Minister of Broadcasting and Information Services Mwansa Kapeya has challenged the church to spearhead reconciliation among political players in the country.

Mr. Kapeya said the hostility that existed in the political arena and the perception of political parties seeing each other as enemies was retrogressive.

The Minister said this at the consecration ceremony of Reverend Paul Bupe of the Redeemed Methodist Church at the Cathedral of the HolyCcross in Lusaka today.

The Minister said government was looking up to the church to help promote dialogue as this would lead to resolution of differences amicably.

Mr. Kapeya further said that Zambia was preparing for its Golden Jubilee next year hence the church should help the Zambian society rediscover the One Zambia One Nation motto.

He said the motto was what had kept Zambia together hence it must be revived.

And Bishop Paul Bupe said he will fight injustice and seek to impart the nation with the gospel as Christ had called him.

He said his church will by all means supplement government’s efforts in combating corruption and other vices for a better Zambia.

Bishop Bupe pledged to build strong relationships among families as this would help in the reduction of broken homes.

ZANIS

The Zambia Police Service and the Road Transport and Safety Agency-RTSA have resolved their alleged stand -off over enforcement of road Traffic Regulations.

After a consultative meeting held on Friday it was agreed that the two institutions have a common mandate to enforce road traffic rules and regulations.

Consequently the two institutions will continue to compliment each other in traffic law enforcement by conducting Joint traffic law enforcements operations at road check-points.

Members of the public have been advised to comply with all lawful directives issued to them by officers either from the Zambia Police Service or the Road Transport and Safety Agency.

This is contained in a joint statement issued to ZNBC News in LUSAKA by the Zambia Police Service and the Road Transport and Safety Agency-RATSA.

The statement has been signed by Acting Police Spokesperson Rea Hamonga and RATSA Acting Senior Public Relations Manager Freddrick Mubanga.

A LUSAKA man has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour for issuing death threats to Republican President Michael Sata.

In handling down judgment yesterday, Magistrate Jennifer Bwalya sentenced Andrew Msiska to three years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the offence of issuing death deaths to the President contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars alleged that Msiska, a businessman of Lusaka’s Rhodes Park area had written a letter to Mr Sata and his cabinet ministers where he issued death threats to him and others on unknown dates but this year concerning an oil exploration deal.

He pleaded guilty to the offence when the matter came up for plea early this week.

“After you readily admit the charge leveled against you, you have not wasted the court’s time and you are entitled
to leniency, but the offence committed is grave and others need to learn from you, I accordingly sentence you to three years imprisonment with hard labour with effect from today,” said Magistrate Bwalya.

In mitigation the accused said asked for leniency from the court saying he was the first offender, was married and did not mean to do what he did.

He said he did not know that what he was doing might land him in trouble and asked the court not to slap him with a custodial offence.

But Magistrate Bwalya advised him to always think of the repercussions of his actions to avoid committing similar offences in future.

THE Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has recorded a warn and caution Statement from suspended Copperbelt Province Police chief Mary Tembo.

Ms Tembo was recently suspended by the Republican President to pave way for investigations into alleged corrupt activities after she received a motor vehicle from a mining company for her personal use without declaring it to her superiors, which was against the code of ethics for public service workers.

ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono confirmed the recording of a warn and caution statement in the corruption related case from the former Copperbelt police chief at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Moono said the warn and caution statement from Ms Tembo was recorded early this week after investigators completed their investigations.

Mr Moono said what was remaining was for ACC legal department to study all the documents given to them in order for the department to give the commission credible guidelines on the next move to be taken.

“ Yes I can confirm that ACC has completed investigations instituted against the suspended Copperbelt Police chief, Ms Tembo and we have to that effect recorded a warn and caution statement from her, what is remaining now is to hear from the legal department what next move must be taken,” he said.

He said Ms Tembo’s alleged act of converting the motor vehicle donated by well-wishers to personal use without declaring the property to superiors contradicted the code of ethics for the public service.

The code of ethics states that a public service employee shall not accept gifts, rewards or hospitality or receive benefits of any kind from any person or organisation which might compromise or reasonably be seen to compromise one’s personal judgment or integrity.

CORRUPT Cabinet Ministers will be dropped immediately they are identified, Vice President Guy Scott has warned.

Dr Scott said this in Parliament yesterday in a response to MMD Sikongo Member of Parliament (MP) Ndalamei Mundia, who wanted to know, what would be the fate of Cabinet Ministers allegedly involved in corrupt practices.

“As soon as corrupt elements are known, they will be removed from Cabinet,” Dr Scott said.

Dr Scott said the fight against corruption also required sufficient budgetary support to help investigation agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) carry out their works efficiently.

He said it was only through financial support that research experts in the investigative wings could also boost their performance.

This was in response to a question raised by Lubansenshi Independent MP Patrick Mucheleka, who wanted to know how the effectiveness of the ACC would be triggered so that the fight against corruption yielded the desired results.

Dr Scott also told Parliament that the tribunal set-up to investigate the conduct of two suspended High Court judges and one Supreme Court Judge was still active and had been delayed to court litigation.

He added that the findings of various commissions of inquiry set-up by President Michael Sata would have its findings known soon.

The Vice President in responding to Chipili Patriotic Front (PF) MP, Davies Chipili on why President Michael Sata during his attendance of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, lobbied for two permanent seats on the UN Security Council, said this would help Zambia participate in global issues including those concerning security among others.

Dr Scott said it was vital for Zambia to have her voice heard on the international scene on matters such nuclear proliferation.