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Southern Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga
Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies (LIBES) was closed yesterday after the students union and college management failed to agreed on the demands of the students.
In a telephone interview, College Principal Thomas Kalantiya said that the school authorities reached the decision to close the institution because the students were becoming violent.
Mr Kalantiya disclosed that the closure will not be indefinite considering that management could compromise with the students at any given time.
He claimed that school management was not aware of some of the issues the students raised.
And student Union President Richard Mweetwa wondered why school authorities have decided to close the school when students are supposed to sit for exams in November and December.
Mr Mweetwa also accused the Zambia police of beating and harassing students for what he described as no reasons.
“Why are the police beating us and what have we done wrong,” he said.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Police Commissionerconfirmed that the police have arrested six students in connection with the rioters’ behaviour yesterday.
Ms Katanga explained that LIBES students were protesting over enrolment, a situation prompted police officers to move in and quash the protest.
She said that the students complained that there are no studying materials, coupled with lack of equipment.
Ms Katanga said the efforts of the students to seek an audience with the college management to reach a consensus had failed hence their option to protest.
“The student blocked Nakatindi road which connects Livingstone to Kazungula and that no arrests were made at the time as the students run way as soon they saw the police at the college entrance where they had blocked the road,” she said.
However, the police have since confirmed that six students are in police custody to help in investigations leading to the unrest.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Peter Mwaba
Government has disclosed that Zambia is among 13 top African countries that are on course to achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) on health.
Speaking when he addressed the Health Sector Advisory Group in Lusaka today, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Peter Mwaba said the country has already achieved the MDG on tuberculosis.
Dr. Mwaba noted that with increased cooperation from various stakeholders, Zambia will be able to achieve the other MDGs on health.
He said government has remained committed to increasing funding to the health sector.
In the current budget, government had increased funding to the sector by 46 per cent.
Dr. Mwaba said this increase improved the availability of essential medicines, medical supplies and equipment, infrastructure development and human resource in the sector.
He added that the ministry has also increased the availability of anti retroviral drugs (ARVs) and anti malarial combined therapy at all levels of service delivery noting that these are the two major diseases the country is battling with.
Dr. Mwaba explained that the ministry is making sure that all the people in the country have access to essential drugs through the establishment of regional distribution hubs.
He however said there are still a number of challenges the ministry is facing.
These challenges include inadequate resources for medical supplies and laboratory reagents to support comprehensive patient care.
Dr. Mwaba also said with support from cooperating partners, government has advanced efforts to develop a social health insurance scheme aimed at facilitating universal health coverage.
And World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Olusegun Babaniyi, expressed happiness that the budgetary allocations to the health sector have significantly increased.
Dr. Babaniyi pledged more cooperating partners’ support to the Ministry of Health in addressing the challenges the ministry is facing.
He congratulated the Ministry of Health for being on course towards achieving the MDGs on health.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions has asked government to send back Malawian High Court Judge Lovemore Chikopa to his home country, Malawi.
ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba says the continued stay of Judge Chikopa in Zambia is proving costly for the Zambian tax payers.
“We are reliably informed that the Malawian Judge is still in the country, we would therefore like to appeal to government to consider asking Judge Chikopa to go back to Malawi as the tribunal for which he was appointed as not yet started sitting,” Mr. Hikaumba said.
Mr. Hikaumba has also made a passionate appeal to Judge Chikopa to examine his own conscience and return to his home country.
“As workers we feel, the expenditure that the country is incurring on Judge Chikopa is unproductive and therefore call on government to allow the Judge to return to his country.
The ZCTU leader was speaking in Lusaka this morning during a press briefing to review the first year of the PF government.
President Michael Sata appointed Judge Chikopa in May 2012 to chair the Justice tribunal to probe three Judges namely Charles Kajimanga, Nigel Mutuna and Philip Musonda.
The three Judges have however challenged their suspension in the courts of law thereby stalling the sittings of the tribunal.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hikaumba says the PF government still has a long way to go to fulfilling the election promises.
He said the public is too highly expectant adding that government should quicken the pace of delivering development.
He cited the challenge of creating jobs for the millions of unemployed Zambians as one where the PF government has not done well.
Zambian YouTube Music promoter Zed Beats has been blocked by YouTube due to copy right infringement.
Youtube wrote:
“ZedBeatsOfficial has been terminated because we received multiple third-party claims of copyright infringement regarding material the user posted.”
Zed beats released a statement via their facebook page : “IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Zed Beats Youtube channel is currently offline. Someone had been recently duplicating/cloning our channel (those who have come across it have seen it) and in the end decided to act maliciously and sabotage the efforts of Zed Beats … I am proud to note that Zed Beats has been an ambassador of Zambian music and through its direct efforts, Zambian music is now heard and enjoyed in places it had never been before. Zambians all over the world have also been able to keep up with the latest music like never before. Zambian songs have hit online charts even charts in some foreign countries, DJ’s from around the world have picked it up and you may now hear it playing in the most unexpected of places. It has given a global stage to Zambian artists and some have even been accorded opportunities to travel abroad as a result, while it has also helped fast-track the music careers of others. Plus more … But the full potential of Zambian music is still far from being achieved. However, with things like this happening, we have to make a decision on whether to continue with exhibiting the music and videos like we have done or not. IN OTHER NEWS: A new version of ZedBeats.com is in the final stage of development and will have many more and better features. Among them, artists will be able to make their own pages and upload their music directly to the site without having to send it to ZedBeats first. This will ensure the site is constantly up-to-date with the latest music artists have to offer. Fans will also have the ability to listen to the songs on the site before deciding whether or not. That is all for now, have a great day!”
The Anti-Corruption Commission is elated with Government position not to condone or tolerate corrupt practices among political leaders and civil servants.
Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Rosewin Wandi has said fighting corruption demands political will from the highest levels filtering through in all leadership ranks. She said this demanded demonstrable actions from all leaders to ensure that those that they lead are inspired.
Mrs. Wandi said all leaders that take up public office should ensure that they serve the people and contribute in bringing about developmental change in the lives of the many suffering Zambians by taking a strong stance against corruption.. She said leadership demanded selfless sacrifice, commitment and diligent service to the country.
The Director-General implored on all public officers to ensure that they performed their duties in accordance with the laid down procedures to avoid engaging in corrupt practices. She said civil servants are the conduits of the development process as they translated Government policies into meaningful actions meant to uplift the standards of livings of the people of Zambia. She warned that all those that would be bent towards engaging in corrupt activities, thereby enriching themselves from public resources will undoubtedly face the consequences of the law.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday apprehended a police officer of Lusaka Division for soliciting for One Million Two Hundred Thousand Kwacha (K1,200,000) and receiving One Million Kwacha (K1,000,000) from a Lusaka resident as an inducement for the officer to facilitate the unblocking of a bank account for the complainant held with a named Commercial Bank.
Sargent Chimasa Ngulube, 38 of 117 Matero Police Camp was apprehended by Anti-Corruption Commission officers following a surveillance operation. Investigations into the matter are continuing.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption is saddened by the stance taken by some Police Officers on the Copperbelt who have vowed to continue taking bribes from criminals on account that their salaries were low as reported in the media recently.
The Commission strongly condemns this stance and warns that any officer that will be found wanting will face the consequences of the law.
The Commission however notes that some police officers have previously been steadfast and resisted attempts to corrupt them and have actually apprehended such criminals for offering bribes to them. In July last year the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested two people in Chingola, namely Silota Phiri and Anthony Chibuye for corruptly giving K907,500.00 to Jasper Sikazwe, a Police Officer as an inducement for him to allow Phiri and Chibuye to enter Moolmans Open Pit Mine with the intension of stealing copper. Sikazwe refused the bribe and apprehended the duo. Phiri and Chibuye are currently appearing before the Chingola Resident Magistrates Court and the matter is coming up for continued trial on 12th October 2012.
In another matter in Chingola, two suspects, Isaac Munkondya and Jim Lubutwe who had stolen copper were also arrested last year for offering a bribe of K700,000 to police officers. The Police Officers refused the bribe and apprehended the duo. The matter is before court in Chingola and will come up for trial on 26th October 2012.
The Commission implores other Police Officers and other Public Officers to emulate the Police Officers who have maintained their integrity and resisted, condemned and reported attempts to bribe them.
The Commission would like to categorically state that it will remain vigilant and unswerving in ensuring that those that break the law are brought to book. The Commission would further like to applaud the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Inspector General of Police Ms. Stella Libongani for their resolve to counter the officer’s behavior on the Copperbelt.
A Victory Ministries International Church Pastor has strongly condemned the irate mob justice of John Laing compound who set ablaze a suspected bandit on Monday, this week.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS yesterday, Nevers Mumba stated that the mob should have avoided breaking the rule of law but instead they should have allowed the police to handle the situation.
Dr Mumba noted that instant mob justice is not the solution, adding that people should not go by the olden days where communities took matters in their own hands.
He said the courts and the police are there to handle such matters and exist to bring justice and peace to the nation.
Dr Mumba appealed to Zambians to report such cases to the police who have the sole responsibility of apprehending the suspects.
On Monday, a suspected bandit died after being set ablaze by irate residents of john Laing Compound in Lusaka who was between the ages of 25 and 30.
The Ministry of Finance last month disbursed K1.5 trillion for infrastructure development, poverty reduction, debt service, personal emoluments and general operations of Ministries, Provinces and Spending Agencies (MPA’s).
The Ministry of Finance has since appealed to members of the public to take keen interest in monitoring Government financed and implemented programmes to ensure that public resources were used for their intended purposes.
Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta said this in a statement in Lusaka yesterday.
He said from the total K1.5 trillion disbursed, the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection got K12 billion for a large scale programme on afforestation involving the purchasing of tree seedlings for replanting in environmentally degraded regions in the country.
Mr Kandeta said other beneficiaries included the Ministry of Lands which received K5 billion for upgrading the Lands Management Information System, which when completed would ensure that Government maintained accurate records on land matters to ease the burden of countrywide land administration.
The Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications received K65.2 billion of which aerodrome infrastructure development at the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone was allocated K16 billion to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation and expansion works in readiness for the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Conference.
The same Ministry, Mr Kandeta said, received K20 billion for the purchase of Fire Tenders to boost the country’s safety facilities.
The Ministry of Finance’s Loans and Investments Portofolio received K296 billion of which K4.5 billion went towards the recapitalisation of Zambia Railways, adding that the Public Service Pensions Fund through the Public Service Management Division at Cabinet Office got K20.1 billion towards pension dues.
“The Ministry of Finance Budget Office also released K75 billion as Constitutional and Statutory Expenditure for External Multilateral Debt Service, an important measure in maintaining Zambia’s credit worthiness which has been widely acclaimed as evidenced by over-subscription of the Inaugural International Bond,” he said.
Mr Kandeta stated further that the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives received K6.8 billion of which K4.2 billion was allocated to the food security programme and K2.3 billion to bilateral, multilateral and regional agricultural development programmes.
The Ministry of Education received K24.5 billion of which Research and University Education Programme got K17.7 billion, the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) got K1.2 billion, the TEVET Sub Sector received K1.8 billion while the Science and Technology Sub Sector got K2.2 billion.
Mr Kandeta said the Ministry of Health was given K13.6 billion of which the K5.4 billion was allocated towards the purchase of medical supplies. The National Assembly received K31 billion of which K4.1 billion went towards legislative activities while parliamentary oversight got K1.1 billion.
The Ministry of Justice got K24 billion of which K15 billion was towards Compensation and Awards while K9 billion was allocated to the programme on dismantling of other arrears while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) got K2 billion for the purchase of plant and equipment for operational improvements in the fight against corruption.
“The Ministry of Finance wishes to appeal to members of the public to take up the civic duty of monitoring programmes financed and implemented by Government in order to ensure that public resources are utilised for intended purposes.
“In this way, stakeholders will be able to monitor Government’s performance in delivering improved services, employment creation and poverty reduction in Zambia,” Mr Kandeta said.
Government has said that the power outage experienced at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on Tuesday was as a result of the trip on the entire electricity supply system.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Deputy minister Mutaba Mwali said in a statement yesterday that despite the outage, the luggage check-in and passengers were screened appropriately and security and safety measures were in place at all times.
Mr Mwali said standby generators were immediately activated and restored power to most parts of the airport except for the concourse where power failure persisted because of a medium voltage panel which had broken down as a result of the power outage.
He said engineers from ZESCO and the National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) managed to repair the broken down panel and restored supply to the concourse for lighting and checking-in through a bypass.
“Electricity supply to other facilities such as the control block, runway, taxiways and navigation aids was constant during this period through the stand by generators,” Mr Mwali said.
He said investigations to establish the cause of the trip have been instituted.
NACL has since suspended the use of lifts, escalators and the arrival baggage carousel at the airport until full power supply was restored in the terminal building.
Management has since apologized to the customers and passengers for the inconvenience caused and thanked ZESCO for their timely intervention.
Kabwe Warriors lead at the top of the Faz Division One South log has been cut to three points after drawing with visitors Nkwazi.
Warriors and Nkwazi finished scoreless in their delayed Week 27 game played at Railway Grounds in Kabwe on Wednesday afternoon.
This game was rescheduled due to Warriors’ 2012 Barclays Cup quarterfinals commitments on September 15 that saw them eliminated 1-0 by Power Dynamos at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Warriors move to 59 points while second placed Nkwazi have eaten one point off their hosts’ lead to go to 56 points.
Kafue Celtic are third on 51 points with City of Lusaka in fourth position on 48 points with five more rounds of action to go before the top two promotion sides are confirmed.
Lusaka lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has announced the formation of the new cooperative organization, the Coalition for the Defence of the Democratic Rights (CDDR), which is aimed at monitoring and defending civil rights in Zambia.
In a statement availed to media today Mr Sikota said the coalition has been formed because of the growing illegality and violence initiated by individuals to advance their private and political interests.
Mr Sikota said the CDDR shall operate as a non-partisan organization focused on the observation of civil and human rights.
He said the judiciary has bravely fought to maintain its independence from the increasing interference and political pressure.
He further said in future CDDR will provide evidence with the aim of restoring civility and adherence to rule of law in the political discourse.
Below is the Launch Statement
===================
Inaugural Statement of the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights of Zambia
October 3, 2012
To all citizens of the Republic of Zambia:
Approximately one year ago, Zambian voters went out to the polls to exercise their democratic right to suffrage to select new leadership. Just one year later, these same constitutional and internationally recognized rights to free and fair association, political competition, and freedom of expression are under threat by an increasingly authoritarian state.
President Michael Sata and some members of the ruling Patriotic Front party have in many instances violated local and international law in their treatment of political opposition parties. In response, victims of state persecution are hereby announcing the foundation of a new cooperative organisation – the Coalition for Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) – in order to defend civil rights in Zambia.
The formation of this coalition has become necessary because of the growing illegality and violence initiated by individuals among the Executive abusing state power to advance their private and political interests.
As lawyers dedicated to the rule of law and democratic values, we are duty-bound to assist those whose political, civil and constitutional rights are violated. Our doors are open to all those who have suffered unlawful treatment at the hands of the Patriotic Front government over their beliefs, irrespective of ideology, ethnic origin, or agenda. The CDDR shall operate on a non-partisan basis, strictly focused on the observation of civil and human rights.
Among the first actions of the CDDR will be the submission of a comprehensive document detailing the Patriotic Front’s legal violations and judicial interference for submission before relevant international bodies.
It is our intention to make the international community aware of the current abuse of rights and threats of violence being deployed by this government, paving the way for future prosecution and accountability for the unlawful conduct currently being committed by the Patriotic Front.
The judiciary has bravely fought to maintain its independence from increasing interference and political pressure by the ruling party. The CDDR will act in defence of judicial independence and will expand these grievances to international forums to seek redress.
In future communications the CDDR will provide documentary evidence and factual support of the state’s campaign of harassment and persecution against opposition parties, with the aim of restoring civility and adherence to rule of law in the political discourse.
We hope that you will join us in our effort to enforce accountability on behalf of the elected leadership.
Government has donated an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to Kabwe General Hospital (KGH) in Central Province.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde, said government has fulfilled the responsibility of providing quality and holistic health care in a clean, caring and competent environment to Kabwe General Hospital by the providing ICU.
Dr Kasonde said it is the mandate of the government to improve the health status of Zambia through the strengthening of health service delivery.
In a speech read for him by his deputy, Christopher Mulenga, Dr Kasonde said the Ministry plans to set up ICUs in every provincial hospital countrywide among many other initiatives in strengthening the provision of quality health care.
Dr Kasonde said among other supportive plans of the Ministry that will greatly enhance the provision of emergency health services to hospitals include the provision of Ambulances to ensure the provision of critical care from the accident scene to the ICU facility.
Speaking at the same occasion Acting Provincial Medical Officer Beatrice Kafulubiti said the donation of the Intensive Care Unit will cut the cost of transferring critically ill patients in need of intensive care to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
Dr Kafulubiti added that the transfer of cases to UTH increased the risk to the patient and cost of care due to a number of reasons.
She appealed to government to further provide the hospital with more specialized diagnostic equipment, such as CAT Scan, which helps manage high trauma cases to enhance the provision of critical care in addition to the newly established ICU at the hospital.
And Kabwe General Hospital Medical Superintendent, George Chipulu, said the opening of the ICU at Kabwe General Hospital was a great relief to the hospital as it will save lives and alleviate the suffering of victims of the road traffic accidents and other disasters.
The ICU ward has been equipped with such instruments as 3 pulse ox meters, 4 ventilators, 2 ultra sonic nebulizers, 1 volumetric infusion pump and patients monitors among others.
Zambia Under-17 will this weekend hosts Zimbabwe Under-17 in a two-match friendly series.
Faz says both game will be played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
“The first match between the Zambia Under-17 and Zimbabwe Under-17 team will be played on Saturday 6th October 2012 at the Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka,” Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said.
“It will curtain raise the MTN Super League game between Green Buffaloes and Indeni and will kick off at 13:00hours. The second match, on Sunday 7th October will be played at the same venue at 15:00hours.”
Zambia are using the friendly matches to prepare for their Morocco 2013 Africa Junior Cup second round qualifier against South Africa.
South Africa will host Zambia in the first leg on October 14 while the return leg will be played on October 27.
Winner will face Ghana or Gambia in the final round qualifying stage in November to decide which team qualifier for the next year’s tournament in Morocco.
Angry Mpulungu farmers today besieged the office of the District Commissioner demanding that government pays them for the maize they supplied the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) last August.
The farmers who on Monday threatened to lock up the offices of the DC’s and District Agriculture Coordinator (DACOs) if they were not paid by today, were only restrained by the presence of Police officers in riot gear who kept vigil at the DC’s office as early as 08:00hrs this morning.
However, the farmers could not be deterred as they went ahead and stood their ground demanding that they still wanted to be paid their money or be given back their maize.
They lamented that the delay in getting their money had sent them and their families into untold suffering.
Some of the farmers vowed that if the current situation continued, they might be forced to sell their produce to other interested buyers locally and in neighbouring countries.
The farmers, mostly from Chitimbwa, Vyamba, Chinakila, Kopeka and Mpulungu wondered how they were going to buy fertilizers and other agro – inputs in time if they could not be paid their money now when the rainy season was just around the corner.
But addressing the farmers, district commissioner Juliana Chuzu said the government through the ministry of finance released K300 billion to enable the FRA pay farmers around the country.
She appealed to the farmers to be patient with the government saying the delay in payment was not unique to Mpulungu district but a countrywide problem.
Ms Chuzu promised the farmers that they should be getting their money in two weeks time.
On Monday, District agriculture coordinator Kennedy Sinkamba said the department of agriculture was equally worried by the delay in paying the farmers.
Mr Sinkamba was quoted saying that the delay by FRA to pay the farmers in the area defeats the concept of food security at the household level as farmers were forced to sell their food reserves as a survival strategy.
Mr. Sinkamba added that from the 1,300 farmers who supplied maize to FRA, only 130 were paid on 22 August 2012, when part of the money was released.
Mini buses are operating out side the Kulima Tower
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has warned of stern action against bus operators who are flouting the statutory instrument (SI) number 47 of 2012 on the amended minimum wages and conditions of employment Act.
Speaking this morning in Lusaka at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting, Deputy Minister of Labour Ronald Chitotela urged bus drivers to demand to sign contracts of employment with their employers, the bus operators.
Mr. Chitotela, who was disappointed with the low turnout of bus operators at the meeting, also called on the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to collaborate with the Ministry of Labour in implementing statutory instrument number 47.
He said this can be done by ensuring that all bus operators seeking to apply for road service licences produce employment contracts from the Ministry of Labour that meet the conditions of the employment Act.
And Private and Public Drivers Association of Zambia Secretary General Josiah Majuru complained that bus operators have not implemented the revised minimum wage.
Mr. Majuru also said his association was facing the challenge of casualisation, which was compounded by many other problems in the transport sector.
He urged government to seriously address the various challenges which the sector was facing.
Meanwhile, Labour Commissioner, Mukamasole Kasanda has called for serious observation of the law of attestation by ensuring that all employers follow the employment Act cap 268 of the laws of Zambia.
Mrs. Kasanda has since demanded that all contracts of employment signed between bus operators and bus drivers should be immediately submitted to the Ministry of Labour to encourage decent wages and create sanity in the transport sector.
The meeting was attended by government officials from the Ministry of Labour, RTSA, bus operators and their drivers among other stakeholders.
