Freedom fighter and academician Dr Peter Matoka has died aged 86.

Dr Matoka passed away in the early hours of this morning around 04:30 hours at the University Teaching Hospital where he was admitted.

His son Anthony Matoka has confirmed to QFM News the death of his father who served in the first post independence Cabinet in 1964.

Mr Matoka says his father has been unwell lately and was admitted to hospital 10 days ago.

He says the funeral is being held at the deceased’s residence at Plot 29B Mosi road in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill residential area.

And Mr Matoka has described his late father as a man who loved his country with a passion.

The late Dr Matoka served as a Minister in the UNIP government as well as a Member of the Central Committee before embarking on a diplomatic career.

At the age of 60, Dr Matoka decided to pursue a PHD in Sociology at the University of Warwick in the UK before returning to Zambia to become a lecturer at the University of Zambia.

After lecturing at the University of Zambia for many years he proceeded to become chancellor at Copperstone University, the position he held at the time of his death.

And Republican President Michael Sata has sent a message of condolences to the Matoka family on the death of veteran politician, freedom fighter and academician Dr Peter Matoka.

The Head of State says he has learnt with a sense of grief and sadness the untimely death of Dr Matoka, who died in Lusaka on Friday.

He says it is with deep sorrow that he offers his condolences to the Matoka family on the loss of this loyal and dedicated compatriot.

President Sata says the late Dr Matoka rendered a great service to the country across many spheres where he showed exemplary skill and talent.

The Head of State says Dr. Matoka has always been a trustworthy person at all stages of his life.

This is contained in press statement made available to QFM News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says it is an undeniable fact that the electoral results from the five by-elections show that PF is making inroads in opposition strongholds as evidenced in Vubwi, Kasenengwa, Solwezi, Mkushi and Zambezi West constituencies.

And FODEP has observed that the just ended parliamentary by-elections were conducted in a transparent manner.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka today, FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says this is so because some of the constituencies have been associated with the ruling parties for some time except that 2011 elections put them on the other side of the coin.

Mr. Chipenzi says the analysis has shown that Solwezi Central and Kasenengwa constituencies both located in an urban set-up were won by the opposition while Mkushi South, Vubwi and Zambezi West which are rural constituencies were scooped by the ruling party.

Mr. Chipenzi has however, bemoaned the high levels of voter apathy that characterized the by-elections.

He says Zambezi West had 10,206 voters, only 4,924 voters cast their votes representing 48.2% the highest turn out in this round of by-elections while Kasenengwa with 41, 795 had 15,141 voters voting representing 36.2% turnout.

The FODEP Executive Director furthermore explains that Vubwi had 18,084 registered voters and only 6,693 voters managed to cast their votes representing 37.0% while Solwezi Central with 52,900 voters only had about 10,403 casting their votes representing 19.67% turnout.

He furthermore states that Mkushi South in Luano District had 12,793 only about 4,738 voters casting their vote representing 37.04% saying this illustrates that all the constituencies failed to score 50% voter turnout.

Mr. Chipenzi says the victories and losses scored were as a result of various variables ranging from political party and candidates’ strengths and popularities respectively to urban-rural divide and desire to be close the party in power.

He says another interesting aspect is that the election results were in favour of the ruling party in both constituencies where new districts have been declared such as Vubwi and Mkushi South.

The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has called on Media Practitioners to be ethical and avoid creating division in the country in the execution of their duties.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS yesterday, PAZA President Andrew Sakala said journalists should ensure they report professionally and work for the public interest.

Mr Sakala however dismissed appeals from Open Society Foundation (OSF) for Lawmakers to criminalise tribal talk in Zambia.

“The country already has sufficient laws in place prohibiting such behaviour in the constitution and penalties are correctly stated in the penal code, what Zambia needs is the correct enforcement of the law against tribal talk “, he said.

Mr Sakala has since appealed to law enforcement agencies to correctly enforce laws that will not silence the media but allow for promotion of professional journalism in the country.

He said if journalist are found wanting they should face the law.

Mr Sakala’s sentiments come in the wake of comments by the Open Society Foundation which appealed to investigative wings to reprimand media houses perpetuating tribal sentiments.

Eco-Bank Zambia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ms Jolone Okorodudu said her financial institution has penetrated the SADC region including Zambia.

Ms Okomodudu disclosed that her Bank would invest US$60 million to set up eight more branches across Zambia in order to create job opportunities for the local people.

She said the that the Bank is working hard and will hit the 100,000 customer base before the end of this year.

Ms Okomodudu said this in Lusaka last evening during the 5th anniversary cocktail party held at the bank premises.

She said this development has repositioned the bank as the Pan-African Bank capable of meeting the financial aspirations and services that individuals and businesses in Africa need.

And Bank of Zambia Governor Dr Micheal Gondwe who was the gust of honour said he is happy that government’s good economic policies has enabled to attract 19 commercial banks both local and foreign into the country.

Dr Gondwe said Eco-Bank on board with assets around US$20 billion has become a giant in Africa, Europe and on the Americas continents.

He said Eco-Bank’s participation in the Zambian economy will enhance job and employment creation.

Dr Gondwe expressed happiness that Eco-Bank’s 5th anniversary coincides with Zambia’s 50th jubilee.

And speaking at the same occasion, Eco-Bank Board Director Augustine Mutale in a speech read on his behalf by Eco-Bank Zambia Board Chairman Titus Kalenga disclosed that the Bank has made a profit of over K5.6 million from January to August, this year.

He further disclosed that the bank’s balance sheet has grown from K344, 233 million in December 2011 to K789, 749 million in August, this year.

Mr Mutale said the Bank will set up eight more automated teller machines (ATMs) as the bank embarks on penetrating Eastern, Southern and North-Western provinces in addition to the nine branches it has in Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces.

Mindolo squatters yesterday stormed Kitwe Central Hospital and attempted to speak to first Lady Dr Christine Kaseba over their plight.

The squatters whose houses were demolished by Kitwe City Council early this year wanted to speak to Dr Kaseba when she went to officiate at the Kitwe School of Nursing and Midwifery golden jubilee celebrations.

However, the residents were not allowed to talk to the first lady.

The squatters who are currently camped in tents at Helen Kaunda School grounds lamented that they have nowhere to go as the deadline approaches for them to vacate the temporal shelter.

DMMU has given the squatters up to September 22 to leave the camp but they have maintained that they have nowhere to go.

The residents told ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday that they were aware of the deadline set for them by the disaster management and mitigation unit (dmmu) to leave the camp at Helen Kaunda School grounds but have nowhere to go.

Speaking on behalf of others, Ireen Mukuka appealed to government to show compassion on them and give them an alternative place where they can build permanent houses.

Ms Mukuka urged government to quickly address their plight before the onset of the rain season because the tents they are living in are not ideal.

And when contacted Kitwe City Council Public Relations Manager Dorothy Sampa said the council has no land to give to the squatters.

Ms Sampa urged the squatters to apply for land from the council by following the normal procedure.

Most churches in Kasama are stranded with places of worship following the government’s move to stop them from conducting their prayers in schools.

A survey by ZANIS found that most churches did not conduct their church services over the weekend while some of them had mass in private houses.

A concerned Christian who sought anonymity observed that those conducting prayers in classes are sprinter groups due to leadership wrangles in their churches and has advised them to reconcile with their mother body churches.

A teacher Bridget Chabala welcomed the move taken by government to stop prayers from being conducted in schools as it disturbed pupils from studying in classes during their spare time.

And a named Pastor who sought anonymity has regretted the step taken by government saying securing a plot to build a church is a process which takes a long time and wondered how he would keep his worshipers together.

FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has said community participation is vital in the health sector of the country.

Speaking during the Kitwe Central Hospital (KCH)’s Open Day as well as the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Kitwe School of Nursing on Friday, Dr Kaseba said efforts by the Government to improve the health sector would be in vain without community participation.

The First Lady said the Government was aware that effective communication between a health facility and the people that it served was important as it encouraged dialogue, which resulted in the exchange of information and knowledge that ultimately improved service delivery.

Dr Kaseba said Open Days were also important in affording the community with an opportunity to interact with the hospital staff with a view to learning more about the successes and challenges health workers faced.

She said this was one way members of the public could gain a better understanding and appreciation of services that an institution provided.

The First Lady said doing so would also reduce occasional confrontations, misgivings and conflicts between staff and the public, which normally were a result of wrong perceptions and misconceptions among the people.

“Let me stress here that for these Open Days to be successful, it is vital that all parties share a common understanding of the goals and outcomes of the Open Day initiative. These Open Days are meant to improve the flow of information from hospitals to the public,” Dr Kaseba said.

“Efforts by the Government to improve the health sector will be in vain without community participation.”

Dr Kaseba said it was gratifying that KCH management had recognized the importance of community participation in the delivery of services and, as such, had opened the hospital doors to the public.

She encouraged management to take note of all the observations and comments from the public as that was the only way they could check themselves.

Dr Kaseba further called on health workers in Zambia to have empathy towards patients for their work to be satisfying and appreciated.
She also implored the community to stop vandalising hospital property, to help in repairs and maintenance of hospital infrastructure and to demand for accountability on how resources given to the hospital by both the Government and donors were used.

The First Lady, who toured the KCH and various Open Day stands, further promised to see how best a 16-year-old girl who had a two-month-old baby born with both female and male sex organs could be assisted.

KCH senior medical superintendent John Mwewa said the institution had undergone many development changes in infrastructure development as well as increasing programmes offered.

Dr Mwewa, however, said the institution was faced with challenges such as constant repairs and inadequate transport, among others.

Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya, Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga and Copperbelt provincial medical officer Consity Mwale were among the dignitaries that attended the function.