A 31 year old man in Lundazi District in Eastern Province has died after drowning in Lundazi River.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer, Limpo Liywalii, has confirmed in an interview in Lundazi.

Mr Liywalii identified the deceased as Kenao Manzi of Sacha Village in Chief Mphamba’s area.

The Eastern Police Chief said the incident happened on July 12^th  around 19:00 hours at Mphamba Bridge along Lundazi Chitungulu road on his way home from a drinking spree at Lundazi business Centre.

He said the incident happened when the victim was obstructed by the flush lights of the oncoming vehicle and in the process, he lost vision and fell into the river.

Mr. Liywalii said police with help of officers from the fire brigade rushed to the scene after receiving a report from Lackson Manzi, the father of the deceased.

The Police Commanding Officer disclosed that the body of the deceased had since been retrieved and deposited in Lundazi District Hospital mortuary awaiting burial.

Mr Liywalii said postmortem was not done following a request from the deceased family members who were convinced that no foul play was involved after conducting an inspection on the body.

Solwezi Mayor Remmy Kalepa has refuted allegations labeled against the municipality that it has misappropriated funds amounting to 31 million kwacha.

Mr. Kalepa told a media briefing in Solwezi that the local authority is up to date in running all its projects and has been able to pay the contractors without problems.

He said if what has been reported in social media is true the council would not have been able to give Constituency Development Funds (CDF) to cooperatives, and paying contractors.

Mr. Kalepa said more than 100 cooperatives have received grants from the council and is supporting college students by the same CDF adding that he does not understand where the issue of misappropriation of the K31 kwacha is coming from.

He challenged journalists to do their own investigations and find out the truth.

And when asked why investigative wings of the government closed some offices at the finance department at the council, the Mayor said only auditors from Lusaka visited the local authority to do scheduled auditing and they are waiting for a report.

A Pathologist from Kitwe Central Hospital Olga Sadkovska has told the Mufulira Magistrate’s Court that her findings reveal that Nason Simbeye,a 22 year old police officer who was found dead in his house at Sikalangwe Police Camp on 23^rd October,2020 did not commit suicide but was murdered.

Dr. Sadkovska told the court that a post mortem she conducted on Mr. Simbeye’s body revealed that the police officer was shot from the back, while in a kneeling position.

This is in an inquest before the Mufulira Magistrate’s Court to determine whether the police officer’s death was through suicide or murder.

The Pathologist said the findings of the manner of death of the deceased police officer were not consistent with the state in which his body was found, thereby showing that the crime scene was stage managed.

“The bullet entered from the back of his neck and exited from the front,” Dr. Sadkovska explained.

Meanwhile, the investigating Officer, Chief Inspector, Kennedy Siazyombo told the court that police found Mr. Simbeye dead in his bedroom, leaning against his bed with an AK47 rifle in his hand and an empty cartridge beside him.

Mr. Siazyombo said when an officer reached for the firearm, it fired three shots, showing that the gun was set on rapid firing.

“Information from ZICTA showed that his last communication on his phone was the previous day at 18:11,”he said.

And an officer from the Zambia Police Amory department demonstrated to the court that it was impossible for a gun set on rapid firing to only fire a single shot when it has more bullets loaded.

Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima has warned of stern action against school administrators that are allegedly abusing grants that government is giving to schools.

 Mr Syakalima said government is committed to improving the education sector and will not tolerate and spare school administrators who are misusing funds meant for school operations.

The Minister was speaking when he officiated at the education for all policy stakeholders meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

“I have learnt with sadness that grants which government is giving to schools are being abused by some school administrators, let me warn you that soon you will be shown the exit door,” he warned.

Mr Syakalima has since directed his Permanent Secretaries to investigate the alleged abuse of resources especially grants by the people entrusted with the responsibility.

He explained that the trend of abusing public funds can tarnish the image of government to the outside world and partners if left unchecked.

The education Minister reiterated government’s commitment to invest in the education sector in the quest to ensure children from diverse backgrounds access quality education.

He commended the United Kingdom through the British High Commission in Zambia for the long standing partnership with Zambia in improving the education sector.

And team leader governance and political human development at British High Commission in Zambia, Ben Powis said the United Kingdom will continue to partner with the Zambian government to improve access to quality education.

Dr Powis said the UK will continue to collaborate with the Zambian government in its endeavour to ensure that every child accesses quality education.

Meanwhile, Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on education and science, Twambo Mutinta said education is a key to unlocking the economy of the country.

Mr Mutinta observed that the country can only develop with a qualified cadre of people, adding that there is need for concerted efforts from every stakeholder.

The education for all stakeholders meeting aims at aligning Zambia’s education to an all policy and social justice model.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe has directed law enforcement officers in Mkushi to ensure that all trucks purported to be carrying farm produce to be thoroughly searched to curb smuggling of maize.

Mr Mwanakampwe observed that smuggling of maize has continued stating that there is need to enhance policing to ensure food security in the province.

He said that the people behind illegal export of maize are hiding the grain in bags where they load other farm produce.

And Mkushi District Commissioner Jonathan Kapungwe complained that the price of mealie meal in the district has continued to be high, at K230.

Mr Kapungwe said this is despite farmers harvesting this maize marketing season.

The District Commissioner noted that some maize smugglers have been loading maize in bags carrying soya beans.

He explained that most farmers have found an attractive market for soya beans across borders.

Mr Kapungwe stated that the smugglers have taken advantage of the situation and are hiding maize in the soya bean bags.

The District Commissioner also bemoaned a critical water shortage which has affected the district for more than five years.

He observed that most residential areas and the district administration do not have running water.

Mr Kapungwe however noted that with help from an investor, the district administration has managed to drill a borehole, procure a water tank and a tank stand.

In response, the Provincial Permanent Secretary said the USD 72,000 that the government has secured to enhance the operations of Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company will improve water reticulation in Central Province.

Mr Mwanakampwe said the water supply is a result of old pipes some of which have clogged due to cracks.

He assured that the water situation will improve as Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company will replace the old pipes with new plastic pipes.

The Chasefu District Child Protection Committee members have been urged to be proactive and apply referral mechanisms when handling cases of abuse affecting the children’s welfare.

Eastern Provincial Child’s Officer Gerald Tembo says referral mechanisms will help committee members to identify responsible institutions suitable to handle the reported cases and avoid being liable for committing crimes.

Mr Tembo was speaking during the training of Child Protection committee members on the Children’s Code Act number 12 of the 2022, held in Chasefu yesterday.

He said the government has created a one stop center to avoid the cumbersome movement of persons handling cases and ensure quick justice.

Mr Tembo has however called for a multi-sectoral approach in the implementation of the 2023 work plan in order to make the committee proactive.

And Eastern Province Senior Social Welfare Officer, Yela Lombe has advised committee members to work as a team in addressing challenges affecting the progress of work.

Meanwhile, Chasefu District Child Protection Committee Chairperson, Diana Lupiya, disclosed that limited resources had this year made the committee become less active.

Ms Lupiya, who is also Chasefu District Administrative Officer, has assured the provincial team that the committee would step up efforts, urging committee members not to relax.

A former civic leader has appealed to Kabwe Municipal Council to heed President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive for local authorities to adequately sensitize communities on the importance of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF).

Billy Sichamba, said there is urgent need for the local authority to sensitize the general public so that they know the usage, allocation, and disbursement of CDF.

 Mr Sichamba observed that most of the communities in Kabwe lack basic knowledge on CDF and that this can be seen from the many comments and concerns they raise on various issues.

And the former Mayor cited his observation when he featured on a programme dubbed “Power to the People” on power FM that the calls, comments, and concerns people raised, it was apparent that they do not fully understand the differences between CDF and central government funds.

He said some callers called to complain about poor roads and how the CDF is not being used to construct the roads to bituminous standard despite government increasing the CDF allocation per Constituency from the previous K1.6million to K28.3 million.

He said these concerns are a clear indication that there are some lapses when it comes to understanding the projects that are supposed to be undertaken using CDF as well as those that require the funding from the central government.

Mr Sichamba, therefore, said the local authority, the Members of Parliament, the Civic Leaders, and other politicians have a huge role to play in ensuring that they disseminate adequate information on CDF to the general public in order to bridge the existing gaps.

He added that the Civil Servants, the Ward Development Committees, as well as other line ministries, should equally take keen interest in creating the much-needed awareness in the communities.

He observed that the people are in dire need of information and that it is only when they understand something that they would buy into it and effectively monitor the on-going projects and developments in their localities.

Mr Sichamba said there is also need for consistency in informing the general public on what is obtaining in their constituencies with regards to how the funds are being spent as this will help to provide proper checks and balances to the government.

He said President Hichilema is always on record advising MPs and the local authorities to ensure that there is adequate awareness around the CDF but that people still lack basic information which is a serious concern.

“I believe that there are various channels of communication that can be employed in ensuring that the general public are made aware of CDF, because effective communication is part of development,” he advised.