PK Sports Academy Executive Director Patrick Kasoka said Kalusha was one of the contenders for the FAZ top job and hence it was prudent for the ACC to make their findings public to clear the minds of football administers ahead of the AGM.

Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, Kasoka said the football fraternity would be voting with unclear conscious as long as the findings were not made public.

“From what we hear from reliable sources in Kalusha’s campaign team, the investigations by ACC are a mere courtesy.

“If the investigations are a mere courtesy, let ACC make this public so that we know the way forward,” Kasoka said.

He said it was is wrong the National Sports Council (NSC) Act number 10 sub section 3, 4, 5 and FAZ Constitution article 27 and 28 to have someone subjected to an election when he or she was under investigations.

“I would like to say that Kalusha’s eligibility to contest FAZ presidency raises a lot of questions.

“He is holding a public office and hence he should be subjected to the laws of the land such as the NSC Act number 10 sub section 3, 4, 5 and FAZ Constitution article 27 and 28,” he said.

Kasoka said Kalusha should withdraw from the FAZ president because he is facing serious allegations which are being investigated by ACC.

“Kalusha should have been suspended to allow for independent investigations. As Zambians and as Patrick Kasoka, I feel it is morally and legally wrong to have Kalusha to vie for public office now until when his case is closed.

“This is undermining the laws of the land. When one is under investigation, such person should be set aside,” he said.

Kasoka said as PK Sports Academy Executive Director, he wrote a letter to former ACC Director General over Kalusha’s probe before she resigned this year.

The Commission arrested and jointly charged Judith Mwitwa, 24, a small-scale farmer of Magoye area in Mazabuka District, and Kalabila Siliya, 36, of the same abode for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 418.3kg.

Also arrested is Green Habayama, 56, a small-scale farmer of Mutumbi village in Gwembe District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 85.2kg.

DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katonga confirmed the arrests in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.

In a related development, the Commission in Luapula Province has arrested Robert Kalunga, 38, of Mashini village in Mansa District for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 170.84kg.

Also arrested is Chalwe Kafula, 40, a Charcoal Burner of Lishikishi village in Milenge District for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 70.72kg.

Ms. Katongo added that in Northern Province, the Commission arrested Phethias Sipota, 34, of Lwansobe village in Masaiti District for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 33.8kg.

The DEC spokesperson said all suspects will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, the Kapiri Mposhi Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced two women of Lusaka Province to four years simple imprisonment each for drug trafficking.

The two are part of the trio that were arrested on 3rd March this year by the Commission in Central Province for allegedly trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 725kg destined for Chiboya Compound in Lusaka.

Magistrate Ackson Mumba sentenced Patuma Bwale, 40 and Precious Mwiinga, 34 , both businesswomen of Chibolya Compound and John Laing in Lusaka District to four years simple imprisonment with effect from the date of their arrest.

Magistrate Mumba ordered that the drugs in question be destroyed.

Energy Permanent Secretary Emeldah Chola says a statutory instrument has been signed to permit OMCs to import according to their market share until August 31st, 2016.

Brigadier General Chola has since assured all consumers and the general public that measures have been put in place to stabilise fuel supply in some parts of the country that have recorded erratic supply.

She says a cargo carrying 90,000 metric tonnes of commingled feedstock is offloading at the port of Dar-es- Salaam and that TAZAMA will start pumping the feed stock to INDENI today.

General Chola said the Feedstock will be refined and supplied to the market by Saturday March19th, 2016.

And General Chola has announced that the Ministry of Energy has engaged three extra suppliers to supply 300 million litres of diesel and 180 million litres of petrol.

She has since urged OMCs to work closely with TAZAMA to ensure fuel is quickly supplied to filling stations.

General Chola said government intends to build up on the supply with long term supply contracts.

Meanwhile, The fuel shortage in Kitwe on the Copperbelt has entered day four today.

Motorists and other users of petroleum products have been forced to spend most of their time looking for the commodity from one filling station to the other.

QFM’S Favourite Kalando reports from Kitwe that the only filling station which has fuel is Total filling station which has attracted long queues of motorists.

A check at Mount Meru, Puma, Engene, and Kobil filling stations in the city found they had no fuel.

Meanwhile the situation is not different in Lusaka where a number of filling stations have no fuel, while those with the commodity attracting long queues of motorists.

Mr. Muteteka says information by some media organisations that he has joined the UPND are false and malicious.

He has since cautioned media houses to be honest and objective in their reporting.

Mr. Muteteka says although he visited the UPND meeting platform, he never announced his resignation from the MMD.

Some media houses reported that Mr Muteteka was among the 11 MMD MPs that defected to the UPND.

The period has been extended from March 15 to March 25, 2016 to enable aspiring candidates adequate time to certify their certificates with the Examinations Council of Zambia.

UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma says the extension has been necessitated by the process of verification and certification of Grade 12 certificates by the examinations body for aspiring candidates.

Mr. Kakoma has reminded aspiring candidates that application forms for positions of Member of Parliament, Mayor of a City or Municipal Council and Chairman of a District Council can be obtained from the Secretary General and UPND Provincial Chairpersons.

He said aspiring candidates are required to submit their application letter, curriculum vitae and copies of academic qualifications to the Constituency, Provincial and District chairpersons and the Secretary General.

And the MMD says it is overwhelmed by the number of people wishing to be adopted to contest elective public offices in the August 11 general election.

MMD Acting Spokesperson Reuben Sambo says score of people in Eastern, Northern and Northwestern provinces have applied to be adopted.

Reverend Sambo says people in other regions are also expressing interested to contest on the MMD ticket.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka today.

President Edgar Lungu says government is ready to enter into partnership with stakeholders who have intentions to invest in the development of the youths in the country.

Speaking when he officiated at the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of a Youth and sports development centre by the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) organization in Chilanga district, Mr Lungu said the majority of the Youths in the country require capacity building and skills development.

The Head of State said youths need to be equipped with life skills in the area of agriculture, entrepreneurship and information and communication technology in order for them to be self-reliant.

He explained that Zambia is endowed with vast arable land adding that government wants youths to engage in agriculture development.

President Lungu thanked the International Youth Fellowship for partnering with the government in the development of the youths.

Mr Lungu noted that the construction of the Youth and Sports development centre will play a pivotal role in grooming youths into responsible citizens.

Meanwhile President Lungu has taken a swipe at political leaders who are failing to admonish their youths not to engage in acts of political violence.

Mr Lungu said on several occasions he has counselled youths at different forums in the PF not to engage in political violence.

He observed that so far none of his political opponents have admonished their youths to refrain from indulging political violence.

President Lungu has since appealed to youths not to succumb to pressure from political leaders to indulge in needless violence.

And speaking earlier at the same function, founder of the International Youth Fellowship Reverend Ock Soo Park said once the Youth and Sports development centre is completed it will keep many youths away from indulging in sin.

Reverend Ock Soo Park noted that the centre will be used to draw youths close to God.

Meanwhile Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Vincent Mwale stated that the construction of the Youth and Sports Development centre will add value and beauty to Chilanga district.

Mr Mwale said once the centre is completed it will serve a lot of youths in Zambia and the entire SADC region.

He disclosed that the Youth and Sports Development centre in Chilanga district will be bigger than the Olympic Youth Olympic Development Centre (OYDC) as it will house skills training centres for youths.

And Mr Mwale praised President Lungu for finding time to grace the ground breaking ceremony of the Youth and Sports Development centre despite the President not having rested after returning from Eastern and Muchinga provinces respective.

Mr Mwale said the presence of President Lungu at the ground breaking ceremony demonstrates the Head of State’s interest in the welfare of youths in the country.

Southern Cross Motors Limited has donated a 60 seater luxury bus to the National Assembly ahead of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related meetings which kicks off in Lusaka this Friday.

And speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Clerk of the National Assembly Doris Mwiinga praised Southern Cross Motors for the gesture saying it will go a long way in meeting the transport requirements for the IPU delegates.

Ms Mwiinga said the bus will among other major duties help in ferrying foreign delegates to the country’s tourist attractions outside Lusaka during the IPU Assembly and related meetings.

She however called on other cooperating partners to come on board and support the National Assembly to successfully host this year’s IPU general assembly.

And Southern Cross Motors Sales and Marketing Manager Mike Ng’uni said his company is pleased to be part of activities aimed at promoting democracy in the country such as the IPU Assembly.

Mr. Ng’uni who however did not disclose the cost of the bus said the IPU Assembly is of great value to Zambia as it will among other benefits help boost trade and tourism prospects of the country to the outside world.

The IPU Assembly and related meetings which will attract over 1,400 delegates from 166 countries will take place from March 18-23, 2016 in Lusaka under the theme “Rejuvenating democracy: Giving voice to the Youth”.