United Party for National Development (UPND) members in Southern Province have condemned the appointment of Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to sit on the newly constituted Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) board.

They have instead appealed to the Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo and President Michael Sata to remove Mr Kabimba from the board to promote accountability, good governance as well as the free flow of information.

Speaking to ZANIS in a telephone interview last evening, UPND Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Derrick Livune said the UPND members in the province find the decision of Tourism and Arts Minister to include Mr Kabimba on ZAWA board as misplaced.

Mr Livune who is also Katombola Member of Parliament said Mr Kabimba has many roles to play both in the party as well as in government adding that it should have been better if the Tourism Minister had considered including a PF cadre on the board who does not hold any position in government.

He charged that Ms Masebo who is also Chairperson for elections in the PF makes her junior both in the party and in government adding that it would be a big challenge for her to supervise Mr Kabimba by virtue of his positions in government and the ruling party.

Mr Livune stressed that Mr Kabimba will suffocate other board members because of the powers he has both in government and in the party hence making the board not to make progressive decisions.

Meanwhile, UPND party members in the province have expressed regrets over the suspension of Livingstone City Council by Local Government and Housing Minister.

Mr Livune said the UPND feels the decision of Hon Emerine Kabanshi, the Minister of Local Government and Housing to suspend the city council for 90 days may be misunderstood by people as to what she was trying to prove bearing in mind that there is a by election in the period of the suspension and that most of the suspended councillors are from the UPND.

He noted that the matter between the Councilors and the employees should be handled with care especially that there is a looming by election in Livingstone.

Mr Livune has therefore, appealed to the minister to reconsider lifting the suspension of the city council to allow the people of Livingstone continue receiving services normally from the civic authority.

He further charged that Ms Kabanshi should have considered other alternative means of resolving the impulse between the council and the affected employees.

ZANIS

The Zambia Police has called for cooperation from members of the public in curbing crime.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview today, Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said Police are encouraging communities to form Neighbourhood Watch Committees as it is an effective way to reducing crime levels in communities.

Ms. Kanjela said several communities already have neighbourhood watch committees in place while other neighbourhoods are still in the process of forming them.

She said such committees are vital as Police alone cannot curb crime effectively without cooperation from all citizens.

Ms. Kanjela said it was unfortunate that despite sensitisation, members of the public have continued to take the law into their own hands by killing suspected criminals.

She said the Zambia Police have embarked on several community sensitisation programmes to educate the public on the right ways of curbing crime.

Ms. Kanjela explained that Police have also resorted to using drama as a sensitisation medium.

She disclosed that the drama group will soon be going to the Copperbelt and Southern Provinces to discourage instant mob justice through drama.

Ms. Kanjela warned that any individual who will be spotted as having been part of the mob executing instant justice on a suspected criminal will be apprehended and face the law.

She was reacting to a case where Matero residents beat and burnt to death a suspected criminal over the weekend.

ZANIS

President Michael Sata has arrived in the country from South Africa where he had gone to attend the official opening of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The President arrived aboard a Presidential Challenge Jet at 16:00 hours at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and was welcomed by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba, Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba and Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu.

Others at hand to receive the President include Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Efron Lungu, Lusaka Mayor, Daniel Chisenga, defence and service Chiefs and other senior government officials.

The President left South Africa at 14:10 hours this afternoon and was seen off at Thabo Mbeki International Airport by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Muyeba Chikonde and other senior members at the High Commission.

While in South Africa, Mr Sata also took time to visit the Zambian National Soccer Team at Protea Hotel in Nelspruit, where the team is camped.

Mr Sata, who was accompanied by wife Christine Kaseba, Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili and special assistant for press and Public Relations, George Chellah, urged the team to retain the trophy.

Zambia this afternoon faces Ethiopia in the opening Group C Match of the AFCON tournament.

ZANIS