Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata says investing in cultural diversity is key in accelerating the economic development of the country.

Ms Kapata says investing in cultural diversity also provides a platform for bridging the gap between races, tribes and enhances the promotion of peace in the country.

The minister has since reaffirmed government’s commitment to raise strong awareness on the importance of intercultural dialogue, diversity and inclusion.

ZANIS reports that Ms Kapata said this in Lusaka today when she officiated at this year’s International Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development held under the theme : “Do one thing for Adversity and Inclusion”.

And Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Wamunyima Muwana says government has put measures in place to ensure that the Kabwata cultural village is rehabilitated to match the international standards.

Mr. Muwana said once rehabilitated, the cultural village is of great value to Zambia as it will supplement government’s effort in the creation of employment.

He however called on the private sector to supplement government efforts in rehabilitating the cultural village so that it reclaims its original status.

Meanwhile, Ms Kapata has called on parents to encourage their children to involve themselves in the campaign for cultural diversity for dialogue and development.

The Minister said the move will not only expand their knowledge on culture but also create the much needed jobs for young people in the country.

The celebrations, which took place at the Kabwata cultural village, was attended by various Deputy Ministers, Diplomats and High Commissioners accredited to Zambia and senior government officials.

ZANIS

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has advised government to prioritize youth employment if it is to ensure that the living standards of the people in the country are uplifted.

Speaking in an interview YALI executive director Andrew Ntewewe said his organisation continues to be concerned with the PF’s continued lack of definitive employment strategy for the youths who are the majority in the country.

Mr. Ntewewe observed that government continues to pay lip services to the concerns of youth unemployment in the country hence the need for it to be clear on its employment strategy.

He wondered where the youth employment strategy document which the Minister of sports and youth development Chishimba Kambwili proudly announced that it was ready during the youth day celebrations which he has since not released to the public for scrutiny and input by stakeholders.

Mr. Ntewewe added that sorting out the challenges of youth unemployment will immensely improve the living standards of the masses in the country as youth dominate the nations population.

Meanwhile Mr. Ntewewe has commended government for releasing empowerment funds to 42 youth organisations across country.

He noted that the funds will help alleviate some of the sufferings among the youths in the country.

And Mr. Ntewewe has advised youths who access the empowerment funds to ensure that they use the funds for the intended purpose and improve their lives.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) has expelled its Sinjembela Member of Parliament Poniso Njeulu from the Party. The decision to expel Mr Njeulu was arrived at by the Party’s National Management Committee (NMC) which sat in Lusaka on Thursday 22nd May, 2014.

Mr Njeulu has been expelled for gross misconduct. The Party’s Secretary General Mr Winston Chibwe has since written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare the Sinjembela seat vacant.

The Party has also expelled two (2) of its councillors for gross misconduct and destabilizing the party. The Councillors are Mr Evelo Chilala of Chilochabalenje Ward in Katuba Constituency and Mr Mundia Sitali of Machile Ward in Mulobezi Constituency.

In another development, the party has appointed former ministers and veteran politicians Mr. Maybin Mubanga and Bernard Mpundu to its National Management Committee. Luapula Province Chairman Rev. Betlem Choonde and Northern Province Chairman Mr Danswell Kunda have also been moved to the National Management Committee to take up other positions.

The Green Party says it will not stop its campaign for the legalization of Marijuana.

Green Party Leader Peter Sinkamba has maintained that Marijuana is the best way to go if the country is to generate more income.

“As the green party we have a task to sell the green agenda by not joining any politics on the constitution making process but ensure that marijuana is legalized. The constitution making process is not worthy following because of the past experiences with the failed commissions to come up with a people driven constitution, Mr. Sinkamba said”.

He says the green party is determined to sell the agenda of legalizing marijuana so that the country can earn a minimum of US $ 15 million to the economy and bring in cheaper medicine for the Zambian people than fighting over the constitution.

“This is the only way that we can create employment for the people and make medicine available for every citizen, he says.

“u know marijuana is used for many things including the provision of medicines hence the need for it to be legalized and get the benefits that will help the country make its own medicines, Mr. Sinkamba says.

Meanwhile Mr. Sinkamba says the PF has failed to govern the country by not allowing the opposition to freely express their views.

“I think the PF government in two years have only achieved the arresting of the opposition, adding that the PF can do better after going through the harassment when in opposition.

“the conduct of the PF to harass the opposition is a recipe for violence as the opposition will not sit and allow the government attack them.” Mr Sinkamba said.

Mr. Sinkamba said the green party does not want the country to be in any civil war but continue to be the oasis of peace.

The Zambia Police have apologized to Lusaka’s Chibolya residents over the incident in which a 74-year old woman was accidently shot dead as Police officers were pursuing criminals.

Lusaka province Police Commissioner Lemmy Kajoba has told Qfm News in an in interview that Police are seriously investigating the matter administratively and the law will take its course on the officer who was involved.

Mr. Kajoba says Police are mandated to protect life and keep law and order.

He has appealed to residents of Chibolya not live in fear following the unfortunate incident in which an innocent old woman lost her life, as it was an accident.

Mr. Kajoba states that Police will not justify the shooting of the woman; and has urged officers to abide by the regulations that govern the usage of firearms to avoid such incidences.

On Monday, Police accidentally shot and killed a 74 year old woman while they were pursuing criminals in Lusaka’s Chibolya compound.

Opposition parties with representation in parliament look set to resume the fight for the new constitution in parliament as the house resumes sitting next month.

The United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) have indicated that the fight for the constitution through protests in parliament, which disrupted parliamentary proceedings before the house adjourned will resume.

UPND spokesperson, Charles Kakoma, has told QFM news in an interview that UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has directed his members of parliament to ensure that they push for the release of the final draft constitution once parliament resumes it’s sitting.

Mr. Kakoma says the fight during the last session of the national assembly was a tip of an ice berg compared to what is coming in the next session.

He says UPND members of parliament have been urged to be aggressive in their quest to push for the release of the final draft constitution.

Mr. Kakoma says the Zambian people should expect more from the UPND MP’s as parliament resumes sitting.

And MMD president Dr. Nevers Mumba has told QFM news in a separate phone interview that as parliament resumes its sitting; the grand coalition will call for a caucus meeting with MMD and UPND mps to strategize on how best they can push the agenda in the house.

Dr. Mumba says the fight is getting hotter each day considering that more people and stakeholders are coming on board to push government to release the final draft constitution.

The third session of the eleventh national assembly will resume sitting on Tuesday 17th June, 2014, having adjourned on 11th march.

A COMBINED team of Drug Enforcement Commission,(DEC) Police and the Anti Corruption Commission, (ACC) has arrested Zambia Railways Limited, (ZRL)company secretary Nathaniel Inambao for two counts of abuse of authority of office.

Police spokesperson Charity Munganga confirmed the arrest of Inambao in an inter view in Lusaka yesterday.

Ms Munganga said Inambao was arrested in connection with alleged stripping of ZRL assets.

“It was a joint investigation by DEC, Police and ACC over the stripping of ZRL assets where Mr Nathaniel Inambao was arrested for abuse of authority,” Ms Munganga said.

She said in the first count, Inambao was arrested for abuse of authority of office contrary to section 99 sub section 1 of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Mr Inambao is alleged to have not followed the laid down tender procedures in appointing the same agent to sell the said plots.

He is alleged to have committed the said offence between January 1 and December 20, 2012 in Kabwe when in disregard of laid down tender procedures, he appointed Bristol realtor estate to sell seven residential plots belonging to ZRL situated at Bwana Mkubwa area, an act prejudicial to the Zambian Government.

In the second count, Inambao is alleged to have abused his authority when he appointed the same agent to sell six plots situated off Kasuba road in Ndola, which belonged to ZRL.

He allegedly did not follow the laid down Government tender procedures when he appointed the same agent, Bristol realtors to sell the ZRL plots which were the property of the Zambian Government.

Inambao has been released on bond pending court hearing.

Recently Communications and Transport Minister Yamfwa Mukanga called for a reconciliation of ZRL equipment and infrastructure to establish the extent of the alleged plunder.

The latest Auditor General’s report on accounts of parastatals had revealed that more than 1,510 wagons valued at K31.4million, among other assets belonging to ZRL were missing following the termination of the concession agreement between Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) and ZRL in September 2012.

The report explains that an additional 59 coaches were missing from a total of 83 handed over to RSZ during the transaction period between 2003 and 2012.

Mr Mukanga said in an interview that the reconciliation of the ZRL assets would go a long way for Government to understand the extent of the problem.

He said Government had appointed a committee to establish the truth about the missing ZRL wagons and other assets and was still awaiting a report from the said committee.

“A committee has been established already and once they give us the report, we will be able to establish what exactly transpired,” he said.

He said there was a possibility that some of the missing wagons were in other countries and that arrangements only needed to be made to collect the said wagons.

“When operating a railway system, usually you get wagons from other countries and they also get yours but that should be up to a specific period of time. If the period extends, then that is not right and we have to establish who was responsible for that,” he said.

He said Government would only get a correct picture after a reconciliation of all the wagons and assets in Zambia and other countries are done.

He said it was possible that the wagons were left outside the country due to negligence.

“We may also not know that what has come up on the surface is just a tip of the iceberg and that the problem is bigger so l am calling for a reconciliation of the wagons to ensure they are all accounted for,” he said.