Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, has issued a stern warning to all those engaging in illegal mining activities, regardless of their political affiliation . Kabuswe also warned individuals who claim to have authority from the First Lady Mutinta Hichilema and some government officials to conduct illegal mining, to immediately halt their activities. According to Kabuswe, the First Lady has no interest in any mine in Zambia.

During an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka, Kabuswe revealed that the New Dawn administration is making every effort to clean the mining cadastre in order to eliminate the duplication of mining licenses . Illegal mining has been a major concern in Zambia, and the government has been taking measures to put a stop to it.

In a separate interview, Central Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa called upon District Commissioners and other senior government officials to partner with his office in order to clamp down on illegal mining activities in the province . Nanjuwa acknowledged that there is rampant illegal mining in Mkushi and other areas in Central Province.

The issue of illegal mining has become a matter of great concern for the government, especially in light of the damage it causes to the environment, loss of revenue, and safety hazards to the miners . Therefore, the government has been implementing measures to combat illegal mining, and the Mines and Minerals Development Minister’s warning is just one of many steps taken to address the issue.

As a result, it is important for everyone involved in mining activities to ensure they operate within the legal framework and obtain the necessary permits to avoid facing the full force of the law. The government is determined to clean up the mining sector and ensure that only those with legitimate licenses are allowed to mine in Zambia .

The government is determined to address the issue of illegal mining in Zambia, and the warning issued by Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe serves as a reminder to all involved in mining activities that they must operate within the legal framework. It is essential for all stakeholders to comply with the law to avoid facing the full force of the law. The government’s efforts to clean up the mining sector will go a long way in ensuring sustainable mining practices in Zambia.

State House Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, has issued a statement refuting allegations that the First Lady of Zambia, Muntinta Hichilema, owns a mine in the Mkushi region. In his statement, Hamasaka stated:

“There is a false and malicious media report alleging that the First Lady Madam Mutinta Hichilema owns a mine in Mkushi…False and malicious in the sense that the First Lady Mrs. Hichilema does not own any mine anywhere, not even under proxies.”

Hamasaka went on to describe the First Lady as “largely reserved and conservative” and “content with what she has always been before becoming the First Lady”. He added that “being materialistic and throwing her privileged position around to acquire wealth such as owning a mine, is out of her character.”

Hamasaka expressed concern over the conduct of the media that published the story, stating:

“When I first saw the news clip, I thought it was one of those social media concoctions where someone just made up a report and falsely attributed it to a radio station…In my more than 25 years of journalism training and practice, it is a bare minimum requirement for a journalist to balance stories by giving an opportunity to the accused to equally give their side of the story.”

He further stated that “reckless reporting without due regards to professional ethics and standards” is regrettable, and urged media houses to uphold professional standards in their reporting. He warned that such baseless accusations could cause public discontent and hatred against the First Family and the government at large.

Hamasaka reminded the media that the president has been emphasizing the need for freedom of expression and letting the media operate in a free environment, but this should not be a license for reckless reporting. He called on media houses to verify their information before publishing stories that could damage the reputation of individuals and institutions.

In conclusion, Hamasaka reiterated that the First Lady does not own a mine in Mkushi, and he called on the media to verify their information before publishing stories that could damage the reputation of individuals and institutions. He warned that such baseless accusations could cause public discontent and hatred against the First Family and the government at large.

President Hakainde Hichilema has terminated the contract of Mooya Lumamba as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. The termination comes after several government officials were implicated in the illegal mining and export of Sugelite gemstones from Muombe Mine in Sub-Chief Kunda-Mfumu chiefdom in Chembe district.

In a statement issued to the media by Chief Communications Specialist, Clayson Hamasaka, President Hichilema thanked Mr Lumamba for his services rendered to government and wished him well for the future. “The President has decided to terminate the contract of Mr Mooya Lumamba with immediate effect pursuant to the provision of Article 92 as read with Article 270 of the Constitution of Zambia,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, has called for a comprehensive investigation into the illegal mining and export of Sugelite gemstones from Muombe Mine. Speaking to journalists, Mwamba expressed concern about the alleged involvement of government officials in the scandal. “We want to know who provided police security for three weeks when the illegal operations and illegal mining were taking place,” he said.

Mwamba also questioned the role of Bayarn Company, the current owner of the mine, in the scandal. “The company currently holds mineral exploration rights. What was their role?” he asked.

Last year, UPND Deputy National Chairperson for Administration Stephen Chikota had a confrontation with police in Muombe area following his attempt to force his way to the mining site. Chikota accused Luapula Minister and Cabinet Ministers from Lusaka of abetting illegal mining of Sugelite gemstones. “Instead of the government investigating Chikota’s allegations, they concentrated on criminalizing Chikota’s trespass action at the mine,” Mwamba noted.

President Hichilema has yet to respond to the calls for a comprehensive investigation into the illegal mining and export of Sugelite gemstones from Muombe Mine. However, Mwamba believes that the recent actions against public officials are a knee-jerk and belated reaction to a long-standing problem of illegal mining and theft of the mineral. “The President has failed to attend to the credible reports that the mine owner and Cabinet Ministers were allegedly engaged in illegal mining and export of the rare gemstones,” he added.

The termination of Mooya Lumamba’s contract comes after the President also fired five other senior government officials over the scandal. As investigations into the matter continue, it remains to be seen what other actions the government will take to address the issue of illegal mining and theft of mineral resources in Zambia.

Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Doreen Mwamba, has today launched the community case management guidelines and statutory case management handbook and information management system aimed at promoting uniformity and cohesion in the provision of case management at community level.

Ms Mwamba said the case management guidelines and statutory case management and thematic tools are also going to help social welfare officers as they work with children requiring various child protection services as prescribed by the children’s code act and other pieces of legislation.

She was speaking at the launch in Lusaka today.

“In our quest to improve the quality of service to vulnerable children, adolescent and their families, the ministry adopted the case management approach which is increasingly being adopted as best practice in effectively addressing the needs of vulnerable people in our communities,” she said.

Ms Mwamba pointed out that the approach used to come up with the guidelines is client-centered.

Speaking at the same event, UNICEF Zambia Country Representative, Penelope Campbell, said the launch will guide social welfare officers to reach everyone in need of help.

“By launching this today, we are caring for those who care for others, ultimately this social welfare workforce is here to make sure that children, even the most excluded are healthy and are learning,” she said.

Meanwhile, USAID Health Office Director, Daniel Sinclair, said the launch of the case management handbook is key to sustainable development in Zambia.

Mr Sinclair has since urged all stakeholders to be accountable in validating the development of the guidelines.

First Lady Mutinta Hichilema has donated 2,000 bags of mealie meal weighing 25 kilograms each and 300 blankets to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

The donated items are meant for flood victims across the country.

Mrs Hichilema said her office is aware of the adverse effects flash floods which have caused damage to crops and affected over 66,000 households.

She said during the handover ceremony that the flood situation has also led to the loss of property and livelihoods as many families have been displaced and are now living in temporary shelters.

The First Lady has since commended government through DMMU for working tirelessly in coordinating the disaster relief effort around the flood affected areas.

“In the spirit of oneness, we are all affected by the loss. It is therefore important for us to come together to help our brothers and sisters who have found themselves in this desperate situation,” she said

Mrs Hichilema has also thanked the Chinese embassy in Zambia and Chenguang Biotech Agri-Development (CBAD) for providing her office with the relief items, which she donated to DMMU today.

And Chinese Embassy in Zambia Charge de Affaires, Meng Hao, said the embassy is saddened by the continued floods caused by heavy rains.

Dr Hao said Zambia and China have over the years shared cordial relations and have stood by each other in times of hardships.

He said he is looking forward to more future collaboration with the First Lady’s Office in helping the needy in Zambia.

Meanwhile, DMMU National Coordinator, Gabriel Pollen, thanked the Mrs Hichilema for coming to the aid of the flood victims.

Dr Pollen however called on the corporate institutions to emulate the First Lady and donate to the needy people in the country.

He assured the Mrs Hichilema that the donated items will be delivered to the intended beneficiaries.

A consortium of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has said it is saddened by efforts to stifle and constrain the civil space in the southern African region.

In a joint statement, Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD), Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), Non-governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), Chapter One Foundation (COF), Alliance for Community Action (ACA), Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) said they have witnessed the promulgation of laws aimed at restricting the work of NGOs.

On the occasion of commemorating the 2023 World NGO Day, the NGOs Consortium Chairperson Grace Sinkamba said they are the voice of the voiceless, the most vulnerable in society and compliment Government service provision in various sectors such as social welfare, education and health.

Ms. Sinkamba said NGOs have since appealed to the Governments in the Southern African region and the world at large to ensure that NGOs are allowed to operate freely without any hindrances.

“We the undersigned Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) join the rest of the world, and indeed fellow civil society Organisations in Zambia, in commemorating this year’s World NGO Day which falls annually on the 27th of February. NGOs continue to play an important role in the development of the country. Apart from the fact that NGOs are the voice of the voiceless, the most vulnerable in society, they also compliment Government service provision in various sectors such as social welfare, education, and health among others. As such, NGOs have been advocating for various policy and legal reforms to ensure improved living standards of the citizens, especially the most vulnerable. In young democracies such as Zambia, NGOs play an important role in providing essential, credible, checks and balances on the Government. NGOs further champion and advocate for the protection of the citizen’s human rights,” she stated.

“The role of NGOs and civil society in general in national development can therefore not be overemphasized. As the world and indeed the Zambian civil society commemorate this very important day that recognises the tremendous work of NGOs. However, we are sad to note that there have been efforts to stifle and constrain the civil space in the region. Specifically, we have witnessed the promulgation of laws aimed at restricting the work of NGOs. A case in mind is Zambia’s NGO Act No. 16 of 2009. The NGO Act, which remains on the statute books, is a huge challenge to the NGO sector and negates the democratic credentials of the country. We have observed similarly that in Zimbabwe, the administration in that country has put in place a law aimed at stifling the work of NGOs. The Private Voluntary Organizations Amendment law will have a negative effect on the operation of the NGOs in Zimbabwe. Similar legislation is also being promulgated in other parts of the SADC region,” Ms. Sinkamba added.

Meanwhile, the NGOs say they recognise the efforts by the Zambian Government to repeal the NGO Act but are saddened with the slow pace of the process.

“As advocates for good governance and democratization we therefore find these laws retrogressive and an assault to the freedoms of association and expression of citizens in the region. As we commemorate this very important day, we appeal to the Governments in the region and indeed the world at large to ensure that NGOs are allowed to operate freely without any encumbrances. We demand the repeal of all repressive laws that negatively affect the operations of NGOs across the Southern African Development Community (SADC),” Ms Sinkamba added.

“While recognizing the efforts by the Zambian Government to repeal the NGO Act, we are saddened with the slow pace of the process. There is a need to expedite the repeal process so that NGOs continue to play their role effectively. With the foregone, it will therefore be impossible to pretend that all is well with the sector. As a protest to the slow pace and in solidarity with other NGOs in the region, we the undersigned have therefore resolved not to participate in the events that have been lined up for the commemoration of this year’s NGO Day. This decision has been taken so as not to legitimize and perpetuate the illegalities of the NGO Act. It is common knowledge that as CSOs in Zambia we rejected the NGO Act and all the attendant organs. We will therefore not be party to any of the activities that are organized by organs created by the NGO Act. Our members are accordingly advised not to take part in any of the planned activities and the national commemoration planned for February 27th,” she concluded.

World NGO Day is an international calendar day observed annually on the 27th of February with the aim to inspire people to become more actively involved within NGOs and to encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sector.

Minister of Education, Douglas Siakalima has praised the performance of Mulungushi University which is expanding at a fast rate.

Speaking when he addressed Lecturers and other members of staff, Mr Siakalima says the institution is one of those expanding at a faster rate and competing with others within the country and beyond.

He said this is why government has extended the loan facilities to the institution because it is among those which are becoming competitive.

The Minister cited the opening of the infrastructure at the school of medicine and plans to put up the tallest building in Livingstone as major milestones which should be appreciated.

Mulungushi University Acting Vice Chancellor, Kawunga Nyirenda said the institution is self-sustaining and is able to meet salary obligation for the next 12 month.

Dr. Nyirenda said the institution is not only focusing on the current generation but also the future especially that government introduced free education to ensure a good number is absorbed by the institution.