Police in Lusaka picked a body of an unidentified male person aged between 30 and 35 years in Lusaka’s Kanyama Compound.

Police Public Relations Officer Esther says the body was found at about 02:00 hours on 29^thAugust 2017 officers were patrolling the area on foot and spotted a group of people at Mutanda Bantu Market in Old Kanyama Compound who scampered in different directions upon seeing the officers.

Ms. Katongo explained that when the officers rushed to the point where the group was, they discovered a body of an unidentified male person lying on the ground with deep cuts on the head and some burns on the body as the mob had almost set him ablaze.

“It is believed that the victim was suspected to be a criminal hence the mob descended on him,” she stressed.

The Police Public Relations Officer said that the body of the deceased was taken to UTH mortuary awaiting postmortem and identification.

She added that police have since instituted an investigation in the matter.

In Monze District in  Southern Province, Ms. Katongo reports that a Rider and a female juvenile Pillion died on the spot in an accident which happened on the 29th August, 2017 at about 19 00 hours at Kayuni on Monze – Mazabuka road.

She explained that the accident happened when the rider identified as Gilbert Mizinga aged 49 of Jerry Farms who was carrying a female juvenile of the same area wanted to overtake a motor vehicle in front of him.

She stressed that Mizinga in his attempt to overtake collided in the process with the oncoming Rosa Mini bus registration number AL J 1174 which was being driven by Brighton Chikombo aged 30 of Freedom Compound in Monze.

“The bodies of the deceased persons are in Monze General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem,” she added.

Meanwhile, In Central Province, Ms. Katongo reported that a male adult identified as Stephen Mwanza aged 21 of Salindya Village, Chief Chikupila of Luano District died after engaging in a fight with his young brother identified as Benson Mwanza of the same area.

She explained that this happened on 28th August, 2017 at about 19 00 hours in Mapapa area in Luano District of Central Province.

The Police Public Relations Officer said suspect is currently on the run and Police have launched a man hunt while the body of the deceased is in Matanda Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka.

The Association of Vendors, Traders and Marketeers of Zambia (AVTMZ) and Auto Phones Factory Limited have signed a trade agreement aimed at supplying goods to vendors through a vending machine .

AVTMZ president, Fredrick Tembo says the development will reduce on travelling expenditure which the vendors incurred when purchasing their products for re-sale.

ZANIS reports that during the signing ceremony in Kitwe on Tuesday night, AVTMZ president, Fredrick Tembo said the agreement will enable his members get various products at cheaper prices than travelling to other places to access the goods.

He added that the agreement will also help to reduce on the number of vendors that have engulfed many cities across the country thereby bringing sanity.

He urged his member to welcome the move as emphasizing that it is meant to benefit them.

Meanwhile, Kitwe District Commissioner, Binwell Mpundu expressed delight with the move which he said is timely as the country is slowly switching to a smart way of doing things.

The District Commissioner said the general public is happy with the decision of relocating street vendors from the Central Business District (CBD) adding that people have always wanted to be associated with a smart way of doing business.

He added that the vending machines will play a significant role of bringing sanity to many CBDs across the country as it will replace the old way of vending that was disorderly done.

And Auto Phones operations Manager, Lawrence Nyirenda said the vending machine will be operating 24/7 and can only consume about a kilowatt per day adding that the machines will be dis[played all over the night.

He stated that the machine will make selling of various goods easy and many people will afford as the products will be sold cheaply compared to what they pay to other suppliers.

Mr. Nyirenda said as regards to food items, the general public is assured of sanity as the machine will be 100percent sealed.

ECZ Public Relations Officer Raphael Phiri says Ms Isaac’s contract will come to an end tomorrow, Thursday 31st August, 2017, but that her official last working day was today Wednesday, 30th August, 2017.

Mr Phiri says Ms Isaac opted not to renew her contract after serving the Commission for 17 years.

Ms Isaac joined the Commission as a public relations officer before being elevated to Deputy Director Elections and Voter Education.

Director of Electoral Operations, Chomba Chella has since been appointed to act as Chief Electoral Officer.

News24 reports that Mr Hichelema arrived in Cape Town this afternoon where he is set to be hosted by Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane.

Mr Maimane’s chief of staff, Geordin Hill-Lewis says Mr Hichilema is in South Africa to celebrate his release with the DA.

Mr Hill-Lewis says Mr Hichilema would be attending and addressing the DA’s caucus meeting on Thursday morning, ahead of the sitting in Parliament.

He is also set to attend the DA’s federal executive meeting on Friday.

The United Party for National Development is part of a network of opposition parties in the region, organised under the Southern African Partnership for Democratic Change, of which Maimane is the chairperson.

The network is meant to give opposition parties a voice in the region, and it was also used in this instance to effect pressure on governing parties to respect human rights.

Over 500 Congolese asylum-seekers have fled into Zambia within a day, the biggest single entry of new arrivals in three years.

The 500 Congolese asylum-seekers were received on Wednesday 30 August 2017 through Chiengi, Kamponge and other border entry points in the north. The new arrivals are in addition to a sporadic and continuous stream that has characterised refugee inflows from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into Zambia over the past three years.

UNHCR Representative to Zambia, Ms Pierrine Aylara, confirmed the arrival of the over 500 arrivals, and believe that more are being hosted by local community and the agency, working with local authorities, is conducting a head-count to ascertain exact figures as the new arrivals are entering through different border entry points with some un-manned.

Working with the Government of Zambia through the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and, specifically, the District Joint Operations Committee (DJOC), as well as the Zambia Red Cross Society, UNHCR is providing basic humanitarian assistance to the new arrivals and who are currently relocated to Meheba Refugee Settlement in North Western Zambia.

“We have continuously been receiving a steady inflow of new arrivals from the DRC for some time now. UNHCR together with the host Government and the Zambia Red Cross Society, are doing everything possible in our limited capacity to protect and assist the new arrivals pending durable solutions. The limited resources available makes it challenging for us to effectively respond to the silent emergency. We call upon our generous donors to assist with additional funds to enable us address the basic humanitarian needs of new arrivals” said Ms Aylara.

From 1st January to 31st August 2017, over 3, 000 asylum-seekers from the DRC have been received in Zambia cumulatively, with August alone accounting for about a 1,000. In 2016, some 2, 893 Congolese asylum-seekers were recorded. Kaputa, Mpulungu, Nsumbu, in Northern Zambia, Kipushi, Kakoma, in Norther Western Province and Kasumbalesa, on the Copperbelt, have been the entry points.

As of 31 July 2017, the total population of Congolese in Zambia (asylum-seekers and refugees) was 25, 063.

Zambia currently hosts some 58,000 refugees and others of concern, mostly from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Uganda. The vast majority reside in two refugee settlements – Mayukwayuka in Western Province and Meheba in North Western Province, while others live in urban areas or are self-settled in various locations.

The Ndola City Council is saddened by the fire which has engulfed almost the entire Kapalala Market in Masala.

Addressing the media today, Ndola City Council Town Clerk Wisdom Bwalya who was at the scene with His Worship the Mayor Mr. Amon Chisenga said it was unfortunate because hundreds of traders had lost their livelihoods.

“It pains us deeply to announce that almost the entire Kapalala market in Masala, Ndola has been gutted by a fire that swept through the trading place in the early hour of today,” Mr Bwalya said.

“The fire which is reported to have started around 01:00hrs was quenched by alert fire fighters with the help of local residents. I was at the scene from around 01:00hrs.”

He noted that hundres of traders have been affected by the inferno and many livelihoods curtailed.

He said the total cost of damaged goods and merchandise is yet to be ascertained and relevant authorities are on the ground to ascertain the cause.
“Relevant authorities are on the ground carrying out the necessary investigations to establish the exact cause of the inferno and updates will be given to the media and through media to the public,” Mr Bwalya said.

“Our hearts are with the hundreds of marketeers who have lost their livelihoods.”

Mr Bwalya has commended the efforts of the residents and fire fighters in trying to quench the fierce inferno and ensuring that no life was lost.

This is contained in a statement by Ndola council Public relations manager Tilyenji mwanza.

Meanwhile, Kabushi member of parliament Bowman Lusambo who is also Copperbelt Minister described the incident as saddening.

Mr Lusambo said the market was a place for thousands of people who depended on trading for the livelihoods.

“It is with a deep sense of concern that I announce that almost the entire Masala Kapalala Market in Masala Township. Skyways Ward in Kabushi Constituency has burnt to ashes destroying merchandise belonging to hundreds of Marketeers who depend on this market for their livelihoods,” Mr. Lusambo.

“Information gathered so far indicate that the fire started around 01:00 Hours. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified and the fire has since been put out by a brave team of fire fighters with the help of the local people. I would have visited the scene this morning but I am away in Lusaka attending to Cabinet duties but I wish to assure my people that I will visit the scene later today and empathise with the victims of this devastation,” Mr Lusambo wrote on his Facebook page.