49 year old man of Matero Township in Lusaka this morning repeatedly broke down before the Legal and Justice Sector Reform Commission when he narrated how he allegedly lost his potency due to police torture.
The petitioner submitted to the Commission that a named police officer at Matero Police Station tortured him resulting in him losing his potency.

Sealled Katwamba, a retrenchee failed to hold his emotions when he narrated how a police officer he had differed with in a personal matter implicated him in an aggravated robbery case.He said he was brutality manhandled and tortured at Matero police station.

Mr. Katyamba told the Commission that he was tortured and forced to accept that he committed the crime which he did after he could not handle the pain and was later admitted to the University Teaching Hospital where he spent months to recover.He disclosed that upon being discharged from the hospital the police officers re-arrested him but that he was only saved by lawyers from the Legal Resources Foundation who took the case to court where he was compensated K10 million (old currency) which he said was not worth his lost potency.

The petitioner who has a speech impairment (stammers) disclosed that because of too much torture to his private parts he can no longer have children.

When asked whether he has ever been to UTH for a medical check up to see if his potency could be restore, Mr. Katyamba cried further saying he does not want to see the hospital because of the psychological effects it has on him.

Commissioner Emily Sikazwe calmed the petitioner down while her colleagues and members of the public who were in attendance looked solemn with others almost breaking down in sympathy.

Mr Katyamba disclosed that the two police officers who were involved in his case were transferred to Kafue and Kitwe and that no disciplinary action was taken against them.

And Mr. Katyamba said the Anti-Corruption Commission should be part of police officers at roadblocks to curb corruption.

Commenting on the matter, Commissioner Geoffrey Sakulanda noted that despite Mr Katyamba’s case having been addressed by the courts the Human Rights Commission should be informed so that action can be taken against the police officers in their individual capacities for violating human rights.

Meanwhile, a former Employee of the Human Rights Commission has disclosed that the Commission has no capacity to carry out its mandate of preventing human rights violations and following up cases.Speaking when he made his submission before the Fredrick Chomba led commission, Samuel Kasanka disclosed that the Human Rights Commission has no presence in most districts and that it was faced with the challenge of inadequate funding and low staffing levels.

Mr. Kasanka noted that due to its failure to discharge its duties to the expectation of the people, Zambians have lost confidence in the Commission.
He further submitted that the Human Rights Commission was aware that the Law enforcement agencies use torture to force suspects to confess which he said was a violation of human rights.

Veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has called on Zambians to set aside their political grievances and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations.
Dr Mwaanga says any grievances that people might have should not affect Zambia’s 50 years of independence celebrations on October 24.

Speaking during radio Phoenix’s Let the people talk programme in Lusaka today, Dr Mwaaanga said those with grievances should find a different platform where they could be addressed.

He said there is need for the country to develop capacity to deal with conflict resolution within and among the people.

Dr. Mwaanga who was recently bestowed with a doctorate of philosophy in conflict resolution by the Copperbelt University encouraged Zambians to exhibit tolerance and to respect each other’s opinion.

Dr. Mwaanga has also urged Zambians to continue working hard adding that it was the only way in which Zambia could achieve economic development.
He said the efforts that started years ago must continue even after 50 years of independence.

The veteran politician said the hard work rendered now won’t only exhibit continuous progress in the country but will also benefit generations to come.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mwaanga has emphasized the need for Zambia to monitor all the major entry border points of the country so as to look out for any possible cases of Ebola.

Dr. Mwaanga further said the country should be sufficiently alert in case of any signs of Ebola which is a deadly disease and has broken out in some parts of West Africa claiming several lives.

Patriotic Front (PF) candidate for Petauke Central Constituency Leonard Banda has died.Eastern Province PF Chairperson Attan Mwamba announced the death of Mr Banda who died on Thursday at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

Mr Banda was the one who petitioned the election of former Petauke Member of Parliament (MP) Dora Siliya which resulted in the Supreme Court nullifying her seat.The ruling party had re-adopted Mr Banda to contest the parliamentary seat.

Ealier this year Mr.Leonard Banda was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in  the Judge Evans Hamaundu led tribunal is investigating Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba of alleged abuse of abuse and breach of Oath of Secrecy.
Many people have expressed shock at the death of the Patriotic Front (PF)candidate.

“I am shocked with the death of Leonard Banda and I can’t believe it because on Wednesday around 22:00 hours he spoke on the phone where he promised to meet but around 03:00 hours Leonard passed on,” said losing PF candidate to the Mkaika seat Mustapher Banda.

The late Leonard Banda has been described as a foot soldier for the Patriot Front.

The Kaoma magistrate court has convicted the three Barotseland activists three years each with hard labour for publication of false news with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public contrary to the laws of Zambia.

Magistrate Julius Malata convicted the trio today.
The magistrate said the case committed by the three activists Nayoto Mwenda 32, Boris Muziba 36 and Sikwibele Wasilota 33 was a misdemeanor but that their conduct during the court process was not good.

Magistrate Malata convicted the trio accordingly as the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr Malata said the court imposed serious punishment in order to deter future would be offenders adding that the trio did not show remorse even after being arrested by police officers.

He said Zambia was a unitary state that even included Western province and whether Zambian or non Zambian as long as the offence has been committed in Zambia everyone is amenable to the judicial system of the country.

Magistrate Malata said that he could not allow people committing offences with impunity whether Zambians or non Zambians adding that the three year sentence will be with effect from January 6, 2014.

But in mitigation, the trio maintained that the case be transferred to the common wealth court which is impartial as the matter was an international one.

Nayoto Mwenda said the matter cannot be tried by an illegal and biased Zambian court while Sikwibele Wasilota said the matter concerns two countries of Barotseland kingdom and Zambia hence the case be taken to an independent court.

However, Magistrate Malata said he has heard their mitigation adding that the matter committed was a serious one and sentenced the trio to three years each with hard labour.

He said that if they were not happy with the court’s outcome, the trio was free to appeal to the high court within 14 days.

Immediately after the verdict of the three Barotseland activists in a fully parked Kaoma magistrate court amidst tight police security, Barotseland sympathizers started crying while others were singing solidarity songs when the trio were being whisked away to Kaoma State prisons.