Ms. Wina who was speaking during a Patriotic Front (PF) rally at Katanshya Primary School in Samfya District in Luapula Province said some Members of Parliament (MP) in the opposition party shun visiting state house adding that development is for every Zambian.

She said government is there to work with all the MPs regardless of their tribe and political affiliation to ensure that development is taken to all parts of the country.

The Vice President was said this when she visited Katanshya Ward in Samfya District to give support to the adopted Patriotic Front (PF)
candidate Antony Kasandwe for the August 6 by-elections to be held in Bangweulu Constituency.

And Patriotic Front Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri reiterated that United Party for National Development (UPND’s) President has not visited the area after learning that the candidate contesting the UPND ticket Blanco Muma was not Tonga by tribe.

She explained it was evident enough that UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has neglected his candidate due to ethnic reasons.

Present at the rally were Home Affairs Minister Davis Mwila, Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister Emerine Kabanshi, Luapula Province Minister Benson Kapaya, Deputy Minister of Defence Christopher Mulenga and Kawambwa Member of Parliament Nixon Chilangwa.

A Chinese national and two Zambians have appeared in the Chinsali Magistrates court charged for illegally hunting a crocodile.

But the trio have told the Court that they had to hunt the crocodile from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in Kasama.

The trio said this today when the case came up for written facts before Senior Resident Magistrate Francis Nsokolo.

The two Zambians are Patrick Mutale, 28, and James Bwalya, 35, both Samfwa pontoon operators who are jointly charged in count one of illegal hunting of a crocodile in open area contrary to section 67 Act Number 12 of 1998.

They told the court that the authority came after numerous efforts by the ZAWA officials to kill the reptile which has so far killed 21 people in the area.

The Chinese national Yulong Sun, 26, has maintained a plea of guilty in the second and third count of illegal possession of government trophy and crocodile skin contrary to section 100 of Act Number 12 of 1998, and Section 136(2) SI 61 of 1993 respectively.

The court has adjourned the matter for continuation of trial to August 18, 2015 on which the ZAWA officials are expected to appear and testify in the matter.

Meanwhile, Chief Kabanda has written to the court pleading that the two charged in the first count for illegal hunting be discharged.

Youth and Sport Deputy Minister Ronald Chitotela has urged youths to constantly collaborate with Governments, business entities and civil society to create employment and address many challenges facing young people.

This is according to the statement released to the media by Zambia’s First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the United Nations Mr Chibaula D. Silwamba.

Addressing the 2015 Junior Chamber International (JCI) Global Partnership summit under the theme: “collaborating for a sustainable future”, at United Nations Headquarters on Thursday, Mr. Chitotela said about 45.5 percent of Zambians were youths and that Government had placed them at the core of sustainable development.

“Zambia has endeavoured to improve the status of our youths through: increasing investments in education particularly at secondary and tertiary level to improve on enrolments as well as quality training to impart development skills so that education becomes relevant to our young people of today; investing in infrastructural development including construction of sporting facilities that will keep the youths actively engaged in development process and deter them from engaging in vices that are detrimental to their lives,” Mr. Chitotela said.

“Youth empowerment funds that seek to assist youths in all our 10 provinces in Zambia with seed capital to engage in income generating activities which contribute positively to national development; reviewing the national youth policy which has taken into account the new and emerging issues that affect our youths and provides measures that empower our youth through various initiatives and innovation; and harnessing demographic dividends that will ensure the ratio of working adults (including the youths) significantly increases.”
He said the Government’s initiatives could not be achieved in isolation.

“These efforts demand for participation and collaboration with all stakeholders including the private sector, cooperating partners and civil society. This is why we support the JCI initiative as it opens the doors to further champion the cause of the youth particularly in the areas of education and skills development, health and job creation,” Mr. Chitotela said.
The Deputy Minister said the challenges facing youths were similar worldwide and required concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address them.

Mr Chitotela said youth seek quality education, quality health services and decent jobs.
He called on youths to take advantage of various youth empowerment programmes at their disposal that promote growth, prosperity, and an eco-friendly environment.

“Young people can work with their respective Governments, business leaders, and civil societies to promote youth employment and enterprise development such as replication of sustainable youth entrepreneurship initiatives, skills development, and other development practices that are environmentally friendly; they can collaborate with their civic leaders and promote patriotism in order to prevent internal conflicts; and can engage and promote good health habits for, and amongst themselves, to prevent premature deaths from both communicable and non communicable diseases,” the Deputy Minister said.

“Sustainable future depends on young people working with Governments, civil society, and the global community in promoting peace and security which is an ingredient of development.

Therefore, a summit of this magnitude must be able to support the engagement and empowerment of young people to be actively involved in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace building processes and initiatives.”

Mr. Chitotela encouraged youths to network and share best practices, knowledge, skills and experiences that promote peace and prosperity.

The 2015 JCI Global Partnership Summit, organized by JCI in partnership with Office of the Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Youth (OSGEY), took place from 28 from 31 July 2015 and discussions focused on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

JCI is a nonprofit organization of young active citizens aged between 18 and 40 years who are committed to creating positive impact in their communities.

Malawian President Peter Mutharika has arrived in the country for a two day state visit and to grace the 89th Agriculture and Commercial Show.

The Malawian Head of State arrived this afternoon at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) at about 16:35 hours Zambian time and was received at the airport by his host counterpart President Edgar Lungu.

Professor Mutharika was also met at the airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba, Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda, Lusaka Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta, and other senior government and party officials.

The Malawian Head of State inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Zambia Army.

The two Presidents were treated to an array of entertainment by the traditional dance troops and the PF women choir before leaving the airport.

While in the country, Professor Mutharika is also expected to hold bilateral talks with President Edgar Lungu at State House before attending a state banquet at the Intercontinental Hotel later.

According to a Programme released by Cabinet Office, Professor Mutharika will be accompanied by his wife Getrude.

Apart from officiating at the Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show on Saturday, Professor Mutharika is also expected to lay wreaths at Embassy Park the Presidential burial site before paying a courtesy call on Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda at his office in Kabulonga.

THE Patriotic Front (PF) mobilisation meeting which was scheduled to take place at Monze Golf Club yesterday turned violent when United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres invaded the premises.

About 500 people among them former UPND provincial youth secretary Twaambo Ndhlovu were defecting to the PF.

Before the defectors were formally received, about 150 suspected UPND cadres wielding an array of weapons including knives and pistols stormed the meeting and started attacking the people that had gathered for the PF meeting. Some of the attackers threatened to harm PF national mobilisation chairman Paul Moonga.

The aggressors threw stones at the crowd seriously injuring two people who were rushed to Monze District Hospital.

Police officers stood by and watched helplessly as some PF members begged them to stop the attackers.

And Mr Moonga has called for the arrest of a suspected UPND cadre only known as Cornhill for threatening him with death.

“We are under siege. I can’t address the meeting and yet police are here failing to stop what is happening,” he said.

Mr Moonga described the violent incident as shameful. He said he had a lot to share with the people had it not been for the fracas that transpired.

And PF member Given Hamanyanga has expressed disappointment at the violence by the UPND cadres.

Calm was eventually restored after police fired tear gas at the attackers who scampered

A total of 23,000 local authority retirees across the country have not been paid their full terminal benefits.

Zambia Local Authorities Retirees and Pensioners Association (ZALARPA) National Secretary Sellah Sakayi said of the 23,000, only 10,000 retirees have been paid partially while 13,000 are awaiting their full benefits.

Mrs. Sakayi told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka yesterday and appealed to government through the Ministry Local Government and Housing to speed up the process of paying the said retirees.

And Mrs. Sakayi disclosed that her association will soon engage the Ministry Local Government and Housing to discuss the matter.

She said other key stakeholders from Copperbelt, Central and other provinces across the country have also been invited to the meeting.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Sakayi has called on government to operationalise the much anticipated and talked about pension reforms.