The Anti-Corruption of Zambia (ACC) has concluded investigations into alleged Abuse of Authority office against former Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary for administration Anna Mwitwa Mwewa.

ACC Spokesperson Timothy Moono says the commission is currently assessing evidence of its investigation for possible prosecution.

Mr. Moono has also disclosed that the commission’s investigations into alleged Abuse of Authority office against Youth and Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili over congratulatory advertisements placed in print media regarding his acquisition of his degree from Copper Stone University have also been concluded.

He says the gathered evidence is currently being assessed.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr. Moono has also disclosed that investigations into alleged Abuse of Authority of office by former Deputy Ministers Ronald Chitotela and Rogers Mwewa involving CDF funds have also been concluded.

Mr. Moono says the commission is to this effect analyzing the evidence gathered.

And investigations into suspected corruption in the manner a contract for the installation of Security facilities in Lusaka was awarded to ZTE have been concluded.

Mr. Moono has disclosed to journalists that though the allegations were proven in this matter, the commission did not prosecute anyone for the offence due to legal technicalities.

He however says the commission has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs for administrative action.

The ACC spokesperson has further disclosed that investigations into suspected corruption in the manner contracts were being awarded to companies to undertake preparatory works for the UNWTO Conference that was held in Livingstone have also been concluded.

Mr. Moono has further disclosed that investigations into alleged Abuse of Authority office against former Tourism and Art Minister Sylvia Masebo in the manner she cancelled hunting concessions awarded by ZAWA are still ongoing and nearing competition.

United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has charged that confusion has rocked the ruling Patriotic Front citing the party’s alleged struggle to find a candidate to field in the the Mangango parliamentary by-elections.

Addressing a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Hichilema says the PF allegedly struggled yesterday in Mangango to come up with a candidate to field until the last minute when they settled for a former councilor.

Mr. Hichilema says the disorganization in the ruling party can greatly affect the development of the country.

He wonders how the ruling PF will manage to convince the people of Mangango that they will take development to the area when they have failed to fulfill their promises.

And commenting on the state of affairs in the Agriculture sector, Mr.Hichilema says government should give priority to the sector stating that it remains the backbone of the country’s economy.

And responding to a question from a journalist over Civil Rights Activist, Brebner Changala’s application for a medical body to examine the health of the President, Mr. Hichilema says his party will not be issuing statements on the health of President Michael Sata.

He says his party will simply be waiting for statements from State House on the health status of the President.

Meanwhile, former Chavuma Member of Parliament and District Commissioner, Jerry Musole and a senior PF member in Kafue Victor Bupe have defected to the UPND citing alleged confusion in the ruling party.

The opposition Forum for Democratic Alternative Party says arguments being forwarded by fellow opposition leaders Peter Sinkamba of the Green Party and People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti on the legalization of marijuana should not be entertained as the duo have not provided answers as to how the abuse would be kept in check.

FDA president Ludwig Sondashi said his party does not support the idea of legalizing the drug as it will add to the already existing challenge of alcohol abuse which he blamed to be partly responsible for the increasing carnage being witnessed on our public roads.

He noted that the country is finding it hard to cope with alcohol abuse hence legalizing marijuana would not be in the best interest of the nation which has had to cope with increased road accidents as well as low productivity due to alcohol intake.

“As Forum for Democratic Alternatives party (FDA), we wish to register our support for the view not to legalize the use of marijuana in the Republic of Zambia.

“Arguments advanced by both the Green party leader Peter Sinkamba and most recently by People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti do not merit the legalization of marijuana as they have not provided for how abuse would be kept in check.

“As things stand the nation has to cope with alcohol abuse which is partly responsible for the increasing carnage being witnessed on our public roads and for lowering productivity in the country,” Mr Sondashi said.

Six candidates have successfully filed their nominations in the Mangango parliamentary seat with the call by the candidates who were accompanied by their party officials and members declaring themselves read for the political battle in the field.

Meanwhile, the nominations were characterised with violence-free amid tight security by the Zambia Police Officers.

The candidates are ruling PF’s Rodgers Lingweshi, MMD ‘s Charles Mwenzala, UPND’s Godwin Putu, Naluwa Mwene of ADD, UNIP’s Janet Chingumbe and Mukumbuta Kabuyana of the Fourth Revolution party.

Returning Officer Kingsley Mtayachalo officially announced that the candidates have successfully filed in their nominations and advised them to adhere to the Electoral code of conduct.

MMD Chairman for Elections Kenneth Chipungu charged that their candidate is automatically going to retain the seat having being served as former councillor for the area.

“Our candidate has been a Councillor before so you don’t expect to fall butto change to another level which MP,”Mr. Chipungu said.

Ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Elections Sylvia Masebo said the party had not ‘imported” a candidate but a local resident who is much familiar with the sufferings of the people.

Ms. Masebo said Mr. Lingweshi, a former civil servant had wisdom and served as a former civil leader in the previous UNIP and MMD government as a Councillor for Mangango Central Ward.

She said the party structures and members in Mangango constituency unanimously agreed to pick Mr. Lingweshi as they all wanted real development to trickle down to the grassroots through the government of the day and under the able leadership of President Michael Sata.

Ms. Masebo, however, observed that people in the entire constituency were in favour of former MP, Robert Taundi Chiseke but because of legal issues surrounding him (Chiseke), the ruling party made a change in consultation with the people and the party leadership.

ADD leader Charles Milupi said condemned violence that had marred previous nomination exercises and expressed gratitude in the manner the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had managed to facilitate the filling-in of nomination papers.

UNIP candidate Janet Chingumbe charged that men MPs voted in the past had lamentably failed to deliver to the aspirations of the Mangango constituents/people.

Ms. Chingumbe appealed to the electorates to vote and give her a chance this time around in order to bring development closer to the people as she hails from the area.

PF National Chairperson Inonge Wina hoped that the forth-coming Mangango parliamentary elections should reflect the peace Zambia was enjoying in view of the 50th independence anniversary.

Ms. Wina appealed to other participating political parties in the constituency to avoid character assassination, slander and personal vendetta as they are detrimental to Zambia’s democracy.

“We don’t want elections based on violence, personal vendetta and slander. I’m happy that this nomination of filing in nominations here in Mangango Polling Centre has gone violence-free, ” she said.

The Mangango seat fell vacant following the nullification of Robert Chiseke who also former Commerce Deputy Minister.

Kalumbila Minerals in Solwezi will pay about K2 million as compassionate fee to families whose ancestral graves will be exhumed to pave way for mining operations.

Musele Ward Councillor, Olix Kakwata, confirmed to ZANIS in an interview in Solwezi that the mine will pay K6, 000 to the next of king of the affected families for each grave that will be exhumed.

Councillor Kakwata explained that about 200 old graves out of the 360 identified graves that are lying within the mining surface rights will be exhumed and reburied in the existing burial sites within Senior Chief Musele’s chiefdom.

He said the rest of the graves will be fenced and lay tombstones on them.

The compassionate fee is meant to caution the costs that the families will incur to rebury the remains of their ancestors following the relocation of villages in the area to pave way for mining operations.

A comment from Kalumbila mine management failed as they could not be reached by mobile phone by press time.

FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has called for the introduction of a new law to criminalise perpetrators of early marriages to help curb the vice.

Dr Kaseba said criminalising the act was the only sure way of fighting early marriages to ensure the protection of the girl-child as well as seeing a reduction in such practices.

Dr Kaseba said the current percentage of girls being married off before the age of 17 was high in the country and needed to be reduced by 2015 through the establishment of stiffer penalties.

Speaking during the official launch of the Regional Symposuim on Ending Child Marriages at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Wednesday evening, Dr Kaseba said there was need to strategise on how best the vice could be completely curbed.

“It is sad that 46 per cent of women had been married off before the age of 14 years, the victims are subjected to devastating effects and become victims of gender and domestic based violence, physical abuse and neglect, I urge law makers to consider criminalising this offence,” she said.

Visiting United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development Justice Greening said Zambia had enjoyed an impressive economic growth and had seen 1.2 million more children in schools and 40 per cent reduction in child mortality.

She commended Zambia’s commitment to scaling up social protection to those living in extreme poverty saying the country’s economic and social development had been underpinned by its political development.

“Today Zambia is known across Africa as a model of democracy. Zambian people are not only voting in free and fair elections, they have a genuine say in the running of their country and at the same time we know there are still real development challenges for Zambia to overcome,” Ms Greening said.

“We recognise that Zambia’s growth is in Britain’s interests as well as yours. And the British High Commission here is working closely with the Zambian government to improve our two countries’ business links and promote trade,” she said.