Green Party President Peter Sinkamba said it is shocking that President Lungu has been mute on the two very important events that ordinarily necessitate intervention of the President.

Mr Sinkamba said what is even more distressing and flabbergasting is that President Lungu has chosen to deliver speeches at campaign political rallies in and attend ceremonies at the expense of addressing governance issues at the two important institutions. 

“As the Green Party, we do not think that PF winning of Bangweulu Constituency is more important than the crisis at CBU. We do not think that officiating and delivery of speech at the Show in Lusaka is more important than resolving the crisis at CBU. We do not think that delivery of speech at Dangote Cement is more important than resolving the crisis at ZNBC,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He has since urged President Lungu to place value on the education of the youths and act now to resolve the crisis.

“As a beneficiary of university education, he knows too well how his education has helped him ascend to the highest office of the land. He knows too well the comfort that goes with university education once completed and is employed.”

He said it is extreme selfishness on the part of President Lungu to continue ignoring the plight of students roaming the street for no fault of their own, but poor governance in the education sector. 

This was after the mine rescue team retrieved the remains of the four miners yesterday who died in an underground mine accident at South Ore Body shaft after rock fall.

Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe said mourners are expected to gather at various funeral houses and the funeral procession will be held at Nkana stadium before proceeding to Nkana East Cemetery for burial.

The deceased are Abel Munthali, Arnold Mambwe, Honest Mushota and Emmanuel Kyongola.

Mr Kabwe thanked the mine rescue team at Mopani Copper Mines for retrieving the remains of the four miners.

“The mine rescue team exhibited professionalism during the rescue operation as the surviving family members were given updates on their findings on a daily basis, Mr Kabwe said.

He added, “Kitwe is undergoing a difficult period with deep sorrow due to the untimely death of the four miners who died last month and they will be finally put to rest at Nkana East Cemetery in the District. The mourners are expected to gather at various funeral houses and the funeral procession will be held at Nkana stadium where they will be a church service starting at 08; 30 Hours today, the 5th of August 2015.”

He has appealed to the residents of Kitwe to give a dignified send-off to the miners who died during the course of their duty as they were determined  to ensure that the mining industry continue to develop for the betterment of Zambia.

“To all the Mining unions, the Church, Mopani Copper Mines, Mines Safety Department and other stakeholders, I am humbled for the support rendered to the affected family members of the deceased both materially and financially. Let me also thank the families of the deceased for being calm and exercising patience during the mourning period as the Mine rescue team searched thoroughly for the remains of the departed at the Mopani Copper Mines South Ore Body Shaft.”

Mr Kabwe said it is indeed a big loss for the mining sector and the nation at large because the quartet contributed positively to the development of the country as mining is the mainstay of Zambia’s economy.

He added, “the Mining rescue team also managed to retrieve the Cubex drill rig, the machine which the four deceased miners were using on the fateful night when they were buried alive after a rock caved in at 3240 feet level.”

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) will not implement the cremation of bodies despite the shortage of land to bury dead people in Lusaka city.

Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager Habeenzu Mulunda told ZANIS that the local authority instead looking for land for a cemetery.

Mr. Mulunda said after having discussions with the church and the Christian community, it was realized that cremation was not an option to the shortage of land.

The Lusaka City Council had previously considered cremation as an option to address the land shortage in the city.

He has however said cremation was legalized in the constitution and therefore people were not stopped from cremating if they desired to do so.

MORE than 3500 retirees from various Ministries have dragged the Attorney General to Court for nonpayment of their terminal benefits amounting to K 10,000,000.

This is a matter where Bornwell Katita Kamoya and 3523 were claiming the said monies following a consent judgment entered in their favour by the Supreme Court.

They contended that according to the signed consent order between the plaintiff and the Public Service management Division under the Ministry of Justice, tabulation of released funds, they were expected to be paid K 10,000,000 by July 2009.

“To date we have not been paid anything, we were granted a number of claims among them costs arising from the court proceedings, but to no avail, there was a purported payment of K 10,000,000 but that is not a correct position,” they said.

The plaintiffs said they had worked for several years and spent other years in pursuing the matter further in court through hiring various lawyers due to the Ministries reluctance in paying them their dues.

That a team of accountants from the Ministry of Justice, Public Service Management Division, Cabinet office, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Transport Works and Communications was constituted to produce a report on the same.

The plaintiffs indicated that the released report showed that they were paid in July but was refuted and were now claiming the same because there were no records at any Ministry to show proof that they were paid.

They were also asking the Court to grant them any other relief that the court may deem fit as well as interest at the current bank rate.

President Edgar Lungu has conferred Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula with the status of State Counsel (SC).

President Lungu has also conferred lawyers Mutemwa Mutemwa, Willy Mubanga and Michael Musonda with the status of State Counsels.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Chalwe Lombe has been conferred with the status of Ambassador while High Court Judge Martin Mwanamwalye has been promoted to the position of Deputy Chief Justice.

Dr. Simbyakula, Mr. Lombe, Justice Mwanamwalye, Mr. Mubanga, Mr. Mutemwa and Mr. Musonda have since been sworn in.

Speaking during the swearing in ceremony at State House in Lusaka today, President Lungu said he has no doubt that those sworn in will work according to the expectations of the Zambian people.

He pointed out that those sworn in today have been entrusted with and ushered into the high positions and must therefore serve diligently.

And President Lungu said government has consulted widely on the constitution making process.

He expressed optimism that the great team from the Judiciary will give guidelines and direction concerning the constitution process.

President Lungu has further appointed David Matongo as a member of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) while Mr. Jeffrey Simukoko and Nixon Banda as members of the Judicial Complaints Authority.