A Civic leader in Manyinga district has bemoaned lack of capacity by some local contractors to undertake Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects.

Kaula Ward Councilor Greg Kapenda said that the residents are appreciative of the CDF initiative but the major challenge has been lack of capacity by local contractors to do the projects.

Mr Kapenda said he understands the provision of CDF guidelines and Presidential directive that local contractors should be used to undertake CDF projects in respective constituencies.

“I think we should revisit that provision because some of the local contractors do not have the muscle to carry out the CDF works effectively,” he said.

He said currently Kaula ward has a number of CDF projects that are still underway using funds from the 2022 budget.

MR Kapenda said that the ward has constructed a Medical laboratory at St. Kalemba Mission Hospital and what is remaining is connecting electricity and water to the new infrastructure.

“As I am talking the supplier has already bought the material and within the course of next week water and electricity will be connected,” he said.

He added that the Ward Development Committee (WDC) also applied for electricity to be connected to Mundanya Health Post and hoped that the health facility could be connected in the next two months.

Mr Kapenda said there is also a one by three classroom block under construction at slab level at Kalibingi School.

“Although we had few problems with the contractor we have resolved the issue and within one week works are expected to resume,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Kapenda said work to construct a 1 x 2 classroom block at Kaula Secondary School has stalled as the contractors that had bid for the project could not manage and that the project has been re-tendered.

A shocking incident at Grand IQ Primary School in Chilanga District has left two pupils injured after a grenade they were playing with accidentally exploded. The incident occurred when one of the pupils, a child of a Police Officer, brought the grenade to school, mistakenly thinking it was a toy.

According to Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, the injured pupils are a 5-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl, both of whom sustained deep cuts on their legs due to the explosion. Fortunately, they have been discharged from Chilanga Clinic after receiving medical treatment.

Mr. Hamoonga disclosed to ZNBC News that the ongoing Police investigation has revealed that the grenade in question was brought to the school by the 5-year-old student, who innocently told his friend that he had a toy.

The incident has raised concerns among parents, teachers, and authorities about the safety of children at schools. The presence of a live grenade on the school premises poses serious risks to the well-being of the students and highlights the need for enhanced security measures and awareness about dangerous objects.

The school administration, along with law enforcement officials, are working together to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. Meanwhile, parents are urged to be vigilant and have open conversations with their children about the importance of not touching or playing with unfamiliar objects, especially those that could pose potential dangers.

Community members in Kalulu area of Chief Kabinga in Kanchibiya District have launched a search to retrieve the body of a 60-year-old man who drowned in Lulingila River three days ago.

Lulingila Ward Councillor Abel Puka has confirmed the drowning incident and the search party to the Zambia News and Information Services in Kanchibiya today.

Mr Puka said Chachi Chisasi 60, drowned after he had a seizure attack and fell from the dugout canoe while fishing in Lulingila River on Saturday around 15:00 hours.

The Ward Councillor explained that his son Mulenga Chisasi, aged 28, accompanied Mr Chisasi when he met his fate on Lulingila River.

He said that despite several efforts by the community to retrieve the body of Mr Chisasi nothing has materialised since Saturday.

The Councillor has since appealed to the Government to send experts to help retrieve the body of the drowning victim.

“The bad weather the area is currently experiencing has made it difficult for the Kalulu community to retrieve the body of Mr. Chisasa,” Mr Puka said.

 And Kanchibiya District Administrative Officer Angel Siame said the district is making arrangements to help retrieve the body of Mr Chisasi soonest.

Mr Siame has appealed to the bereaved family to remain calm as Government is working on a solution to retrieve the body.

“I understand that this is a tough moment for the family and relatives,” Mr Siame said.

Meanwhile, Chief Kabinga of the Bisa People in Kanchibiya District has described the drowning of Mr Chisasi as sad and disturbing.

“It’s sad that the community has lost such a key figure in the area,” he said.

Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has urged Teachers to be professional and refrain from corporal punishment when disciplining learners.

ZANEC President George Hamusunga indicated that teachers should refrain from corporal to avoid unnecessary problems, adding that corporal punishment has been banned by the government.

This came to light following the Teacher of Kasenengwa District of Eastern Province who has been arrested by police for allegedly assaulting a grade two pupil who sustained a fractured leg for failure to write school work after losing a pencil.

 Mr Hamusunga advised that the teachers  to be professional and use other alternative punishments that do not violate the children’s code act and ensure safety of the pupils under their care.

‘’As ZANEC we are very disappointed to hear that the teacher in Kasenegwa beat up a pupil so badly, this is unacceptable, our position together with the teachers trade union is that we do not condone corporal punishment on the learners and corporal punishment has been banned by the government,” he said

“Therefore, we are asking for very strong child protection policies that should govern our schools so that our child can be safe,” he noted.

Mr Hamusunga however, expressed happiness to hear that the teacher was arrested as it will send a message to the other teachers that have been involved in beating children.

He noted with concern that teachers are entrusted with pupils when they are at school thus they must ensure that the learners are safe.

Mr Hamusunga stated that corporal punishment has been banned by the government and the coalition does not condone corporal in schools.

President Hakainde Hichilema says government is considering reviewing the law on cattle to stiffen punishment against livestock theft.

He said livestock thieves deter development and hence the need to stiffen punishment to about 15 years imprisonment.

The President was speaking last night when over 200 community members who included Namwala District UPND party officials came to greet him at his Naminwe Ranch in Namwala District.

The Head of State further encouraged the community to take advantage of the increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission CEEC loans to enhance their well-being.

He disclosed that in the 2024 budget, the (CDF) is expected to increase to accommodate more developmental programmes.

He said CDF will remain a game changer in the development of many sectors across the country, such as health, education, water and sanitation and many more.

The President said his government will continue to encourage hard work among Zambians because hard work pays.

President Hakainde Hichilema is at his Naminwe Ranch in Namwala District, Southern Province for a working Holiday.

Meanwhile Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa has called on Zambians to emulate President Hakainde Hichilema who from time to time visits the farms and encourages hard work.

And Namwala District Council Chairperson Abel Moonga reported that over 93 clubs and cooperatives were empowered in the 2022 CDF allocation.

Mr Moonga says a lot has been done in Namwala under the increased CDF that includes building of classroom blocks, Water provision to rural health centres as well as education facilities.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Gilbert Phiri says there is need for law enforcement agencies to be equipped with the capacity to handle financial and economic crimes.

Mr Phiri says financial and economic crimes are complex in nature and should therefore be met with equally intricate methods of countering them.

Remotely addressing participants at the Attorney General Alliance – Africa Programme (AGA-Africa) and Inter-Agency Cooperation Framework training of trainers in Lusaka today, the DPP observed that criminals have taken advantage of technology by using it to advance illegal activities.

“Illicit financial flows pose a complex global challenge. They are extraordinary and complex nature necessitates an extraordinary and multifaceted approach to combating them. Criminals have taken advantage of technology by utilizing it to advance their nefarious activities. Unfortunately, most law enforcement officers and prosecutors have lagged behind criminals in their sophisticated schemes especially since the advent of technological advancement,” the DPP said.

Speaking at the same event, AGA-Africa Programme Director, Chukukere Oparah said recovery of proceeds of crime is critical in disrupting illicit financial flows.

Mr Oparah said actively pursuing recovery of proceeds of crime sends a deterrent to would-be offenders.

He said commitment towards disrupting financial life lines of criminal enterprises is crucial towards upholding justice.

Mr Oparah said his institution has prioritized building capacity with institutions such the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and National Prosecution Authority (NPA).

“I am happy to note that AGA Africa Programme’s work is in the area of asset recovery. We have consistently prioritized conducting training sessions and workshops on this topic with criminal justice actors and other stakeholders within Zambia,” he said.

The two-week programme which has started today is in line with the fight against organized crime with participants being drawn from law enforcement agencies.