Ten (10) people have been killed after a Toyota Corolla they were on collided with a Toyota Rav4 in Mkushi District of Central Province.

Central Province Police Commanding Officer David Chileshe confirmed the news saying the accident happened around 21:39 hours on Sunday night at the Sino Hydro gate.

Mr. Chileshe disclosed that the deceased comprise three men, five women and two juveniles.

He says preliminary investigations indicate that the Tanzanian driver of the Rav4 failed to keep to his side and went to hit into the Corolla, which was coming from the opposite direction.

Mr. Chileshe said the driver of the Corolla is among the dead and all bodies have been deposited in the Mkushi District Hospital mortuary.

He says all the bodies are awaiting postmortem to determine the identities of the deceased.

Meanwhile, in Chingola Police recorded a Fatal Hit and run road traffic accident which occurred on Monday morning between 0400hrs and 0500hrs along Nkambo street near House.no.22 Kabundi South Chingola.

” Involved was unknown m/vehicle which did not stop after the accident and it was being driven by unknown driver . Also involved was unknown male pedestrian aged between 30 and 40yrs of unknown address who sustained multiple body injuries,cuts on the head and bruises on both arms who died on the spot.The body is lying in Nchanga North Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem. However,how the accident happened is not yet established,” Police Copperbelt Commanding Officer Peacewell Mweemba confirmed.

Meanwhile, six people have escaped a road accident that occurred on the Ndola/Kitwe Road with serious injuries.

Mr. Mweemba said accident happened when the motor vehicle was being driven from West to East and in the process the driver lost control of the vehicle due to speed and over turned on the left side of the road.

“Regarding a serious injury RTA OB # 128/23 which occurred on 30/04/23 along kitwe ndola dual carriege way at around 1500 hrs after airport road junction Chichela area Ndola. Involved was a motor vehicle Nissan NP200 reg # BAT 9947 a property of Mukuru Company of kitwe which was extensively damaged and it was being driven by M Chisombo Albert aged 30 of napsa complex kitwe who sustained a deep cut on the head and suspected internal injuries. Also on board were the following passengers: (1) m/ Bwalya saviour aged 32 of napsa complex kitwe who sustained shoulder and a cut on the head,” Mr. Mweemba said.

“(2) F Mphande Charity aged 28 of House 2072/842 chamboli kitwe who sustained a painful right leg, suspected chest pains and neck. (3) Kunda Martha aged 27 of House Number 110 Macha road kansenshi ndola who sustained a painful right leg and arm. (4) f/ chisenga Sandra aged 35 of Twibukishe kitwe who sustained chest pains. (5) f/ Theresa Ngenda aged 32 of Twibukishe kitwe who sustained backache, painful right leg and arm. (6) F/ Mutale Agathar aged 21 of 15 kwacha first kitwe who sustained chest pains and backache. All are admitted to ndola teaching hospital for treatment and next of kin informed. The accident happened when the said motor vehicle was being driven along the said road from West to East and in the process the driver Lost control of the vehicle due to speed and over turned on the left side of the road,” he said.

Copperbelt’s Uniting Presbyterian Church – Evangelist Miniva Nonde Chila has reminded elected leaders not to abandon people in their wards and constituencies after elections.

Evangelist Chila of Mushili Congregation in Ndola said leaders should regularly visit their people and check on how they are doing.

She said true leadership is about caring for the people without segregation.

Evangelist Chila was speaking when Ndola’s Bwana Mkubwa Member of Parliament Warren Mwambazi congregated at Uniting Presbyterian Church in Mushili, Ndola over the weekend.

She said Uniting Presbyterian Church is also looking forward to President Hakainde Hichilema visiting them in future as he comes to the Copperbelt Province regularly.

Evangelist Chila added that promotion of justice, peace and care for the people must be the hallmark of good leadership.

“Today we have been preaching on the need to follow God and to follow his instructions at all times. We are telling those elected to promote justice and care for the people. These are parents who should care for everyone without segregating. As leaders they should care for everyone and visit the people who elected them. Here at Uniting Presbyterian Church in Mushili, Ndola we are happy to be visited by the Member of Parliament. This is the first time a Member of Parliament is visiting our Church, we are grateful and humbled. Let the Member of Parliament continue visiting people like this. Even other leaders should visit people; they should not look at the same of the Church or community,” Evangelist Chila said.

In his remarks, Mr. Mwambazi encouraged women to form cooperatives in order to benefit from the Constituency Development Fund.

He also pledged his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises and hinted about re-contesting the Bwana Mkubwa parliamentary seat during the 2026 General Elections.

“Form cooperatives and benefit from Constituency Development Funds (CDF). The same way we are committed to Church activities is the same way we should be committed to CDF empowerment. Even in your church groups discuss CDF empowerment. We will only be happy if more people benefit from CDF. It is difficult to make promises but fail to fulfill how you will come back to ask for votes from the people. We want to come back, I don’t know about others. When I apply to come back you will be ticking that he brought good roads, water, schools and street lights plus markets. We want development like we promised you during election campaigns. We used to come early in the morning to knock on your doors for campaigns. Development will liberate us. We came here to encourage one another and to listen to the word of God. We do not segregate; we go to what you may call big or small churches. That is where our people are, that is where our power lies. We are trying to visit many churches despite time constraints,” Mr. Mwambazi said.

Mr. Mwambazi added. “For us, time and again, we will keep on engaging our people so that we update them on what we are doing and just to get feedback from them. As the leaders we know that amaka yaba mubantu and we will continue striving hard to do what the people want. On behalf of my family, I would like to thank the Presbyterian Church, Mushili leadership and indeed the entire membership for the love they showed and the gift when we worshiped together yesterday. As leaders we will continue seeking the face of God for him to lead us as we serve the people. Earlier today we had a community meeting at Ebenezer Assembly in Lupili ward where we discussed various issues that are affecting the residents.”

When the New Dawn Administration just formed government, Home Affairs & Internal Security Minister Hon. Jack Mwimbu issued a decree outlawing any unnecessary checkpoints or roadblocks by the traffic police save for the permanent ones along the highway for security reasons. Of course, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and applauded the minister for finally unyoking the albatross around their necks that had been causing a lot of angst.

Roadblocks are nothing but a nuisance! Apart from causing unnecessary traffic jams on our already choked roads, they are fertile breeding grounds for corruption…….conduits for corruption! Must we honestly accept corruption as part of our livelihood?

Anyway, this directive was only observed for a while as the cops studied the situation. Would they be bursted while engaging in such illegalities? Would any of them be arraigned for corruption? As soon as the dust settled down, the police came back full throttle and devised other strategies of extracting bribes from motorists.

While the police in the Copperbelt have resorted to cruising around towns harassing motorists as they attempt to pounce on any suspected defective vehicles, their counterparts in Lusaka simply hibernate at the traffic lights to waylay would be offenders, and sometimes trap them at roundabouts.

Why do the traffic police continue to defy a government directive? Or is it a clear case of insubordination?

We’ve an answer……the traffic police simply share or chew the spoils if you like with their superiors, hence the flourishing of such activities! Reliable sources inform us the guys actually have what they call ‘ichilimba’ – a saving scheme whereby they’ve set aside specific days to collect money for themselves and their superiors including those in the highest echelons of the command.

While their counterparts in regular duties have to suffer through mundane meals of katapa and bitter impwa much of the time, it’s always T/bone for them. Money isn’t a problem for them. They are able to send their kids to private schools and boast of admirable fleets of cars and mansions everywhere! It is such inequality in police camps that start tempting some cops assigned to regular duties to start sharing their uniforms and ammunition with bandits so that they can make extra income at the end of the day.

If the New Dawn Administration is serious about nipping corruption in the bud, this is where they are expected to prove their mettle.
We are challenging the new Inspector General of Police and indeed the Anti Corruption Commission to consider taking keen interest in this matter. We can’t have a situation whereby institutionalized corruption should become the norm with men and women in uniform as the key players.

Prince Bill M. Kaping’a
Political/Social Analyst

Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces have accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement that had been extended for 72 hours. The fighting has been ongoing for three weeks since an internal power struggle erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded in the conflict, which has also led to tens of thousands of people fleeing across the country’s borders.

The situation has prompted fears that the country could destabilise, leading foreign governments to evacuate their nationals. Talks have been scheduled but prospects for a resolution appear slim.

The conflict has derailed an internationally backed political transition aimed at establishing a democratic government in Sudan, where former autocratic President Omar al-Bashir was toppled in 2019 after three decades in power.

The selling of unharvested maize fields to foreigners has become a major concern for the national food security in Zambia. Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Bernard Mpundu, has warned that the act, which has become common in border districts, could lead to a severe shortage of food and cause people to suffer from starvation.

According to Mr. Mpundu, small-scale farmers in some districts are selling all their maize fields to unscrupulous businessmen. This trend is not only hurting the national food security but also putting the farmers at risk of asking for relief maize after selling all their produce to briefcase traders.

To address the issue, Mr. Mpundu urged district administrations to sensitize people who are in the habit of selling their unharvested maize fields to stop. He made the call during a courtesy call on Mbala District Commissioner, Annie Paul, at her office.

Commissioner Paul also urged people in the Zombe area to desist from selling their unharvested maize fields. She warned that if the trend continues, it could lead to a severe shortage of food, and the government may not be able to provide relief to all those affected.

To support the government’s national food security program, farmers from Lunzua East Camp Agriculture Committee have pledged to sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) rather than briefcase traders. The chairperson of the committee, Darius Simutowe, confirmed that farmers have been sensitized against selling their fields and are committed to supporting the government’s efforts to ensure food security in the country.

The selling of unharvested maize fields to foreigners has become a major concern for Zambia’s national food security. The government is taking measures to sensitize people against the practice and encourage them to sell their produce to the Food Reserve Agency. The government’s efforts, however, need to be supported by all stakeholders, including farmers and traders, to ensure that Zambia’s food security is safeguarded.