Police in Choma have arrested two men to help with investigations in the brutal killing of a 76-year-old white commercial farmer, Jason Walker, who was shot dead at his farm house on Thursday, last week.

Mr Walker, who has lived in Choma for over 47 years, died on the spot at around 20:00 hours from a gun shot fired through the window where he sustained chest and neck wounds.

At the time of the shooting, Mr Walker had more than K1, 000 in his wallet but his assailants did not steal anything from him or his house.

Southern Province Police Commissioner, Mary Chikwanda, said in an interview that two men were arrested on Monday to help police with investigations in connection with the brutal murder of Mr Walker.

“We have managed to arrest two men to help us with investigations over the death of Mr Walker although our investigations are still going on,” she said.

Ms Chikwanda, however, could not disclose more details pertaining to the arrested suspects, saying doing so would jeopardize the police’s on-going investigations over the matter.

She said on Monday police had a meeting with several commercial farmers who have been complaining of being terrorized by criminals and advised them to report immediately any suspicious looking people patronising their farms.

She said police had intensified patrols and urged the farmers and communities to collaborate and work in partnership to wipe out increased criminal cases in Choma and other districts.

Commercial farmers in Choma and Kalomo have since appealed to Government to enforce stringent measures aimed at enhancing their safety from brutal attacks.

And Choma District Commissioner, Bernadette Hamweemba, who visited the funeral house, noted with great sadness the untimely death of Mr Walker and assured the white farmers of Government’s commitment to enhance security in the area.

Ms Hamweemba said it was unfortunate that bad people have terrorised Choma, a district that has recorded so much peace.

Meanwhile, a family friend of the deceased, Richard Ducket, thanked the Government through the office of the District Commissioner, for the quick response exhibited by the Police in Choma.

Mr Ducket said police officers quickly came to the scene of the murder immediately they were informed of the shooting, a response that delighted the affected family.

He said the widow, who ran out of the house unhurt, was also at home at the time of the shooting but managed to escape as the bandits were trying to force the door into the house.

Speaking in an interview Mr. Zulu says protecting the votes of the visually impaired voters is a source of concern that currently as they use other persons to cast their votes.

“It is a source of concern that currently, visually impaired voters have another person cast their vote for them, with no evidence that they have cast the intended vote,” said Mr. Zulu.

Mr Zulu has therefore appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ to invest in BRAILLE BALLOT PAPERS to enable the visually impaired voters cast their vote confidentially.

Mr. Zulu has also called on the ECZ to conduct continuous voter registration so as to avoid de franchising would voters whenever there is a snap election such as the current situation where a lot of would be voters will not vote.

Michael Zulu is a renowned musician, Human Rights Activist and 2016 aspiring Member of Parliament for Kabwata Constituency.

The Supreme Court has set Thursday, 18th December as the date for ruling in a matter Nevers Mumba has appealed against the High Court’s decision to discharge an injunction order that restrained his suspension from performing the functions of MMD president.

In this matter, Dr. Mumba has asked the Supreme Court to reverse the High Court’s decision on grounds that the trial judge of the court below erred to dismiss the ex parte injunction on grounds that Dr. Mumba was not clear of his complaint or the relief he was seeking from the court.

When the matter came up this morning for hearing, Dr. Mumba‘s lawyers who were led by Bonaventure Mutale argued that the High Court failed in its duties because it did not consider all facts that were at its disposal before discharge the ex parte injunction.

Mr. Mutale has submitted that Dr. Mumba’s argument were based on the fact that he was unfairly treated, the MMD constitution breach and that Dr. Mumba was unjustly treated for which he was going to suffer un-repairable injuries if he is not given the injunction that allowed him to perform the functions of MMD president and thereby contest the 2015 presidential election.

Mr. Mutale has contended that owing to the court having all facts at its disposal, the Supreme Court is in a good position to rehear the case and go ahead to order that the relief that Dr. Mumba is seeking be occasioned.

Earlier MMD National Secretary Muhabi Lungu who is the respondent in the matter raised preliminary issues through his lawyers who argued that the facts the appellant has raised in the main appeal have no place before the court because such facts were not considered in the court below.

Mr. Lungu’s lawyers who were led by Abyud Shonga have submitted that going by rule 19 of the Supreme Court rules the appellant cannot raise issues before court that are not in the memorandum of appeal.

In response Dr. Mumba’s lawyers asked the court to dismiss the preliminary issues with cost arguing that such preliminary were misconceived.

The Dr. Mumba’s lawyers have submitted that this is because the Court below was aware of what their client was seeking for as his application for the injunction was based on the November 18th ,2014 MMD NEC meeting resolutions and the party constitution.

In the cross appeal in which both parties laid their arguments, the court also heard that the High Court should have instead earlier issued a mandatory injunction to Dr. Mumba in the first place if indeed he was going to suffer un-repairable injuries, but that this mandatory injunction required high conditions to be met.

Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda who led the full bench of the court in hearing the matter has adjourned the matter to Thursday afternoon for ruling.

Patriotic Front (PF) Central Committee chairperson for Labour Davis Mwila says the Central Committee will tonight convene to discuss acting President Guy Scott’s letter to acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda.

In a letter dated 16th December 2014, Dr. Scott in his capacity as acting President and ruling PF vice president has asked Justice Lombe Chibesakunda not to entertain any attempt to bring forward the nomination of any candidate from his party before the end of the current legal processes.

Mr. Mwila has told Qfm News that by writing such a letter in his capacity as PF vice president, Dr Scott has exhibited acts of insubordination to party president Edgar Lungu.

And Foreign Affair Minister Harry Kalaba has warned that the fact that Dr. Scott has taken party members for granted, they will not only push for his expulsion from the party but from Cabinet as well.

And Traditional and Chief Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo who also shared the disappointed of Mr. Kalaba and Mwila says Dr. Scott’s action can be understood because he is not indigenous.

And Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata says the action by Dr. Scot is the reason why late President Michael Sata used to allegedly refer to him as a Whiteman with no proper brains.

Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani has commended Police Officers in Luapula Province for the commitment and passion they have shown towards their work.

Ms. Libongani said Police Officers in the Province have been exemplary despite operating under difficult conditions ranging from lack of Police posts and staff accommodation.The Inspector General of Police said this when she called on Chief Nshimba’s Chiefdom at Kilwa Island in Nchelenge district recently.

Ms. Libongani who is on a three day tour of the Province said the presence of Police at Kilwa Island is a good thing as people there will be assured of security especially that the Island is near the Democratic Republic of Congo.

She also said the Zambia Police Marine boat which was recently procured will help Police Officers on the Island to conduct patrols on Luapula river and lake Mweru in fostering the maintenance of Law and Order.

And Chief Nshimba of the Shila people of Kilwa Island appealed to government to establish a Police post and build houses for officers on the land mass or isle.
The Chief’s Representative Jones Mbita said Police in the area need bicycles and other modes of transport which could help them conduct patrols to other parts of the Island.
He said there was also need for Police Officers to be stationed permanently on the Island adding that security was vital for his people especially that Kilwa Island is near the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Despite being a Monday and a working day, rallies in Mansa, Samfya and Chilubi yesterday attracted large crowds, as Mr Hichilema continues to deliver his message of unity and development across Zambia.

The UPND leader, who was accompanied by former Finance Minister Katele Kalumba and former Luapula Province Minister Besa Chimbaka and others, continued to spread the message that in 2015 Zambians have an opportunity join together and move Zambia forward. Together they have preached unity and peace, committed themselves to forming a representative and open government, and pledged to tackle issues currently facing the country, including the high cost of living, unemployment, and overdue government payments.

The UPND leader told the crowds “I love my country. It is my country. It is your country. It is our country. It is one Zambia. It is one nation. It is one people,” he said.

Hichilema talked about the great potential of Luapula and its capacity to feed the whole country, as it is endowed with massive water bodies such as lakes and rivers and has good soils for agriculture. He spoke about the need to channel investment into these areas to unlock this potential.

The UPND leader and his entourage described the non-payment and mistreatment of farmers as unacceptable, they set out the work there is to do to open up the regions to trade and stimulate local business, and they pledged their hard work and devotion.

They also made clear that any government formed under Hichilema would continue with development and infrastructure projects underway. Mr Hichilema explained “Infrastructure will continue to be an integral part of the government agenda. The change we would like to make is to ensure that contracts are awarded in a more transparent manner which guarantees quality and value for money for the Zambian people”.

Meanwhile, former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa is now busy campaigning on the Copperbelt where Mr Hichilema is expected to return next week after launching his Zambia United tour in Kitwe last month.

Tomorrow Mr Hichilema will return to Lusaka after a visit to Mwense in the morning. In Lusaka four big rallies are planned ahead of ECZ nomination filing.