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Former PF General Secretary Wynter Kabimba says people should not rewrite history by trying to include Mulenga Sata on the list of PF founder members because he is not.
Speaking when he featured on the Platform radio program on Joy FM Mr Kabimba who is now Rainbow Party Secretary General said being late President Michael Sata’s son does not mean that Mulenga was one of the founders of the Party.
He said he is aware that Mulenga Sata was not even in the country when the party was formed.
“… Why Mulenga Sata in particular? Is there something special you would like me to learn about? Mulenga Sata was not one of the founders of the PF so please let’s not rewrite history. The argument that a King’s dog is the king of all dogs is not true, the fact that Micheal Sata was the founder of the PF does not make Mulenga a founder of the party. He was not even in the country when PF was formed that I know,” he said.
And Mr Kabimba says he does not subscribe to the idea of the opposition ganging up with agenda of kicking Edgar Lungu and the PF because his agenda is to better the lives of Zambians.
“We have defined what people call fundamental agenda, the agenda according to them is let’s come together so that we can kick out Edgar Lungu and the PF. I have listened to all the defections at the now famous Chainama hotel and all of them when you listen to them, their agenda is we must come together and kick out Edgar Lungu and PF,” he said.
He said such an agenda will only add to the misery the Zambian people are currently going through because it is not centred on national interest but rather that of individuals.
He said people of different calibre are now friends regardless of the names they called each other just a just a few months ago adding that such groupings have happened before and the end result has been the increased suffering by innocent citizens.
“I 1991 there was a hullabaloo to get rid of Kaunda again there was a cocktail of everybody that Kaunda had detained for Mandrax dealings, for corruption, fired from government and everything, everybody was nursing some wound is some kind of another and they converged around and said a bad person is Kaunda if can get rid of him will be better, we did that but the country has become worse than it was 25 years ago,” he said.
He further said people regrouping have nothing new to offer to the country saying throwing a cat in goats pan does not make it change to become a goat.
Meanwhile Mr Kabimba said the PF will be lucky to even go for a re-run.
Responding to a caller who said Mr Kabimba was wasting his time because the PF will win the elections the opposition leader said “PF is not winning and will be lucky to even go for a re-run. I have managed an election before and I have read the ground. It doesn’t matter what you think.”
Vice President Inonge Wina says Zambia has made strides in reducing HIV/AIDS infections.
Mrs. Wina however says access to Antiretroviral therapy -ART- has been a challenge due to economic challenges.
She says government has shown political will in the fight against HIV/AIDS by engaging more stake holders such as traditional leaders and players in the education sector.
The Vice President says government has also used various mechanisms such as the fight against Child marriages, campaign against Gender Based Violence, Women and Youth empowerment programmes to fight the epidemic.
She says Zambia remains committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS by adopting new strategies.
Mrs. Wina was speaking when United Nations AIDS Southern Regional Director, Sheira Tiou called on her at her office in Lusaka.
And Professor Tiou congratulated Zambia on her outstanding performance in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
She said her organisation is impressed that Zambia has recorded a drop in HIV/AIDS related deaths by 60 percent.
Professor Tiou lobbied the Zambian government to participate in the forthcoming High level meeting on HIV/AIDS to be held from June 8 to 12, 2016 in New York.
Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS), Mulenga Chileshe, has clarified that Zambia did not experience xenophobia.
Dr Chileshe says it is wrong for journalists in Zambia to say there were xenophobia attacks in Zambia.
He said criminals only took advantage to steal private properties as members of the public also joined in looting goods and merchandises in homes and shops.
Dr Chileshe said what South Africa experienced some time back should not be connected to the proceedings here in Zambia.
The PS was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
“Zambia did not experience xenophobia. Criminals only took advantage to steal private properties as members of the public also joined in looting goods and merchandises in homes and shops,” Dr Chilenshe said.
This was shortly after Home Affairs Minister, Davies Mwila, officially opened the 2nd Intra-Regional Forum on Immigration in Africa.
He regretted that journalists were ‘twisting’ facts instead of reporting the truth in information the people.
He is however, happy that police prosecuted more than 250 criminals and that no foreigner was nabbed.
At least 62 Rwandan-owned shops were looted in the riots in the recent riots that were experienced in some parts of Lusaka recently.
The riots started in two areas following rumours that Rwandans were behind ritual killings in Lusaka.
At least seven people have been murdered in recent weeks and their body parts removed.
Many Zambians wrongly describe it as the worst xenophobic violence in the country.
Rumours went viral on social media alleging that the body parts comprising the eyes and sexual organs were being used as charms to ensure success in business.
Meanwhile, the PS has disclosed that Prohibited Immigrants (PIs) once arrested in Zambia would no longer be sent to prison but instead fined.
Dr Chileshe said the new constitution provides that PIs would only pay a fine in court as substitution for a jail sentence.
He further disclosed that there are 50,000 auto-regular immigrants in the country.
In the past, PIs served jail sentences but the scenario changed early January, this year, when President Edgar Lungu appended his signature to the supreme document of the land, the Constitution.
MMD National Secretary Mwansa Mbulakulima says the Party has reached the point of no return regarding the holding of the Party National Convention which he announced two weeks ago.
And Mr Mbulakulima said the talks which were held by former Republican President Rupiah Banda and Party President Nevers Mumba was between the two regarding their individual differences and not that of the Party.
Mr Mbulakulima said the issue of the convention is non-negotiable and that it will go ahead with or without Dr Mumba and that all the Provinces were geared and ready to attend the convention on the announced date.
“The meeting which Dr Mumba asked for was between him and the former Head of State were Dr Mumba believes that there are some personal differences between the two and we are not preview to that but for us a party of which I am the National Secretary our position still stands.
“The issue of the convention stands, Dr Mumba took the matter to court and the writing is very clear from the Courts of law and we have gone very far in organising the for the convention. All the ten Provinces are geared,” he said.
He accused Dr Mumba of what he termed “desperate action” to try and stop members from organizing by writing to all the Police Stations in the country of which he commended the police for refusing to take sides on the matter.
Further Mr Mbulakulima explained that Dr Mumba tried to influence the decision of Mulungushi University after he heard that he gone to inquire about the charges for using the facility for the forthcoming convention.
He said Dr Mumba he sent the acting party Spokesperson Reuben Sambo to tell management to refuse to grant them the use of the facility and management at the institution refused to grant them their wish.
He called on members not to be deceived that the meeting was for the party because the meeting was meant to iron out the differences between Dr Mumba and the former President.
Meanwhile Mr Mbulakulima has cautioned both the PF and the UPND not to be lied to that Dr Mumba was representing MMD when discussing any possible alliances saying MMD will only negotiate for possible alliances when they come from the convention.
He said Dr Mumba can only talk on his own behalf hence anyone engaging with him should bear that in mind.
On reports that he had a secret meeting with UPND President Hakainde Hichilema Mr Mbulakulima said they were aware about all the maneuvers that Dr Mumba has been making to try and meet his opposition counter part including arrangements for the two to meet outside Zambia.
Mr Mbulakulima was reacting to the meeting which was held between Dr Mumba and former President Banda in which they later announced that there was no rift between them.
The meeting followed allegations that Mr Banda was funding factions from within the party to disturbalise it.
Mr Mbulakulima has since invited Dr Mumba to the convention scheduled between the 20th and 22nd May.
Nkana legend Douglas Chiwaya says Kalampa does not have a reason to under perform owing to the lucrative sponsorship the club is currently enjoying.
The record 12-time FAZ Super Division champions have this season secured a US$179,000 sponsorship deal.
In an interview in Kitwe, Chiwaya, a retired striker, said Nkana must deliver the desired results this season.
Nkana went through financial constraints between 2000 and 2011 – the period in which the club twice suffered demotion from the top flight league.
“This time around the team must perform well without any excuses. The players must aim high,” Chiwaya said.
“Things are now good at Nkana. Unlike in the past when we used to survive on money from individuals pockets like 722 (Patrick Njovu) and others,” he noted.
The former Power Dynamos and Kitwe United star is happy with Nkana’s impressive start to the 2016 league campaign.
The unbeaten Wusakile side top the table with 19 points from seven matches played.
“I am happy with the team’s performance so far. It is good they are winning at home,” Chiwaya said.
Nkana last won the league title in 2013 under the late coach Masauso Mwale.
GOVERNMENT has clarified that the current extended load-shedding being experienced in some parts of the country, from the normal eight-hour schedule, is triggered by a technical fault from the power interconnector in Zimbabwe.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya told Parliament yesterday that there has been a fault with the interconnection of power in Zimbabwe which Zambia uses to import emergency power from either South Africa or Mozambique.
Ms Siliya said Zimbabwe had issued a notice to Government over the problem emanating from their interconnector which, however, was expected to end by tomorrow.
“Normal load-shedding is supposed to be eight hours according the schedule, but in the recent past days some parts of the country have experienced extended hours of load-shedding because we have a problem with the interconnection of power in Zimbabwe.
“We have a problem with the interconnector of power from Zimbabwe which we use in terms of importing our power, whether it’s from Mozambique or South Africa because it comes through the Zimbabwean interconnector,” she said.
She, however, said the fault from the interconnector was being worked on and that Zambia was expected to have the normal eight-hour load-shedding by tomorrow.
She was responding to supplementary questions after United Party for National Development (UPND) Nangoma Member of Parliament Boyd Hamusonde, during questions for oral answers, who asked on among other matters, whether Government had continued to import emergency power from Aggreko, despite the normal rainfall recorded in most parts of the country.
The Kafue Gorge Power Station, which normally generates a capacity of 990 Megawatts (MW) of power was currently generating below 600MW, while the Kariba power station, which produced about 1,080MW, was generating lower than 300MW due to continued lower water levels.
“So even as we import emergency power, we are still not being able to produce all the power needed that’s why we have continued with load shedding,” Ms Siliya said.
Energy deputy Minister Charles Zulu said Government has continued to import emergency power, which had been stable at 40MW daily from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours adding that the contract for Aggreko would expire in December this year.
He said the imports were necessary due to continued low water levels the country was still experiencing at the main reservoirs of power generation carried over from last year’s hydrological season.
The House heard that the country was currently importing an average of about 300MW power per month.
He said, during a recent monthly consultative meeting between the Zambian National Farmers Union and Zesco, the farmers ‘body was happy with the current loadshedding of eight-hour which gave farmers comfortability to irrigate at night when tariff are low.
The House also adopted the report of the committee of the Auditor General on the management of occupational Safety and Health presented by committee chairperson Garry Nkombo, who among other matters, urged Government to set up an authority that would be responsible for administration, reporting, enforcement and monitoring matters pertaining to occupational safety and health.
In winding up debates of the report, Vice-President Inonge Wina assured the House that the Government was addressing the matters issued by the committee.
The Protection of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Expression of Folklore Bill, and the Supreme Court of Zambia Bill, both passed the Seconding reading stage.
Justice Minister Ngosa SimbyakulaMINISTER of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula has maintained that Government will only have 30 Cabinet ministers as prescribed in the amended constitution.
Dr Simbyakula said that this undertaking will now limit the number of Cabinet ministers appointed by a republican president as opposed to what was happening in the past.
He said according to The Ministers (Prescribed Number and Responsibilities) Bill, limiting the number of ministers will be for the good of the country.
“In the bill, a minister will be a person appointed Cabinet minister and provincial minister will be a person appointed as a provincial minister,” he said.
Dr Simbyakula, who was speaking during the second reading of the bill, also said ministers will serve in their positions until a new republican president is elected.
He said that under the same bill the president has the powers to dissolve some ministries and merge others so that they are able to function properly.
L-R:Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo, MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale, Information Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama and Independent Broadcasting Authority Director General Josephine Mapoma marching during World Radio Day in Chipata
Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Director General, Josephine Mapoma, says as the country prepares to go to the polls in August, this year, the media have an opportunity to change the perception of bias on political and social affairs.
And Livingstone Press Club President, Brian Hatyoka, has urged politicians to articulate their visions through the media as opposed to engaging in hate-speech and character-assassination as these have potential to bring violence in the country.
Ms Mapoma said she was aware of the challenges involved in achieving this but maintained that it was possible if the media operated with corresponding responsibility.
“It is in this spirit that I am urging all media houses to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct, the IBA Act and other laws that govern the media,” she said.
Ms Mapoma said this in Livingstone today during commemorations of World Press Freedom Day held under the theme, “Access to information and fundamental freedoms: This is your right’.
She said access to information by citizens was crucial to the attainment of the country’s development targets.
Ms Mapoma said access to information was critical as it enabled people to make informed decisions on matters of national interest.
“However, providing access to information alone is not enough, thus, I am urging all media institutions to ensure they employ the principle of quality control through the upkeep of journalistic standards and ethics,” she said.
She said rigorously promoting and upholding ethics and high journalistic standards would help to retain credibility in the profession.
Ms Mapoma further said the balance between freedom of expression and opinion and ethical reporting was a constant and evolving debate that countries world over, had for a long time deliberated.
“Our country is no longer a stranger to similar debates. And I note with worry that our debates often focus on the freedoms and deliberate less on the media and its responsibilities,” she said.
And speaking earlier, Livingstone Press Club President, Brian Hatyoka, urged politicians to articulate their visions through the media as opposed to engaging in hate-speech and character-assassination as these had potential to bring violence in the country.
Mr Hatyoka also called for an end to attacks and intimidation of journalists especially during elections.
“People who attack journalists should be arrested and where possible jailed to set an example to would-be offenders,” he said.
He appealed to fellow scribes to be responsible in their reporting as irresponsible and unprofessional reporting had potential to cause anarchy in the country.
Meanwhile, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Chairperson for Livingstone, Gideon Musonda, said the media had a huge responsibility of promoting freedom of expression among women on equal terms with men at all levels of decision-making.
“The media should do this if there is to be equality, sustainable development, peace and strong democracy in our country,” he said.
Mr Musonda implored journalists to expose gender imbalance at all levels of governance in the country.
He also noted that Zambian media could continue to thrive if friendly legislation such as the much advocated for ‘Access to Information Bill’ is enacted into law.
Katete District Cyclists Association chairperson, John Phiri, has warned beneficiaries of the Presidential bicycle loan empowerment not to sell the bicycles.
Speaking to ZANIS in a walk in interview in Katete Mr Phiri said he is saddened to note that some people who benefited from the presidential bicycle empowerment loan are selling the bicycles.
Mr Phiri said it was against the set out guidelines on the loan for any person to sell the bicycle before they could fully repay the loan.
He said last week one person was reported and arrested when he was found selling the bicycle at Katete Stores Market at K650 on a negotiable condition.
He explained that being the chairperson of the district committee he followed up the matter and interviewed the accused, Davison Zulu, who admitted to the act.
He added that Zulu, who has been in police custody since Saturday last week, informed him that he was selling the bicycle so that he could settle a debt he owed someone.
Mr Phiri, however, stated that there was no justifiable reason for any person to sell the bicycle before they could finish paying for it.
He warned that the committee is aware and vigilant of people that are selling the bicycles, adding that anyone caught in the act will be reported and prosecuted by the courts of law.
He added that because of the empowerment that the district has received many youths will not go on the streets to look for jobs but have become employers in their own way.
Meanwhile Mr Phiri has told ZANIS that his committee has since started recovering loans from the beneficiaries of the first 40 bicycles that the district received in March, this year.
Mr Phiri said today the committee has deposited about K1, 450 from the 40 bicycles which is expected to be fully settled in the next nine months.
Emerine Kabanshi
Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Emerine Kabanshi, says government is revising the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Act No 15 of 2009 in order to enhance Civil Society Organisations’ participation in service delivery.
Ms Kabanshi says Civil Society Organisations play a critical role in fostering economic development in the country as well as uplifting the living standards of the less-privileged people in society.
The Minister said this at the official opening of a meeting of the European Union with Civil Society Organisations and Disabled people’s organisation at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
She disclosed that 555 NGOs have successfully been registered and that out of which 428 are local NGOs while 127 are international organisations.
The minister also urged the NGOs to abide by the legal provisions of the NGO’s Act and be transparent in their service delivery.
She further acknowledged the support government has continued to receive from the European Union and other co-operating partners.
And European Union Ambassador to Zambia, Alessandro Mariani, said the European Union is committed to working with government and Civil Society Organisations in Zambia to fight poverty in the country.
Ambassador Mariani said the European Union’s main concern is to effectively support the agricultural sector as a way of eliminating poverty, especially in the rural areas.
He said the EU will remain committed to working with the Zambian government in many sectors of the economy.
Mulenga Sata
Former Lusaka Province Minister Mulenga Sata has revealed that he does not have a Grade 12 Certificate but that he does possess a Cambridge GSCE O Level certificate obtained from Maru Apula School in Gaborone, Botswana where he attended secondary school.
Mr Sata said that he later went to Waterford Kamlhaba in Mbabane, Swaziland before eventually enrolling in engineering School at the University of California and Los Angeles (UCLA).
“Yes I don’t have a 12 Certificate. I wrote my Form 4, Cambridge GCSE and this has been authenticated to mean O level. I lost the certificate but I have asked for a new one which is on its way from Botswana and it should be arriving tomorrow and then it shall be forwarded to the ECZ for verification.”
Mr Sata said the Grade 12 clause in the amended constitution is not necessary saying the nation needed to have a transition period before such a clause could be adopted.
“There are people with skills without Grade 12. Education is not just about Grade 12, it is composed of so many things. By insisting that senior citizens such as Guy Scott who is over 70 years old should go and look for his Grade 12 certificate, it is very unfortunate.”
The Former Lusaka Mayor also revealed that he feels relieved that he has now left the PF.
“I now feel free at last, it’s like a great burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I know my Dad would have been proud of my decision if he were alive today because one of the greatest life lessons he gave me is that it is important for one to stand up to what you believed in,” he said.
Mr Sata that said his joining the UPND means that he is simply revisiting the original pact which was entered into between the PF and the UPND.
“The UPND and PF share a common past. The original pact was between the two parties. HH would have been Vice President and he would have been the presidential candidate going into this election, unfortunately the pact broke down. UPND is a party we have a past with. It was a natural starting point. I was approached by some people to consider forming another party and I felt adding to the already existing parties would have been retrogressive,” he said.
Mr Sata also dismissed assertions that he is not a factor in Zambian politics and that his defection will not affect the PF’s fortunes.
“If I am not a factor, that is fine. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. If I was not a factor they wouldn’t be issuing statements and again it speaks to the arrogance that has crept into our leadership. What are they saying about the ordinary members? It is this disdain that is ruining the party. It gives me motivation to show them that I am a factor.”
He added, “I have political clout because you are interviewing me. You could have been interviewing a hundred other people. I have built a certain amount of following for myself. Over the last couple of hours since I announced this development, calls have been coming and I have been humbled. My action has resonated with a lot of people. I am branded and I carry the Sata brand. I did not apply to be a Sata and wherever I go I carry this brand and I cannot walk away from that.”
Mr Sata also cited examples of Andrew Banda and Patrick Mwanawasa who have left the parties in which they served and are now associating themselves with other political parties.
He also that he is confident he will survive even after losing his ministerial position.
“Survival is not a problem. I have a small livestock farming venture, I am an aspiring Kachema if you like. Actually one of my cows gave birth today and also a registered engineer, I am a shareholder in Zulu Burrow. So survival is not a problem, Zambia is our country and we know how we can survive but I believe that there are plenty of opportunities in agriculture.”
And Mulenga Sata has charged that the PF Government under President Edgar Lungu has failed the Zambian people.
Mr Sata observed that the Lungu administration has completely veered away from the vision that his late Father Michael had when he founded the PF.
He revealed that currently the Lungu administration is barely managing to keep government running.
Mr Sata who on Tuesday announced his decision to join the UPND said the Lungu government has failed the people and that the economy is currently in a mess.
Mr Sata stated that his late Father could have handled the current economic challenges better if he was still in government.
“My Dad, was a people centric person and throughout his political life he always sided with the people. He had a broad vision for Zambia and it was not just about infrastructure. The infrastructure development was just a part of the early days of the PF,” Mr Sata said.
He added, “After economic circumstances changed following the commodity bust, it was important for the party to change the direction. We needed a sustainable method of funding for the infrastructure drive. You cannot continue buying clothes when you don’t have food. If my Dad was around, he couldn’t have changed the course of direction.”
Mr Sata said President Lungu needed to have made necessary adjustments especially that the country’s revenue projections were no longer valid.
“It was important that we cut spending across all sectors and cut back on all these projects and focus on projects that would quickly stimulate the economy. We have continued as if there is no problem. I know the situation could have been managed better. At this stage, we are barely able to keep government running.”
Mr was speaking Wednesday afternoon when he featured on the inaugural The Contender radio programme on Hot FM which was aired across five other radio stations in Zambia.
President Lungu addressing the PF provincial leadership in Kitwe
President Edgar Lungu says he fears that the ruling PF might lose its traditional stronghold, the Copperbelt if it does not do certain things right.
Addressing an internal meeting of the party’s presidential leadership at the Presidential Guesthouse in Kitwe, President Lungu said the Copperbelt is a very sensitive place of the ruling party.
President Lungu called for unity among all party structures if the party is to win the August elections.
He appealed to those hoping to stand on the party’s ticket not to ditch the PF when they are not adopted by the party.
President Lungu said true loyalty to the party is tested when members who were not adopted opt to stay and campaign for those that have been adopted to represent the party.
“The Copperbelt is a very sensitive place for us, if we do wrong things, we end up damaging the name of the party and who are the losers, it’s the party,” he warned.
He added, “If you are a sincere member of the party, it is important that you stay within the party and support whoever is picked by the party. This should not be the time to say that since I am not adopted, let me go and disturb things,” said President Lungu.
President Lungu also used the occasion to urge the provincial leadership to condemn political violence.
“The issue of violence in the political arena is of grave interest and of a serious nature to all of us, I am glad that you have vowed to say that no to violence, Zambians want peace. In the UNIP era, we had the Vigilante and they are the ones who made KK lose because Zambians just hated that system. Came the MMD and people realised that they also started the same UNIP systems and people lost interest. It would be foolish for us to start the same things in just five years,” President Lungu said.
He added, “People want peace but we can protect our officials, let’s get the youths involved to protect our women so that they are not roughed up by other people. So as leaders, we can inculcate these values and continue preaching teaching people that there is no need for violence and that is how Zambians will give us the support.”
“In this respect, let me point out that the Church is also very important, for us you are lucky to be believers, we should embrace this even within the party we cannot be Christian outside and when we come inside the party we become different animals.”
Meanwhile, PF Copperbelt Provincial Chairman Stephen Kainga assured President Lungu that the party on the Copper belt is intact.
Mr Kainga also told President Lungu that the provincial leadership of the PF has embarked on an ambitious voter recruitment by creating more party structures.
He further assured President Lungu that the PF on the Copperbelt will give him the much needed 50+ 1 victory in the August 11th 2016 polls.
DAVIES MWILA
Home Affairs Minister, Davies Mwila, has disclosed that Zambia has made major strides in its quest to implement activities in line with regional integration as well as migration.
Mr Mwila says as Zambia positions herself to the regional and global agendas, migration and human mobility have been targeted as part of the four out of the 17 Sustainable Development goals (SDGs) which Zambia is preparing to adapt the 2030 agenda to include migrants.
He says measures taken by the Zambian government include the establishment and deployment of the electronic border management information system, New Zambia immigration management system, launch and implementation of protection procedure guidelines for vulnerable migrants, establishment of a one-stop broder post at Chirundu as well as the launch of e-VISA last year.
He says SDGs outlines migration-related targets that include human rights since Zambia is part to the convention on human rights.
The minister said this in Lusaka today when he opened the 2nd Intra-Regional Forum on Immigration in Africa organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), COMESA and the African Union (AU).
This year’s forum’s theme is dubbed, “Fostering Regional Integration: Facilitating Trade and Human Mobility through Enhanced Border Management”.
The forum is a follow up to the first Intra-Regional Forum on Immigration in Africa which was held in September, 2015 in Accra, Ghana.
Mr Mwila called for a robust monitoring framework for migration to be put in place.
He said monitoring of results and outcomes is a key in every process as it provides critical information on bottlenecks, weaknesses, gaps and opportunities during the implementation process.
The minister said data on migration for decision makers should be timely and quality to policy makers.
Mr Mwila said the forum is appropriate as it has come when other countries, including Zambia and the entire African continent, hare exploring ways of address challenges to effectively manage border conflicts.
And speaking earlier, IOM Director General, William Swing, disclosed that regional economic co-operation and integration is designed to strengthen participating economies through liberalised trade.
Mr Swing said Africa is fully aware of the importance of integration and has placed it on its action agenda.
He added that international trade and migration are closely related dimensions of globalisation and to-date, inter-governmental co-operation have been achieved on trade as well as migration.
But Esther Mambwe, a cross broder trader in Zambia, lamented that traders generally lack awareness of tax rates from one country to the other.
Narrating her testimony in a packaged Forum in Lusaka today, Mrs Mambwe, however, commended Cross Border Trade Association of Zambia for linking her to major marketing blocs such as COMESA, SADC and AU outside Zambia.
Two men of Senanga District in Western Province have died after taking alleged poisonous traditional medicine.
Western Province Commissioner of Police, Charles Lungu, identified the duo as Fidelis Samwaka, aged 78, of Lisitu village, chief Mwanamwalye and Ndumba Katembo, 52, of Kapalu village, chief Muluti.
Mr Lungu said the two men met their fate last Saturday around 16:00 hours after consuming sexual boaster herbs, adding that both victims vomited grievously and were rushed to Shangombo District Hospital where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
He told ZANIS in an interview that the deceased complained of stomach ache which forced villagers to call the herbalist to ascertain the kind of herbs he administered to them.
Mr. Lungu further disclosed that police have launched a manhunt for the herbalist who fled the village upon learning about the deaths of the two victims.
Meanwhile, the police have advised the relatives to the deceased to bury the bodies as they continue pursuing the purported herbalist.
