President Hakainde Hichilema has expressed commitment to ensuring the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) as a remedy for development.

President Hichilema noted that as in-coming Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, he takes up the role at a time when Africa is challenged with issues of peace, security and stability.

President Hichilema observed that SADC continues to be fragile in the areas of peace, security and stability, thus diverting attention from the core mandate of governments, which is developing nations.

The President said that taking up a new role, he answers to the call of protecting the people in the region and to better the operating environment.

He said this when he met a team from SADC Secretariat led by the Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs Kula Theletsane at Statehouse.

President Hichilema charged that those who continue to contravene against the peoples constitution are not eligible to serve as they do not understand what it means to dislocate economic activities.

The Head of State noted the need to maintain peace, security and stability in the region to allow individual countries to focus on the development agenda.

He said that resources ought to be channeled towards improving the livelihoods of citizens, which every leader in the region owes to the people they serve.

He explained that as sitting Chairperson, he will priorities on ensuring maintenance of peace, security and stability prevails so as to advance the welfare of people.

And the Head of State paid tribute to his predecessors for providing leadership to the Organ, while hoping to pick up from where they left off but with guidance from the SADC framework

The President added that if need be to do things outside the framework, it will be raised while following the due process for consideration.

“All this is to better what the Organ contributes to individual countries, we want to keep our societies  civilised and developing,” President Hichilema stated.

He reiterated the importance of the SADC Organisation, among other regional bodies, towards enhancing the welfare of people.

And Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs Kula Theletsane noted that despite the challenges, the Secretariat will help President Hichilema with required expertise to do his job successfully as Chair of the Organ.

Mr Theletsane implored the President to lead the Organ strategically in dealing with the prevailing challenges of security and diplomacy in regard to the many challenges the region is facing.

He alleged that countries have been scared to hold each other accountable and is hopeful that with President Hichilema’s leadership, that it will be different.

Police in Chifunabuli District in Luapula Province have arrested and charged a 40 year old man for allegedly defiling a 12 years old girl who is also a grade one pupil at Nambale Primary School.

 Chifunabuli District Commissioner, Stanley Mukosa said the incident occurred on August 2, 2023 at around 21:00hrs.

“I can confirm the arrest of a 40 year old man identified as James Chola Kasata of Mashitolo Village in Chief Chitembo’s Chiefdom, for allegedly defiling a 12 years old girl of Kangombe Village in Chief Mwansakombe’s Chiefdom. The incident happened on August 2, 2023 at around 21:00hrs,” he said.

Mr. Mukosa explained that on the material day around 20:00hrs, the juvenile went to play with friends and later decided to go back home but met the accused on the way who took advantage of her.

“Brief facts are that on August 2, 2023 around 20:00hrs, the victim went to play with friends and later decided to go back home to sleep but unfortunately, she met the accused on the way who took her to a house nearby were the owner is away in Lunga and had carnal knowledge of her at the veranda,” he explained.

Mr Mukosa said to prevent the minor from shouting for help, the accused used a head sock he was wearing to cover the minor’s mouth and prevent her from screaming for help.

“To prevent the minor from shouting for help, the accused put a head sock in her mouth and when he was done having carnal knowledge of her, he used the same head sock to clean her private part and told her that young girls grow by sleeping with elderly men,” he narrated.

He said the minor went home and decided to report the matter to her mother who took her to Nambale Clinic and reported it to Police.

Mr. Mukosa said a medical report was issued, which confirmed that the girl sustained a painful vagina.

The accused will appear in court soon.

A 38 year-old man of Ndola’s Mukolwe area has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a goat.

Copperbelt Police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said Kennedy Sileke, a farm manager, reported that Mwape Mawabele was found having  sex with a she- goat.

Mr Mweemba said the she-goat sustained swollen and bruised private parts.

“Brief facts of the matter are that, around 23:00 hours, whilst the reporter was in his house asleep at the farm.  He was awakened by his wife who told him to go and check on the goat pen as there was a strange noise coming from the shelter,” he said.

The Police Commanding Officer said Mr Sileke then went out to check and was surprised to find the door to the goat pen which was closed was wide open.

“The complainant heard a goat crying from a nearby bush, he then followed the direction of the noise. And when he drew closer, he saw a person who was half naked in an act of having sex with a goat despite it crying so loud,” said Mr Mweemba.

The Police Commanding Officer said Mr Sileke went and pulled the suspect and noticed that it was his neighbor whom he identified as Mwape Mawabele.

He said the suspect became unruly and violent as he tried to free himself, however the complainant managed to overpower him and in the process the suspect was beaten.

Mr Mweemba said with the help of the complainant’s wife, the suspect was taken to Jacaranda Villa Police Post.

 He added that due to the injuries he sustained as he tried to break free, the suspect was taken to Ndola Teaching Hospital for medical treatment by the Police.

Mr Mweemba said the suspect is currently still admitted at the hospital and on Police guard.

He said the she-goat has since been medically examined by the veterinary doctor whose findings are consistent with the alleged offence.

Mr Mweemba said the suspect has been charged with bestiality and will appear in court soon

The Zambia Police have arrested and charged a 49 year old man of Village 87 in Lusangazi District of Eastern Province, for the offence of Murder involving a Child.

Police Spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, confirmed the development that Rabson Sakala, of Village 87 in Chief Sandwe’s area, was arrested on August 1, 2023 in connection with the murder.

He said Sakala’s arrest came after police received a report of a missing child from Nyawa Phiri aged 37, a Teacher at Kasangazi Primary School in Lusangazi District who reported on May 25, 2023, that her son, Bornface Lungu, aged 3 years old, went missing and police instituted investigations into the matter.

Mr Hamoonga said the child went missing on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at about 14:00 hours at Village 87.

The Police Spokesperson said during interrogations, Sakala revealed that together with his friend, Benson Sakala also of Village 87 had gone to consult a witch doctor named Samson of Village 30 whose last name is not yet known, on how they could become rich.

 He said the Witch doctor then told the two men to kill a child and present private parts to him in order for them to become rich.

The suspect further confessed that on the material day, the duo killed the child using a knife and took the said private parts to the Witch Doctor who rejected the organs and told them that they were supposed to kill either of their children for the medicine to work.

“Police opened an Inquiry file and intensified investigations which resulted in Police on August 1, 2023 apprehending a male suspect in Lusangazi District who had left his residence (village 87) after the report of a missing child. The suspect, Rabson Sakala, aged 49 of Village 87 was arrested and charged for the offence of Murder,” he said.

Mr Hamoonga said the other two accomplices, Benson Sakala and the Witch Doctor, Samson are on the run.

He, however, said the knife which was used to inflict the fatal injury into the deceased child has been recovered from the suspect.

He added that Investigations into the matter have continued to trace the remains of the deceased child and apprehend the other two suspects who are on the run.

Government has assured support to traders at Misale market, in Lusaka, whose 15 makeshift stores were gutted earlier this week.

Lusaka Province Minister, Sheal Mulyata, who visited the market, said the affected traders will be assisted soon after determining the extent of the losses.

 Ms. Mulyata said her visit was aimed at determining how the government can help the affected traders.

“When I saw Mr. Banda on TV that day of the fire, I was looking at him, he is unable now to even take care of himself and we cannot sit back as a government, we shall help these people,” said Ms. Mulyata.

She said there is need to establish how much was lost, names and other details of the affected, in order to determine that indeed it is Zambian citizens who are in trouble.

“So we need the councilor to come in, bring the names of those people that were trading here and the property that has been lost from this, as a listening government, we are able to come in and see what we can do. Of course, we cannot fail,” said Ms. Mulyata.

The minister urged all the traders in the district to take precautions when handling security issues.

The devolution of power from the Central Government to local authorities across the country has commenced in earnest. The government has issued Cabinet Office circular number two of 2023, directing all local authorities to take over powers from government Ministries and Departments for the purpose of implementing various programs.

Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, emphasized that the full implementation of the National Decentralization Policy has become mandatory. This move is aimed at empowering local authorities and promoting effective governance at the grassroots level.

Provincial Permanent Secretaries have been urged to play an active role in monitoring and supervising the implementation of government programs at the Sub-National and local authority levels. Their involvement is crucial in ensuring smooth and successful implementation of the devolution process.

The statement by Patrick Kangwa was read on his behalf during a virtual meeting of the Decentralization Policy Implementation Committee, in which Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet in charge of Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge, represented him.

Kusobile Kamwambi, the Permanent Secretary of the Management Development Division, also highlighted that several technical working groups have been actively deliberating on various implementation strategies concerning decentralization. This underscores the government’s commitment to thorough planning and careful execution of the devolution process.