning institutions to address water and sanitation challenges and presented a bus to NIPA.

President Hakainde Hichilema’s 10 days of activism, commemorating his two years in office, underscore the government’s efforts to engage with the public, address their concerns, and make strides in improving various aspects of life in the country.

Espionage Suspect Claims Abduction and Extortion by DEC Officers

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Shadreck Kasanda, one of the espionage suspects involved in the recent gold scam case, has alleged that he was abducted by officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). He claims the officers demanded a significant sum of money from him, threatening him with aggravated robbery charges if he failed to comply.

Kasanda made these claims while testifying before Lusaka’s Chief Resident Magistrate Court, presided over by Davies Chibwili. According to his testimony, the DEC officers abducted him from the holding cell at the Lusaka Magistrate Court.

Initially, the officers allegedly demanded five million Kwacha from Kasanda, but later increased their demand to a staggering 10 million dollars. He further stated that they warned him that he and his co-accused would be imprisoned if he did not meet their demands.

Kasanda recounted that the DEC officers then drove him to a bank located in the Kabulonga area of Lusaka, where they instructed him to withdraw five million Kwacha.

Following this, he claims the officers transported him to DEC’s Command Centre, where they insisted on the 10 million-dollar demand. They allegedly hinted that his cooperation was necessary to avoid jail time for him and his co-defendants.

Prior to Kasanda’s testimony, DEC Senior Investigations Officer Lydia Chisanga failed to identify the DEC officers involved in the alleged abduction. Chisanga, who is responsible for overseeing the holding cell at the Lusaka Magistrate Court, was summoned to testify following a request from defense lawyers.

Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili has reserved a ruling on whether the actions of the DEC officers constitute contempt of court. The allegations have raised concerns and cast a spotlight on the conduct of law enforcement agencies in the ongoing gold scam case.

Fuel Prices Up Due to Global Oil Market Fluctuations and Currency Depreciation”

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The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) of Zambia has announced an increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel, citing a combination of rising international oil prices and the depreciation of the Kwacha against the US dollar.

Effective from midnight tonight, Zambian motorists will feel the pinch at the pump as petrol prices surge by an average of 3 Kwacha 85 Ngwee per litre. This substantial increase means that a litre of petrol, which previously cost 25 Kwacha 55 Ngwee, will now set consumers back 29 Kwacha 42 Ngwee.

Similarly, diesel prices are also on the rise, jumping by 3 Kwacha 52 Ngwee per litre. Previously sold at 23 Kwacha 36 Ngwee, diesel will now be priced at 26 Kwacha 88 Ngwee.

Aviation enthusiasts are also affected, with Jet-A1 fuel prices soaring from 22 Kwacha 56 Ngwee to 26 Kwacha 42 Ngwee per litre.

However, in a glimmer of respite for consumers, the price of Kerosene remains unchanged at 20 Kwacha 44 Ngwee per litre, as Zambia has built up adequate reserves of this essential fuel source.

The ERB Board Chairperson, Raynolds Bowa, announced these fuel price adjustments, emphasizing that they are a direct response to global oil market fluctuations and the weakening of the Kwacha against the US dollar.

Zambia, like many nations, has grappled with the economic repercussions of these external factors, which have cascaded down to consumers in the form of higher fuel costs. The ERB’s decision aims to strike a balance between managing these economic challenges and ensuring a stable energy supply in the country.

As these new prices take effect, consumers and businesses are likely to feel the impact on transportation costs and overall living expenses. The ERB and the government will closely monitor the situation as they work to mitigate the effects of these price adjustments on the population.

Heroes of our time : Kenneth Maduma aka ‘Ken Dumz’

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By Pennipher Nyirenda (

A few days ago, I had the privilege of visiting veteran broadcaster Kenneth Maduma. I was moved when Mrs. Maduma told me that every so often, he talks about people he worked with, and among those names are the likes of Doris Mulenga, and believe it or not, my name is among them!

It was lovely spending time with him and Mum Maduma, a moment I will treasure forever.
You see folks, I worked with one Kenneth Maduma at Radio Phoenix and ZNBC. Of course, before then, his voice was a huge part of my childhood largely because my mother has always loved radio and we’d listen to ZNBC news using her ‘two-band radio’ while sitting on a mpasa. To date, she has the same routine wherever she is in the house.

Kenneth Maduma(L) and the Late President Sata in 2014

During my stint at Radio Phoenix, I felt extremely privileged when the new stories I had written were read by the one and only Kenneth Maduma.

The yo bally in me nicknamed him “Ken Dumz” and everyone joined in! (Billy Kazoka can attest).
When I joined ZNBC, Mr. Maduma was Director of Programmes and he supported the news team that I was part of. Beyond that, he consistently supported my career even when he was appointed to a diplomatic role.
To appreciate his role in my life, I had a table named after him at my wedding, and I was glad that he made it!
I celebrate you Ken Dumz and want to thank Mrs. Maduma for allowing me to spend time with the family.

(Facebook Post)

Plans to open Jimbe border advance

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North-Western Province Minister Robert Lihefu says plans to open up trade between Zambia and Angola using the Jimbe border have reached an advanced stage.

Mr Lihefu has assured that works on the road linking Zambia to Angola will be done before 2026 to facilitate trade between the two countries.

The Minister was speaking in Solwezi when Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola to Zambia Albino Malungo paid a courtesy call on him at the Provincial Administration Office.

Ambassador Malungo said President Hakainde Hichilema, his Angola and DRC counterparts have a vision for enhanced trade in the three countries by working on roads and turning Jimbe into a one stop border post.

He also disclosed that Solwezi Chingola dual carriageway will be worked on through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) in anticipation of the increased volumes of trade between Zambia and Angola once the route to Angola is opened up.

And the Envoy says President Hakainde Hichilema and his Angolan counterpart are great leaders who have a clear vision on how to enhance trade between the two countries.

He said he was in the country to look for business opportunities for Angolan businessmen adding that Zambia and Angola were on the right path as they seek to engage in trade.

Removal of vendors under ‘slave trade tree’ to restore its national status

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-Central Province Permanent Secretary, Milner Mwanakampwe says the removal of the street vendors who used to operate under the famous Mukuyu tree in the central Business District (CBD) in Kabwe, will help restore the fig tree to its status as a national monument.

Mr Mwanakampwe says government wants to maintain the Mukuyu tree where slave trade used to take place in the pre-colonial days, as a tourist attraction.

He said this when Glory of the Latter Rain Ministries International President, Prophet Peter Mwale, called on him in Kabwe that government intends to ensure that national monuments are maintained and continue to attract tourists within the country and abroad.

And Prophet Mwale stressed the need to pray for the town of Kabwe to draw people closer to God.

Prophet Peter is in Kabwe for a three- day Inter-denominational crusade.

The “Abduction” of Sean Tembo: President HH’s Paul Kagame’s Evil Tactics

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By Kapya Kaoma

Mr. Sean Tembo’s arrest and subsequent disappearance from his lawyers, friends, and family in what his Party described as an “abduction” speaks to President Hakainde Hichilema’s new modus operandi amidst his failed leadership. As prices of everything continue to go “Forward,” President HH regrets not dancing the dununa reverse. The clever economist has failed to reverse the economic trend of anything in the nation; leading to untold suffering. President Hichilema knows this, but what can he do aside from watching from the sidelines? Another NAPSA partial withdrawal? Another IMF Loan? Kaya!

Lie and lie and lie. But poor Zambians are tired of waking up and finding out that prices are up while their salaries remain static. As people boo HH and his cronies across the nation, his rage is directed at those who speak out–opposition leaders the most. Not long ago, HH enjoyed being worshiped, but now he is being cursed across the nation–Satan has more honor than President Hichilema to most Zambians. HH has to come to terms with this reality. Worse still, his opponents keep taunting him– but who taunts a monster without suffering its rage?

You may not like Sean Tembo, but the guy knows how to get on President Hichilema’s skin. He makes him look like a fool. But Tembo doesn’t know one thing, HH has adopted Paul Kagame’s evil tactics–torment your opponents to death while maintaining good relationships with the United States through AFRICOM. The violation of human rights or good governance is secondary to US military interests—hence how Hichilema treats the opposition leaders won’t affect his reputation to the US and its allies. This tactic works wonders–the United States becomes toothless. The US interests are more important than the broken bones or soulless body of Sean Tembo or Fred M’membe. So as long as the AFRICOM is established, HH can do whatever he wants to his opponents and the US will turn a blind eye. This is the new political reality in Zambian politics. The opposition needs to develop new tactics to resist Hichilema’s dictatorship–the old ones won’t work. Only mass uprisings that threaten US interests in Zambia are likely to force the United States to switch camps than the arrest of one political leader. Kagame has killed as many politicians as possible, but he remains the darling of the US.

The most threatening Kagame tactic is breaking your opponents in private, and leaving them to die in public. Nobody knows what they are doing to Mr. Tembo aside from President Hichilema and his boys. If he is poisoned, or infected with something while in police hands, nobody will know. This is how Kagame has managed to eliminate his opponents. So the arrest of Sean Tambo didn’t happen without Hichilema’s knowledge–he is involved. Of course, he will soon speak out and condemn the abduction. He will also blame the police involved; even threaten some firings. This is now his tactic. Yet the damage would have been done to Sean Tembo.

Another Kagame tactic is deceiving religious leadership into believing you respect them. Like Kagame, HH has managed to meet with all important religious leaders–he has pacified them into believing that he means good. The truth is, he borrowed this trick from his business buddy Paul Kagame–the murderous dictator who has killed every person who has attempted to stand up to him while remaining the darling of religious leaders. This makes it hard for them to speak up when people’s rights are abused.
I don’t want to sound alarmist–it is the truth. HH has no heart. A person with ubuntu wouldn’t have his opponents undergo what he claims he underwent under the PF administration. HH is a monster who will kill anyone who will stand in his way. The man wanted power so much that he was ready to perform any ritual directed by Seer 1. What would stop him from killing to remain in power? Sean Tembo is not the last–things will simply get worse. Only people with elephant skins should be prepared to take on this monster.

I am game!

Chirundu launches Polio Vaccination drive

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Chirundu District Health Director Herbert Luhanga has implored parents and guardians to have their under eight children be vaccinated against polio.

Dr. Luhanga pointed out that Zambia has recorded two cases of vaccine derived polio virus type 2 firstly in Mpulungu and now in Lusaka.

 Dr. Luhanga said the new outbreak for the country requires a response with a Novel Oral Polio Type 2 Vaccine (n- OPV2) as per guidance from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

The Chirundu District Health Direct Herbert Luhanga was speaking at the launch of the Polio Round 3 Vaccination Campaign under the theme: “End Polio Now; Reach Every Child”.

He said seven (7) provinces in the country will conduct two additional n-OPV2 Campaign Rounds 3 and 4 this year of which Southern Province and Chirundu district is a part of.

Dr. Luhanga explained the 3rd Round will focus on three (3) main activities of door to door vaccination of children under the age of eight.

He further explained that the rest are enhanced surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis cases among children below the age of 15 years, and leveraging on the supplementary micro-planning to enhance routine immunizations.

Dr. Luhanga implored all parents and guardians to ensure that their under-8 children get vaccinated during the campaign.

He pointed out that the district through the Ministry of Health is targeting to reach 19, 873 households in the district and more than 18, 000 under-eight children with the polio vaccination.

And launching the campaign, Chirundu District Commissioner Patrick Kasambila appealed to opinion leaders in the district to help the government to reach out to all eligible children.

Mr. Kasambila observed that the detection of the two cases of vaccine derived polio virus type 2 firstly in Mpulungu and now in Lusaka shows that the threat of the disease is imminent.

The Chirundu District Commissioner also appealed to the Chirundu Pastors Fellowship to prevail on other faith leaders that oppose the use of conventional medicine to come on board and have their members vaccinated against the disease.

Mr. Kasambila reiterated that it is the wish of the government to ensure a disease free Zambia that will in turn ensure a healthy and productive citizenry.

Annual inflation increases by 0.5% – ZAMSTATS

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The annual inflation for the month of August 2023 has increased to 10.8 percent from 10. 3 percent last month.

Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) Statistician General, Mulenga Musepa says this means on average, prices of goods and services increased by 10.8 percent.

Speaking when he presented the monthly bulletin at a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Musepa says the development was mainly attributed to price movements of selected food and non-food items.

He said the annual food inflation for August 2023 was recorded at 12.6 percent compared to12.1 percent in the previous month.

“This outturn was mainly attributed to price movements in Cereals such as Breakfast & Roller meal, Maize grain, Cassava meal, Meats (Fillet steak, Rump steak, Brisket, Mixed cut, T-bone, Pork chops), Fish (i.e. Frozen Fish, Dried Bream-Medium sized, Fresh Kapenta, Dried Kapenta Siavonga, Dried Kapenta Chisense),  Milk, Cheese and Eggs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the annual non-food inflation for August 2023 was recorded at 8.5 percent compared to 7.8 percent.

Mr Musepa attributed this to increase in prices of non-food items such as spare parts and accessories, fuels and lubricants, paraffin purchases and charcoal.

He further said Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Food and Non-alcoholic beverages increased by 12.6 percent between August 2022 and August 2023.

“This was higher than 11.3 percent recorded in the same month of 2022 and 12.1 percent recorded in July 2023,” Mr Musepa said.

Namwala man murdered while sleeping in bed with his wife

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A 55-year-old man from Sicheepa village in Chitongo area of chief Nalubamba in Namwala district has been murdered in unclear circumstances.

The man was murdered when he was sleeping with his wife at their house in Chitongo area.

Southern Province Police Commissioner, Auxension Daka, confirmed the incident.

Mr Daka said a woman named Beatrice Kalenda aged 48 of Sicheepa village reported to Namwala police that her husband, Speedwell Choongo, died whilst sleeping together on their matrimonial bed.

He said that according to the report from Namwala police, the incident occurred on 29th August 2023.

He explained that after having supper with his wife and children at their home around 20:00hrs, Mr Choongo went to bed.

But around 23 hrs whilst sleeping with her husband, Kalenda heard a gunshot.

He added that upon hearing a gunshot, the deceased’s wife tried to wake Choongo up but discovered that he was lying in a pool of blood with brains scattered on the floor.

Mr Daka also revealed that when reporting the case, Kalenda, stated that she did not see the person who shot her husband and therefore rushed to inform their son, Honest Choongo, who later contacted the police.

He said the police later visited the scene of the crime and confirmed the case of murder.

Upon inspecting the dead body, it was discovered that it had gunshot wounds on the right side of the head with brains scattered on the floor.

He pointed out that the deceased body was later deposited in Namwala district hospital mortuary waiting postmortem.

Mr Daka said investigations have since been instituted to ascertain the cause of the death of the victim.

Luwingu runs out of space for storing maize

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The Food Reserves Agency (FRA) in Luwingu district has run out of space to store the maize it bought from peasant farmers in this year’s crop marking season.

This came to light when Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard Mpundu, visited the FRA storage shed during an on the spot check.

Mr Mpundu found the storage sheds filled to capacity and there was no maize that was being offloaded from lorries since there was nowhere to store it.

At least 24 lorries loaded with FRA maize were found on the scene but had no place to offload the consignment, the development which angered drivers in the area.

Mr Mpundu has since instructed Luwingu District Commissioner, Chomba Chileshe, to look for a temporal space where transporters will be able to offload the maize within the FRA premises.

Meanwhile, Mr Mpundu has expressed happiness that farmers are selling their maize to the government and not to briefcase buyers.

He explained that Luwingu district is one of the districts that have responded positively as farmers are contributing to the national strategic food reserve.

Earlier, FRA Assistant Marketing Manager for Luwingu, Oswald Mulenga, said the two storage sheds in the district are full adding that there is nowhere to keep the maize.

Mr Mulenga explained that the big shed has already been filled with 61,200 bags of maize while the smaller one has 26, 256 bags.

He indicated that the trucks found at FRA sheds will not be allowed to offload until the sheds are cleared.

And Luwingu District Commissioner, Chomba Chileshe, assured Mr Mpundu that a permanent solution will be found in order to offload maize that is still on the trucks.