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The price tag fee to anyone who will help bring to book four ritual killers who brutally murdered a 37 year old albino woman in Lundazi last week has risen to K7, 000.
Eastern Province Commissioner of Police Eugene Sibote said that the price had risen following a pledge by a Ndola based man to add K2, 000 to the K5, 000 which the Zambia Police Service had earlier pegged as a reward to anyone who would help with the information that would lead to the arrest of the culprits.
Mr Sibote said police was grateful that the Ndola person had shown willingness to add the price from an initial K5, 000 to K7, 000 as reward.
“There is a man from Ndola who has pledged to add with K2, 000 as a reward for the killer of Charity Zimba.As Police we are really grateful and we need others to emulate,”Mr Sibote said.
He said police were suspecting that the killers of Charity were from nearby places.Mr Sibote said police would ensure that they arrest the culprits so that they could face the law.
The assailants left Zimba’s her husband Robson Nyirongo unconscious after sustaining a deep cut on the lips and head.
Open and immediate challenge to Mumbi Phiri and the PF governement
As UPND, we think it’s high time we finally put certain tired and boring debates to rest regarding malicious attacks on the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and some of its leaders.
Critical among these are tired and now boring issues regarding his apparent source of his wealth and that of tribalism tag being labelled on the UPND.
On the issue of Mr. Hichilema’s source of wealth, as questioned by the opinionated and brash PF Deputy Secretary, Mumbi Phiri, we challenge her and the PF regime to report Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with whatever information they may have.
And let the ACC make the findings public and let the law takes its course.
We also challenge Mumbi Phiri and PF government that similar investigations be also carried out about
The sudden wealth of Mulenga Sata and others and its findings made public.
We further challenge Mumbi Phiri and the PF to institute investigations into the US$40 million over-pricing of the 2015 fertiliser contracts on which we have already written to ACC
The new Lusaka International Airport Terminal contract and also make its findings public.
Also institute investigations on the award of the hunting concessions for 2015, where concessions were awarded on the basis that no lions and other big game cats would be allowed and only later to allow its hunting, thereby fundamentally altering the original terms of the hunting concessions tender.
We also expect investigations and it findings made public on the recent oil procurements contracts that have pushed the commodity way beyond the reach of majority poor Zambians.
On the other tired tribal issue, we challenge Mumbi Phiri to publish the entire list of late Mr. Michael Sata’s first Cabinet and the Members of Central Committee (MCC) and where they come from, as well as a full list all key appointments such as Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Parastatals, Directors, and appointments at Zambian missions abroad.
The ball in now in your court. We are ready for this challenge, are you?
Charles Kakoma
UPND Chairman-Information and Publicity
Promotion hopefuls Lumwana Radiants are back at the top of the FAZ Division One North table after thumping Zesco Luapula 4-0 in a recheduled Week Two match played at Lumwana Grounds on Wednesday.
Lumwana have displaced Kalulushi Modern Stars from the top spot after opening a two point lead with 28 points from 13 games played.
Last week on Wednesday, Lumwana had surrendered the the top spot to Kalulushi after they were beaten 1-0 in Kalulushi.
In the home delayed game, goals from Bartholomew Mukupa, who registered a brace, Allan Kapila and Hilary Bwalya propelled Lumwana to the huge victory.
Allan Kamwanga’s side led after 22 minutes with a goal from Bwalya before Kapila doubled the advantage eight minutes later.
Mukupa ensured that his side took a 3-0 lead into the break with a 42nd minute goal and completed his brace on 52 minutes.
This was Lumwana’s 9th win of the season in which they have so far recorded one draw and three defeats.
Meanwhile, Kalulushi have dropped to second position with 26 points , three above second placed Real Nakonde, after 13 games.
As we await the reconvening of the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly on Tuesday June 16 th 2015, we wish to appeal to Justice Minister Dr Ngosa Simbyakula to immediately publish the Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette to allow for constructive debates among all stakeholders.
We are aware that Dr Simbyakula intends to table this bill as early as the National Assembly reconvenes. What is however baffling is the delay by the Government to publish the contents of the proposed Amendment Bill.
Under article 79 A of the Constitution of Zambia, it is a requirement of a bill for the alteration of the Constitution or the Constitution of Zambia Act should be published in the gazette for at least thirty days before the first reading of the bill in the National Assembly.
On Monday, June 1 st 2015, as MMD youths, we took the initiative to check with Government Printers in Lusaka, the department mandated to print all government publications. We discovered that Government has still not sent any work to the Government Printers to do with the Constitution Bill.
We feel the delays whether deliberate, by design or otherwise is depriving stakeholders from engaging in constructive dialogue over this important national undertaking.
In a democracy, those that are governing should be seen to be creating an environment that promotes dialogue with the governed.As a nation, we are currently divided over what has now become to be known as contentious and non contentious clauses.
We hold the view that the ongoing debate over contentious and non contentious clauses will be an empty debate as long as the nation is not aware of which clauses the government intends to amend.
It is in this regard that we appeal to Dr Simbyakula to immediately publish the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette in the interest of transparency and encouraging genuine debate over the constitution making process.
We wish to submit that ambushing the Members of Parliament with the Bill will not do any justice to the debate and will deprive the people’s representative time to engage their constituents on what they would like to say about the bill.
Failure to engage the people would see increased public discontentment over the matter and may lead to more street protests and other forms of demonstrations over the matter.
We therefore urge other stakeholders such as political parties especially the youth wings to refrain from being used by selfish politicians to drive their agendas over the constitution.
Street demonstrations may not be a very useful way of engaging the government over the issue of the constitution. We should demand genuine dialogue which begins with the publishing of the Constitution Amendment Bill.
Bowman Lusambo
National Youth Secretary
OFFICE OF THE MMD NATIONAL YOUTH SECRETARY
Outspoken PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has charged that former First Lady Dr Maureen Mwanawasa should not seek public offence because she was found guilty of fraudulent activities.
In an interview, Mrs Phiri said Dr Mwanawasa has no moral authority to even support UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema because she is a fraudster.
The Lusaka High Court in January 2015 ordered Dr Mwanawasa and five other trustees of the Maureen Mwanawasa Community Initiative (MMCI) to pay back over K1.2 million they received through a non-governmental organisation the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN) for HIV/AIDS-related activities which they have failed to account for.
‘She was found guilty of chewing money meant for HIV people. I have never stolen anything in my life. Who is she now to come around and tell us to support the UPND just because she is supporting HH who has also failed to tell us how he got his money, you know, birds of the same feathers flock together,’ Mrs Phiri said.’
Mrs Phiri warned Zambians to be careful with some individuals she said are busy campaigning to govern the nation as some of them have questionable characters.
‘We know Ba Maureen admitting to looting HIV funds but she is now pushing her preferred candidate on the Zambian people. I can only suspect that this has nothing to do with her love for Zambia but just her selfish ambitions. Zambians must open up their eyes,’ she said.
Mrs Phiri contended that due to failure to account for huge sums of money, many people died of HIV because the Global Funds withdraw funding to ZNAN.
FILE: President Mr Edgah Lungu Walking in Misisi compound after Commissioning Misisi Police Post. PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE 21-02-2015.
PRESIDENT Lungu is today expected in Solwezi on a three-day working visit to North-Western Province.
President Lungu is expected to arrive at Solwezi Airport at 10:00 hours.
This is according to a tentative programme released by the provincial administration in Solwezi yesterday.
The President is expected to break ground for the rehabilitation of the Solwezi-Chingola road at St Dorothy at 11:00 hours and will later commission works for the rehabilitation of township roads in Solwezi.
President Lungu is also scheduled to inspect the Solwezi fuel reserve depot.
And President Lungu is tomorrow expected to be conferred with the status of free man of the town of Solwezi.
President Lungu will later tour Mushindamo Girls Technical Secondary School on Solwezi-Kipushi road before departing for Kasempa.
President Lungu is expected to commission the NATSAVE bank branch in Kasempa and meet freedom fighters.
On Saturday, The President will travel to Zambezi and Chavuma for a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of township roads and is expected to return to Lusaka the same day.
President Lungu was recently in the province during which he met victims of landmines and witnessed the defection of United Party for National Development vice-president Richard Kapita to the Patriotic Front.
And RESIDENTS of Kasempa are today eagerly waiting to welcome and have a glimpse of President Lungu, acting district commissioner Mercy Kambita has said.
President Lungu is today expected here to launch a 9.2 kilometre stretch of urban roads and the K3.5 million NATSAVE bank branch in Kasempa.
Ms Kambita said in an interview yesterday that ever since President Lungu assumed office, there has been a shift in people’s view of the Patriotic Front (PF).
She said residents now view the PF under President Lungu’s leadership as a party to reckon with.
“We have been overwhelmed with people from the United Party for National Development requesting that this office facilitates their defection to the PF but as you know this office is non-political. Our role is to serve everyone regardless of their political affiliation. This, to me, shows the shift in people’s attitude towards the PF,” Ms Kambita said.
And Ms Kambita said her office is overwhelmed by requests from residents for Government to prioritise construction of Kasempa-Mumbwa road under the Link Zambia 8,000 project because it has economic value than the others earmarked under the same project.
She said Government plans to work on the Kasempa-Kalulushi road and the Kasempa-Kaoma road under the Link-Zambia 8,000 project but residents want the Kasempa-Mumbwa road to be worked on first.
“Under its current status, it is two hours to get to Mumbwa from here. This means if the road is worked on, people can literally be shopping from Lusaka on a daily basis. This will make the cost of living in Kasempa cheaper.
“These are some of the requests the people of this area want our President to consider, Ms Kambita said.
Meanwhile, people in the area have been demanding to know why there are no beneficiaries of the social cash transfer scheme.
“Kasempa, despite being the food basket for the North-Western Province, is a rural and poor district and people are wondering how Solwezi could be benefiting from the social cash transfer while the poor elderly women of this place are denied help,” Ms Kambita said.
Community Development, Mother and Child Health minister , Emerine Kabanshi,
MINISTER of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Emerine Kabanshi says Government intends to increase beneficiaries of the social cash transfer scheme to two million people from the current 148,000.
Ms Kabanshi said in an interview on Tuesday that Government intends to increase the beneficiaries to ensure that more vulnerable people across the country benefit from the scheme.
“Currently, we have 148,000 people in 50 districts across the country receiving K70 on a monthly basis,” Ms Kabanshi said
And Government says it is determined to ensure that poverty levels reduce in all parts of the country especially among the women folk who are the most vulnerable in society.
Community Development, Mother and Child Health Minister Emerine Kabanshi says government has the welfare of women at heart as they are also cardinal to national development.
Ms Kabashi was speaking at Community Grounds in Mongu District of Western Province today when she addressed different women empowered groups under the Social Cash Transfer Program.
The Minister explained that the Social Cash Transfer Program is aimed at uplifting the living standard of women so that they are able to fend for themselves and their families adding that the program has changed many lives of people in the province.
Meanwhile, Ms Kabanshi disclosed that government’s decision to scale up the Food Security Pack from 2,000 beneficiaries in 2011 to 4,450 in 2014 is an indication of its commitment to reaching out to the people and meeting their needs.
She has since called on Social Welfare and Community Development officers in the district to work hard and make a difference in people’s lives as change should be seen at the grass root level.
Ms Kabanshi however urged the officers to be inclusive in the manner they are giving out funds in order to ensure that all vulnerable persons benefit from government’s program.
And speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries Penlope Mukelabai thanked government for responding to the cry of the women as they no longer depend on men for survival and are able to sponsor their children in school.
The Minister is on tour of the Western province to inspect the beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Program and is scheduled to visit Senanga, Mulobezi and Sesheke districts.
Rhinos at the new Lusaka Game park
President Edgar Lungu has officially opened the Lusaka National Park to the public.
President Lungu also unveiled and laid wreaths at the memorial monument at the facility in honour to wildlife Police Officer (WPOs, Village Scouts, as well as men and women who have lost their lives during the course of duty.
Mr. Lungu went on conducted a game viewing of white rhinos and blue beasts at Zambia’s 21st and smallest protected wildlife sanctuary in the country.
The Lusaka national park is the smallest protected area in Zambia and newest park with some exotic wildlife species from South Africa was established and gazetted in May, 2011.
Other species include white rhinos, giraffes, elands, hartebeests, zebras, sables, kudus, blue wildebeests, waterbucks, black lechwes, impalas, pukus, bushbucks, reedbucks, warthogs, one pangolin, and axis dears.
President Lungu has since called for the development of conservation areas and game ranches in the country.
Mr. Lungu said the ranches would significantly reduce pressure on national wildlife estates and consequently boost the tourism sector.
He disclosed that government is in the process of decentralizing tourism to involve the local people.
He challenged Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata and her Local Government and Housing counter John Phiri to come up with plans for establishing game parks in other cities and towns in Zambia in an effort to grow the tourism sector.
He further called for the establishment of a central park for the city of Lusaka to be a hub of recreation and culture noting that other major cities around the world have such facilities that amplify their quality of life.
“Imagine how Lusaka would be improved by way of increased employment opportunities, general physical fitness of the city residents and reduced air pollution if there was a central park,” President Lungu said.
He directed Lusaka Mayor and Councillors in the Lusaka city council to rehabilitate abandoned or dis-used community parks in neighbourhoods around the city so that they become centres of recreation and culture.
And speaking earlier, Tourism and Arts Minister Jean stated that there are 20 national parks in the country and one sanctuary protected area.
Ms. Kapata said the Lusaka national park sitting on a 6, 715 hectares has got 1,000 wildlife species besides white rhinos, impala and blue beats.
She disclosed that her ministry was transforming Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) into a department under her ministry.
ZAWA Acting Director General Kampamba Kombe, who is also the Authority’s Legal Counsel, disclosed that the ZAWA has spent over K5 million to put up various infrastructures in readiness for the opening of the park.
Though the park is fenced off in a 33 kilometre park perimeter to keep animals within the park, Mr Kombe warned people against encroaching and farming in the park as they risked being prosecuted.
He said the park would have activities like camping, walking safaris and bicycle riding, among others becomes an economic spinner that would contribute to the gross domestic product through tourism.
Former president Rupiah Banda, Zambia Tourism Board and ministry officials, Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II, PF Secretary General Davies Chama, some cabinet ministers, diplomats accredited to Zambia were among the people who witnessed the commissioning ceremony of the facility, located about 30 kilometres south-east of Lusaka central business district.
This follows recommendations from the edible oils sub-committee of the national sanitary and phyto-sanitory committee.
Mr Lubinda said vegetable oils have raised concerns and should only be imported where an import permit has been obtained.
He said the ministry would also investigate reports that refined imported edible oils are being supplied at less than production cost.
“To address the practice of declaring refined edible oil as crude, the Zambia Bureau of Standards will be taking samples of all bulk edible oils for testing. All false declarations will attract penalties, including banning of importers,” Mr Lubinda stated.
He said the Zambia Revenue Authority will not accept the import of crude edible oil in packaging of less than 1,000 litres as such imports will automatically be classified and refined edible oil.
“To further cushion the impact of larger and cheaper volumes of imports of edible oils on the local industries, safeguard measures will be considered for a period of time under the Southern African Development Community protocol on trade, which allows for member countries to apply for this measure when the domestic industry is facing threats from imports either due to excessive volumes or price vitality,” Mr Lubinda explained.
He said the measures are expected to enable the edible oils sub-sector to thrive by promoting local production and processing of oil seed as well as to create employment for Zambians.
He called on stakeholders to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to ensure that the market for oil seed processing industry is protected from unfair competition and that jobs for Zambians are secure.
And the ministry will this year recruit 500 agricultural extension officers throughout the country.
Permanent secretary Julius Shawa said the recruitment of the officers will help provide efficient agricultural extension services to farmers.
Zambian President Mr Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has paid tribute to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the role it is playing in the country’s health sector.
President Lungu says Zambia is ready to cooperate with the WHO and its staff in strengthening the current health system.
The Head of State said this in Lusaka today when WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti paid a courtesy call on him ahead of her three day official visit in the country.
He welcomed Dr. Moeti and said he was confident that the Zambian government will work in collaboration with her office.
The three day visit to Zambia is from 3 to 5 June 2015 at the invitation of the Zambian government.
Dr. Moeti’s visit to Zambia is aimed at enhancing cooperation with the Government of Zambia and to discuss areas in which WHO could further support the country in its health development efforts.
Her visit also coincides with the commemoration of 50 years of WHO’s continued provision of technical, financial and logistical support to Zambia to improve the health of people.
The Regional Director will hold a working session with the Minister of Health and other high ranking officials in the Ministry .
She will also participate in the launch of the first round of the 2015 Zambian Child Health Week, an initiative aimed at reaching children in the hard to reach areas and the underserved populations with an integrated package of life-saving interventions.
Speaking during the courtesy call, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said WHO and the people of Zambia have enjoyed a long and rich history.
She said the country has made commendable progress in health development, saying she looks forward to discussing a range of issues of interest to Zambia in particular and Africa in general.
Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula
MINISTER of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula has dismissed claims that President Lungu has altered the contents of the final draft constitution.
He said in an interview yesterday that these assertions by the Grand Coalition on the campaign for a people-driven constitution are misplaced.
“They are talking of a meeting at which President talked of the deletion of the clause, of which I am unaware of. The position is that nothing has been deleted from the final draft constitution, it is intact,” Dr Simbyakula said.
The Grand Coalition claims that President Lungu plans to unilaterally alter contents of the draft constitution by deleting Article 269 which relates to vesting of all land in the President.
Dr Simbyakula has said the draft constitution is intact as President Lungu has not deleted any clause from it.
Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director MacDonald Chipenzi said Zambians should avoid speculation on the contents of the final constitution.
Mr Chipenzi said in a separate interview that it is cardinal for all concerned citizens to read the contents of the revised draft constitution.
“For us, we will only believe the current talk when we see the revised draft constitution and so for now, we will treat it as mere talk,” Mr Chipenzi said.
He, however, urged Government to come up with a legal framework to protect the contents and process of constitution-making.
And Patriotic Front (PF) deputy chairperson of the media and publicity committee Sunday Chanda said President Lungu is a listening President as evidenced by the number of traditional rulers he has engaged in the four months he has been in office.
“In the context of Article 296 of the final draft constitution, the President has heard, listened and further understood the misgivings by their royal highnesses in his continued engagements with them. Article 296 has a direct bearing on their royal highnesses and not the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors,” Mr Chanda said.
He said it is clear for all to see that the Grand Coalition and its political sponsors are not being candid enough when they elect to misunderstand the spirit and context in which President Lungu spoke on the matter.
“It is, therefore, a distortion of facts for the Grand Coalition and its political sponsors to allege that President Lungu had unilaterally dropped the land clause from the final draft constitution. If we may ask, under which provision of law did the President make that unilateral decision to drop clause 296?” Mr Chanda said.
He said it is clear that the Grand Coalition seeks to play to the gallery on this matter when they know too well that the final draft constitution cannot be said to be a consensus document in its current form.
“This is also confirmed by the rejection of Article 296 by their royal highnesses from all corners of the country, giving more credence to our continued call for the focus of the constitution-making process debate to be more on the contents as opposed to the peripheral issues the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors wish to stick to,” Mr Chanda said.
He said PF does not need to remind the Grand Coalition that the constitution- making process is a consensus-building process and not an opportunity for insisting and pushing particular clauses such as the contentious Article 296 down the throats of their royal highnesses when they have rejected it.
“Their royal highnesses have spoken unequivocally and unanimously that they have rejected Article 296 and that is the position the head of state reaffirmed in listening to them. If the people have spoken as they have on a matter, who are the Grand Coalition to demand otherwise?
“The Grand Coalition promised to consult their royal highnesses regarding Article 296 and we call on them to report back on their findings and resolutions, otherwise they should not muzzle the chiefs when they speak clearly on a matter that directly concerns them,” Mr Chanda said.
He challenged the Grand Coalition to go out and reach the chiefs and persuade them to change their stance regarding Article 296 of the final draft constitution and the PF will be waiting to hear their report.
“His Excellency President Lungu remains committed to protecting the tenets of democracy and the voices of the people, in this particular instance, the voice of their royal highnesses because “vox populi vox Dei” (the voice of the people is the voice of God),” Mr Chanda said.
Grand Coalition chairperson Leonard Chiti, in a statement released yesterday, accused President Lungu of unilaterally deteting the clause.
He said the coalition is concerned that without a legal framework to guide the process, there is no guarantee that the interests of the people will be respected and protected.
PF Vice chairperson for media and publicity has said the final draft constitution cannot be said to be a consensus document in its current form and shape.He said it is clear that the Grand Coalition and its political sponsors seek to play to the gallery regarding Article 296.This is in reaction to the Grand Coalitions condemnation of the proposal by President Lungu to unilaterally alter the contents of the draft constitution by deleting Article 296 of the final draft constitution.
Mr.Chanda said it is clear that the Grand Coalition and its political sponsors seek to play to the gallery regarding this particular clause, when they know too well that the final draft constitution cannot be said to be a consensus document in its current form and shape. He said this is also confirmed by the rejection of Article 296 by their royal highnesses from all corners of the country, giving more credence to the continued call for the focus of the Constitution-making process debate to be more on the contents as opposed to the peripheral issues the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors wish to stick to.
Mr.Chanda said Article 296 has a direct bearing on the royal highnesses and not the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors.He said PF does not need to remind the Grand Coalition that the Constitution making process is a consensus building process and not an opportunity for insisting and pushing particular clauses such as the contentious Article 296 down the throats of their royal highnesses when they have rejected it. Mr.Chanda said the royal highnesses have spoken unequivocally and unanimously that they have rejected Article 296 and that is the position the Head of State reaffirmed in listening to them. If the people have spoken as they have on a matter, who are the Grand Coalition to demand otherwise?
Below is the full press release
GRAND COALITION WISHES TO PUSH CLAUSE 296 DOWN THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THROATS – STATEMENT BY SUNDAY CHANDA, VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Lusaka, Zambia, 03 June, 2015 – His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is a listening President as evidenced by the number of Traditional Rulers he has engaged in the four (4) months he has been Head of State. In the context of Article 296 of the final draft constitution, the President has heard, listened and further understood the misgivings by their royal highnesses in his continued engagements with them. Article 296 has a direct bearing on their royal highnesses and not the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors.
On the same score, it is clear for all to see that the Grand Coalition on the Constitution and its political sponsors are not being candid enough when they elect to misunderstand the spirit and context in which His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu spoke on the matter. It is therefore a distortion of facts for Grand Coalition and its political sponsors to allege that President Lungu had unilaterally dropped the land clause from the final draft constitution. If we may ask, under which provision of law did the President make that unilateral decision to drop clause 296?
It is clear that the Grand Coalition and its political sponsors seek to play to the gallery regarding this particular clause, when they know too well that the final draft constitution cannot be said to be a consensus document in its current form and shape. This is also confirmed by the rejection of Article 296 by their royal highnesses from all corners of the country, giving more credence to our continued call for the focus of the Constitution-making process debate to be more on the contents as opposed to the peripheral issues the Grand Coalition and their political sponsors wish to stick to.
PF does not need to remind the Grand Coalition that the Constitution making process is a consensus building process and not an opportunity for insisting and pushing particular clauses such as the contentious Article 296 down the throats of their royal highnesses when they have rejected it. Their royal highnesses have spoken unequivocally and unanimously that they have rejected Article 296 and that is the position the Head of State reaffirmed in listening to them. If the people have spoken as they have on a matter, who are the Grand Coalition to demand otherwise? The Grand Coalition promised to consult their royal highnesses regarding Article 296 and we call on them to report back on their findings and resolutions, otherwise they should not muzzle the Chiefs when they speak clearly on a matter that directly concerns them. We challenge the Grand Coalition to go out and reach the chiefs and persuade them to change their stance regarding Article 296 of the Final Draft Constitution and we will be waiting to hear their report.
Lastly, His Excellency President Lungu remains committed to protecting the tenets of democracy and the voices of the people, in this particular instance, the voice of their royal highnesses because “vox populi vox Dei” (the voice of the people is the voice of God). In this regard, the PF in Government discerns the sanctity of the constitution-making process as a duty it shall not take lightly. PF under the leadership of President Lungu shall deliver on the Constitution as promised.
Zanaco opened a seven-point lead after defending champions Zesco United suffered their first league defeat of the season in their respective league game on Wednesday.
Zanaco beat Red Arrows 2-0 at home in Lusaka while Zesco were shocked 2-1 by visiting bogey team Nkwazi in Ndola.
At Sunset Stadium, Zanaco extended their lead by another three points thanks to goals from Moses Phiri and Aubrey Funga in the 43rd and 54th minutes respectively.
Zanaco have 27 points to remain the only unbeaten team in the FAZ Super Division this season.
Meanwhile, Zesco stay put on 20 points after police outfit Nkwazi arrested their unbeaten run this season.
Nkwazi took the lead in the 14th minute through Lottie Nyimbili before Winston Kalengo equalised in stoppage time of the first half.
Chipungu Musukuma stunned Zesco in the 60th minute when he stomped in the ball after beating the offside trap.
The result has left Zesco without a home win over Nkwazi since the 2010 season after suffering their third successive loss in Ndola to the Police side.
A 17- year- old pregnant woman of Siavonga district in the Southern Province has been killed allegedly by her husband after a domestic quarrel.
Siavonga District Commissioner (DC) Lovemore Kanyama confirmed that Linar Buleke 17, was killed last night.
ZANIS reports that Mr Kanyama disclosed that Chimuka Hachilala, 26, sliced the neck of the wife using a knife in Kanyelele compound. The DC has since called for the arrest of Chimuka who is on the run.
The sister to the deceased Cecilia Buleke said she was killed using a sharp knife in Kanyelele compound.Ms Buleke noted that her sister has been having marital problems with the husband in the past.She said that the deceased was also three months pregnant.
Ms Buleke said the cause of the dispute that led to her sister being killed is not known as even the neighbors failed to explain at the time she met her fate.
