Police say they have received a report of murder in which Francis Zimba aged 46 of Garden House compound in Lusaka has allegedly been murdered by a female believed to be his girlfriend identified as Meya Namfukwe aged 21 years of Kanyama West.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said this happened in the early hours of today, 09th November, 2016 at around 0100 hours.

“This was after the two allegedly picked up a quarrel which led to the suspect picking a knife and stabbed the victim. The suspect who handed herself to police is currently detained in police custody and will be charged with murder. The body of the deceased is in UTH mortuary awaiting postmoterm,” Mrs Katongo said.

HUNDREDS of former Post Newspapers employees are set to join the petition in winding up the company following Lusaka High Court Justice Sunday Nkonde’s decision to place it under provisional liquidation.

Some of the workers who talked to the Daily Nation explained that they did not understand the situation with the provisional liquidation and what it meant for them. They charged that management has not been clear about their position and has not advised them on what was happening other than what they have been reading in the media.

“We are meeting on Wednesday at 08:00 hours to go and seek advice from the liquidator, Lewis Nathan Advocates. “We are told they are in Woodlands, and that is where we want to go and try to get a position for our situation,” one of the employees said.

Five former Post employees petitioned the winding up of the publication owing to non-payment of their dues with huge debts including almost K80 million owed to Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), US$ 3 million to Investrust Bank and over K750,000 owed in employee emoluments from June 2016 since the closure of the company’s administration and printing plant respectively.

Those who petitioned the High Court are Andrew Hebert Chiwenda, Roy Habaalu, Bonaventure Bwalya, Mwendalubi Mwene and Abel Mbozi who proposed the winding up of the business to enable them obtain their dues.

Mr Justice Nkonde appointed Lewis Mosho of Lewis Nathan Advocates as Liquidator for the winding up of the publication, and has since invited debtors and creditors of the newspaper to present their claims.

Mr Mosho appointed new lawyers, Palan and George Advocates, to handle legal issues pertaining to the provisional liquidation of the newspaper company. As liquidator, Mr Mosho holds custody and control of all the assets of the Post Newspaper and has since requested for a catalogue of all assets of the company from management. Some of the employees included journalists, drivers, newspaper packers, office staff and utility staff employed by the company.

A Lusaka woman who murdered her husband by running over him with her motor vehicle has today appeared for mention in the Lusaka Magistrate Court.

Jacqueline Mwiindwa, a health administrator by profession is said to have murdered her husband Kofi Milumbe on 28th October 2016 in Lusaka’s Makeni area.

Details are that Mrs Mwiindwa went to pick up her three children from her husband and a disagreement ensued.

After the accused picked up the children, her husband attempted to stop the wife from going with the children.

In an attempt to stop the wife who was driving a motor vehicle from driving off with the children, he pushed his head through the rear window with his body halfway inside the motor vehicle but the wife sped off dragging him 700 meters and that is how the victim fell off.

After turning the motor vehicle, the accused person hit the victim with the motor vehicle and left him lying on the ground with injuries and later died.

Appearing before Magistrate Racheal Mwansa, Ms Mwiindwa who appeared tense is set to go back to court on 14th November for the explanation of the charge.

THE Ndola magistrate court has fined two juveniles K5, 000 each in each of the three counts of feeding teachers cannabis cake.

Two Ndola pupils gave a cake laced with cannabis to their teachers during these years’ World Teachers Day commemoration in October.

The two pupils are jointly charged with unlawful trafficking in marijuana and inducing another to take the substance.

The juveniles who had earlier appeared for plea before Ndola magistrate Bubala Sikalunda pleaded guilty in court.

In count one, the juveniles are charged with unlawful possession of psychotropic substances contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that the juveniles on October 10, in Ndola, jointly and whilst acting together, unlawfully possessed 0.4 grammes of marijuana, a herbal product of cannabis sativa without lawful authority.

In count two, the charge is inducing another to take narcotic and psychotropic substance contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on October 10, the juveniles induced a psychotropic substance to Muma Mulenga and Chisenga  Mulenga by force and deceit in a cake namely 0.4 grammes of marijuana without lawful authority.

When the matter came up in court, the juveniles said they understood the charge and pleaded guilty.

The juveniles stated that the cake was an experiment and the teachers that consumed it had no knowledge that it contained marijuana.

“While in class for a period of geography, the class teacher did ask for the cake we were having, which they later took to the staffroom and shared with other teachers,” they said.
They admitted that they had full knowledge of the contents in the cake, which included marijuana.

When the matter came up for judgment yesterday Magistrate Sikalunda said the matter the juveniles committed was very serious.

“The offence was serious and I don’t know what will make young people behave like this. The cake was not for the teachers but merely asked for cake which makes it hard to believe.

“I don’t believe that they were commanded to take something for teachers. To put something is totally irresponsible and dangerous. Smoking is one thing but to put in food, it is clear that the victims got sick and admitted to hospital, it could have being worse,” magistrate Sikalunda said.

“Who do you conduct the experiment in human beings? Parents worried that these juveniles are in contact with drugs. I order for 12 months probation to be counseled so that they become better citizens. In addition, order the juveniles in first count fine of K5, 000 in default four months imprisonment, and second and third count K5, 000 in default, four months imprisonment each.”

Magistrate Sikalunda also ordered the juveniles to pay K1,000 each to the victims for the pain and suffering.

The juveniles were by press time remanded in the holding cells to meet their conditions by 17:00 hours.

The High Commission of Zambia in Pretoria has advise Zambians travelling to South Africa to ensure that they book themselves in reputable hotels and other forms of accommodation to avoid falling victim to unscrupulous people.

In a statement issued by Nicky Shabolyo the Press Secretary at the Zambian mission in  South Africa said there has been an increase in the number of Zambian victims of crimes in South Africa.

Mr Shabolyo said it is advisable that the travelling public, instead stay at renowned hotels around ORT International Airport.

“We have noted with concern the frequency in which Zambians are victims of crime especially to those arriving at Oliver Reginald Tambo (ORT) International Airport and staying overnight to transit to other countries. Most of those who have been attacked book themselves in lodges around Kempton Park. It is advisable that the travelling public, instead stay at renowned hotels around ORT International Airport.

He urged has the  travelling public to avoid seeking services from exposed points of sale such as Bureaux de Change or ATMs at airports of bus stations as this tended to attract criminals.

The Press Secretary noted that Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has provided bureaux de change in the arrivals halls which are more secure and travellers should obtain services from such points.

He said the advise comes in the wake of reports of several Zambians being waylaid and robbed of their belongings and valuables as soon as they arrived at airports or bus stations.

Mr Shabolyo explained that several reports have been received in the recent past with the latest being that of seven Zambian senior officials travelling from Angola who were trailed from the airport to their lodging facility in Kempton Park in Johannesburg, where they were held at gun point and ordered to surrender all that they were carrying.

He also said Zambians travelling by bus, especially those arriving through Kirk Street in Johannesburg’s central business district, should avoid carrying cash.

“The Mission would also like to repeat the call to those going to meet church leaders in various parts of South Africa, to ensure that they make adequate arrangements before they travel. It has been observed that several Zambians have continued getting stranded while in South Africa after running out of money and consequently going without food for days and spending nights in the open,” he said.

He explained that as a result of budgetary constraints, Foreign Missions are unable to provide funds for repatriation and the South African High Commission is no exception.

“We wish to advise and reiterate that citizens travelling and seeking faith healing and prayers from churches in South Africa must financially prepare to avoid being stranded and endangering their lives.

“Based on the overwhelming number of cases of stranded citizens, we wish, therefore, to advise that those who intend to travel should first contact their hosts in South Africa so that they could gather all the necessary information pertaining to their trip. It would be important for travellers to make prior arrangements for accommodation, transportation, food and to carry money to last them the entire duration of their stay in South Africa.”

THE Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has logged official complaints to Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) against some Government departments cited in the Auditor General (AG) report in Eastern Province.

And ACC Public Relations Manager Timothy Moono confirmed yesterday the receipt of the report stating that it would be under consideration. Nyimba and Petauke District Education Boards Secretaries (DEBS), Lundazi District Community Medical Office (DCMO) and the auction committee of Government vehicles in Eastern Province have also been reported to DEC and ACC for further probe into the matter.

In a letter to ACC regional manager Raymond Banda and copied to his counterpart for DEC, CSPR Advocacy and Communications Coordinator Maxson Nkhoma said CSPR has taken time to study the findings of the 2015 Auditor General’s Report with keen interest particularly on poverty reduction sectors such as health, agriculture, infrastructure development, social protection and education among other sectors. Mr Nkhoma said the provincial analysis of the report involved a comparison of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Auditor General’s Reports to get a comprehensive picture of financial management in various Public Institutions.

“From the study we have undertaken, we are saddened to note that there seem to be growing general increase in abuse of Public funds meant to finance national development programmes in various line Ministries,” he stated.

Mr Nkhoma said it was sad that there was increasing trend in abuse of public funds in various line ministries taking place against the background of existing Memoranda of Understanding signed by ACC, DEC and AG.

He said it was regrettable that while the Head of State continues to denounce corruption, public service workers were busy reversing his efforts in the fight against corruption.

“CSPR hopes that the law enforcement agencies will expedite their work in carrying out investigations and bring those found wanting to book.CSPR is ready to start litigation against the above mentioned departments should law enforcement agencies drag their fits in investigating these cases for unknown reasons,” he said.

He said the auction committee was being reported in relation to the recently auctioned government vehicles where it was alleged that officials could have taken peculiar advantage by offering themselves or their relative’s vehicles without following laid down tender procedures.

Mr Nkhoma said the 2015 report reveals serious gloss financial irregularities arising from wilfully failure to follow laid down tender procedures by the Petauke and Nyimba DEBs contrary to the Public Procurement Act of 2008.

He said the report also reveals failure to retire accountable imprest by Lundazi DCMO.

“The following are particulars 1) Willful failure to follow to tender procedures – Nyimba and Petauke DEBS This involved irregular procurement of ICT-equipment by the DEBS offices in Petauke and Nyimba,”he said

He said on 30th March 2015 the Petauke DEBS office received K456, 765 for procurement of ICT equipment for various schools in the District.

Mr Nkhoma said the procurement guidelines given by the line ministry required that funds be sent to schools and procurement be done by the provincial procurement committee.

He said without following the procedures, Petauke DEBS single sourced HiFi corp to supply the computers at K379,749 without obtaining any authority from the Zambia Procurement Authority and the balance of K77,000 was used on unrelated activities such as paying out of pocket allowances, subsistence allowances and fuel.

“This is contrary to the Public Procurement Act of 2008.The Nyimba DEBS similarly received funding of K164, 500 for procurement of the ICT –equipment for schools in the district. The DEBs did not advertise for the tender to supply the ICT-equipment but instead chose to use a simplified bidding process by inviting two companies to tender for the supply of ICT equipment. The DEBs procured 35 laptops at a cost of K164, 000 and the type of the laptops supplied did not meet the technical requirements specified by the Ministry,” he said.

On unretired accountable imprest for Lundazi District Community Medical office, Mr Nkhoma said an impress amounting to K48,608 was issued to an officer on August 4th 2015 to facilitate the consolidation of the 2016 to 2018 Action Plan.

He said the funds were meant to be paid as subsistence allowances for eight nights of which the activity only took four nights resulting in an overpayment of K22,800 to hotel where the activity was taking place stating that as of June 2016 the funds had not been recovered.

Mr Nkhoma said the perceived corruption during the auction of Government vehicles in Eastern Province should be investigated.

“Further CSPR has received complaints from members of the general public of perceived corruption regarding the auction of government vehicles which recently took place in Eastern Province which case may interest the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate so as to ascertain the correct position regarding the auction sale of government vehicles which recently took place in Eastern Province,” he said.

President Lungu has said failure by some African leaders to respect their countries’ constitutions has been a source of conflicts on the continent.

Speaking when members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council paid a courtesy call on him at State House today, President Lungu said constitutionalism is a prerequisite for peace and security on the African continent.

The President observed that some African countries were under strife because of lack of respect for constitutionalism.
President Lungu says constitutions should not be changed at will to serve selfish interests at the expense of the majority citizens.

“Our people want peace. We can give them peace through the respect for our constitutions. Lack of respect for constitutions is a recipe for anarchy,” The President said.

“Let the people’s constitutions be stable. All of us are passengers and we will not be there forever. Leaders must therefore allow the law to take its course for the sake of peace on the continent. It is about the rule of law, democracy and good governance. There is also need for governments to treat former leaders with respect and diginity after they leave office,” the President said.

And the President has assured the African Union Peace and Security Council members to count on the Zambian Government support to push for the implementation of resolutions of the ongoing retreat in Lusaka, at the forth-coming Heads of State and Government AU Summit in January 2017.

President Lungu assured of his unwavering personal commitment and the Zambian Government’s dedication to ensure that African countries which have not yet ratified the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007) do so.

Earlier, Representative of the AU Peace and Security Council members Ambassador Osman Kamara from Sierra Leone appealed to the President to take a leading role in ensuring that the declaration of the African Union Assembly in 2013 to make Africa conflict-free by 2020 through the agenda “Silencing the Guns-Owning the Future.”

And Burundi’s Representative to the Council Ambassador Dieudonne Ndabarushimana described Zambia as a source of inspiration and a haven of stability, peace and hope.

Ambassador Ndabarushimana says Zambia’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in Africa is conspicuous hence the need for the country to spearhead to continent’s vision to attain peace and stability.

And Kenya’s Representative to the Council Ambassador Joseph Vungo expressed concern that democracy in Africa was under threat due to prolonged stay of some African leaders in some countries.

Ambassador Vungo appealed to President Lungu to take up the role of an Ambassador in this matter by collaborating with his counterparts to put an end to this challenge.

Other members in the Council who visited State House included those from Algeria, Botswana, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Niger, Rwanda, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo and Uganda.