Fifteen motorists in Lusaka have been charged by the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol contrary to section 157 of the Road Traffic Act number 11 of 2002.

The fifteen motorists will today, Tuesday August 5th, 2014 appear in the fast track court for traffic offences in Lusaka.

Four of the fifteen motorists are in police custody for causing road traffic accidents and have also been charged for dangerous driving contrary to the laws of Zambia.
RTSA Acting Senior Public Relations manager Frederick Mubanga disclosed this in a statement in Lusaka, yesterday.

And the RTSA will revoke the Road Service Licences for Public Service Vehicle operators that contravene the terms and conditions under which their Road Service Licenses (RSL)

Mr. Mubanga says RTSA regrets the increased tendency by some bus operators to contravene the terms and conditions under which their Road Service Licenses (RSL) are granted by plying permitting unlicensed drivers to drive their buses.

Some operators have been permitting their drivers to drive under the influence of alcohol centrally to the conditions of the Road service Licence.

Last week the Lusaka Fast Track court on Traffic offences convicted and sentenced more than five Public Service Vehicle Driver to six months simple imprisonment each for Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol contrary to section 157 (1) of the road traffic act No. 11 of 2002 of the laws of Zambia.

Mr . Mubanga said among those convicted are, Harrison Zulu of Lusaka, a driver of a Toyota Hiace registration number ABP 8743.

He said also convicted Mr. Zulu on three counts of driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s license (PSV), driving a motor vehicle without a valid certificate of Fitness and driving a motor vehicle without a valid Road Tax contrary to the laws of Zambia.

VICE-President Guy Scott is in Washington DC, United States (US) to attend the US-Africa Summit, which started yesterday and ends tomorrow.

Dr Scott arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport at about 04:00 hours Zambian time yesterday.

The Vice-President was received by Zambia’s Ambassador to the US Palan Mulonda.

Dr Scott is accompanied by his wife, Charlotte, and some senior Government officials.

Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Robert Sichinga, Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba and Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde received Dr Scott.

Dr Scott will be among African heads of State and Government expected to attend the US-Africa Summit at the invitation of US President Barack Obama.

The US-Africa Summit, which is being held under the theme: ‘Investing In the Next Generation’, will allow leaders to consider the decisions and joint actions they intend to take to consolidate Africa’s progress as well as to deepen the relationship between the US and Africa.

The summit will offer an opportunity for high-level engagement between the US and African business leaders representing small and large business, who have demonstrated keen interest in expanding their activities in Zambia.

Also on the cards is the scope of challenges and steps that leaders can take to stem sources of illicit flows, including fighting corruption and promoting transparency and accountability.

Over 50 African heads of State and government are expected to attend the summit.

Among them are South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In what seems like a biannual event, fifty two (52) buffaloes have died in a stampede in the Kafue National Park in Itezhi Tezhi district in central province.

ZANIS staffer Frederick Mwansa reports that the carcasses of buffaloes were discovered by Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers during their tour along the Musa River in the southern part of the Kafue National Park.

Mwansa reports that when contacted Itezhi Tezhi district commissioner George Sichula confirmed the development adding that the sad development took place last Friday night.

“ 52 buffaloes were found dead in the Kafue National Park along Musa River. They are believed to have died in a stampede and ZAWA officers are investigation the cause of the stampede” Mr. Sichula said.

This is the third time a huge number of buffaloes have died in similar manner at the same place.

And most of the carcasses which were floating in the Musa River have since been scavenged by some local people.

In September 2009, 35 buffaloes died at the same area and ZAWA attributed the stampede to lions that were chasing the buffaloes
In August 2012 another 81 buffaloes died in a similar manner at the same river In the Kafue national park.

The wild animals usually move in herds of about one thousand and when they are disturbed they run in the same direction causing stampede.

Meanwhile a police officer based at Itezhi Tezhi police station is feared dead after boat in which he was travelling capsized on Lake Itezhi Tezhi.

Itezhi Tezhi District Commissioner George Sichula has confirmed the incidence adding that the development occurred on Saturday.

Mr. Sichula who named the missing police officer as Maxwell Madubeko said the boat reportedly capsized following huge waves and that five people survived the accident and managed to swim to the shore.

‘As of yesterday the rescue team was still looking for the missing police officer who was a trained coxswain” Mr. Sichula said.

The opposition Alliance for a Better Zambia (ABZ) Leader Father Frank Bwalya has described the statement by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba that educated people and the elite are trying to hijack the constitution making process as an insult to the people of Zambia.

And the ABZ President has charged that Mr. Kabimba needs to know that the only cure for the current constitution impasse lies in PF respecting the will of the people as captured by the Technical Committee on drafting the new Republic Constitution.

Father Bwalya has told QFM News in a telephone interview that the statement by Mr. Kabimba should be dismissed with the contempt and scorn it deserves.

Father Bwalya says even illiterate Zambians know that the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) promised to deliver a people driven constitution in 90 days of which they have lamentably failed to honor.

Father Bwalya says the people of Zambia are aware that the PF condemned the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) for wasting public resources on the National Constitution Conference (NCC) and for disregarding the wishes of the people in the constitution making process.

He notes that Zambians know that PF promise to deliver a people driven constitution in a cost effective and expedient manner.

Father Bwalya has also accused the government of allegedly trying to drive a wedge between the people who have been demanding for a people driven constitution and stakeholders who have been championing the cause of the people.

He says the people know very well that it is the PF themselves who have hijacked the constitution making process in a very dull manner characterized by cheap lies such as losing the final report of the Technical Committee let alone describing demands for a people driven constitution as yapping.

President Micheal Sata has been called upon to take seriously the recommendations of the Legal and Justice and Justice Sector Reforms Commission once it completes its work.

The Commission, which is working under the terms of reference contained in Statutory Instrument No. 22 of 2014, completed its public hearings in Lusaka on Friday last week and is due to conduct similar public hearings in Luangwa, Chongwe, Chirundu and Kafue Districts before it proceeds to other parts of the country.

Political activist Dante Saunders, who has submitted a petition to the commission on the need for country’s Judiciary to be granted more powers, says it will be a waste of time and taxpayers’ money if the recommendations of the Commission are not taken seriously.

Mr. Saunders has told Qfm news in a telephone interview that this is why he hopes that the recommendations by the commission will not be shelved as has been the case with the findings other commissions of inquiry that have been recently established in the country.

He says he further hopes that the commission will tell the Head of State the truth about what people are asking for in the public hearings it is conducting.

The political activist notes that if the recommendations of the Legal and Justice Sector Reforms Commission are however not taken seriously as expected people in the country should wait for another government that will be able align the commission’s recommendations with the country’s constitution.