The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is concerned that some sections of the Zambian society have been occasionally failing to access the online publication, Zambian Watchdog for about three days.

MISA Zambia has received complaints from various stakeholders complaining that they are failing to access one of the most influential online media in Zambia which is an alternative source of news for many citizens.

The development is also being closely monitored by the MISA Regional Secretariat in Namibia which has for over a decade advocated for media freedom, diversity, independence and pluralism.

Vice-president Guy Scott Friday morning is said to have told parliament that the PF government will greatly celebrate the day the Zambianwatchdog will be brought down and inaccessible in Zambia.

Dr Scott was responding to questions from opposition law makers led by Kaputa MP Joel Bweupe Maxas Ng’onga who wanted to find out whether it was true that this website has been blocked from inside Zambia.

[pullquote] the PF government will greatly celebrate the day the Zambianwatchdog will be brought down and inaccessible in Zambia-Guy Scott[/pullquote]

Dr Scott said he did not have much details on the blocking but quickly said he and his government would rejoice greatly the day the site would be closed as it had caused too much harm to his government.

He said the Zambian Watchdog has endangered the nation’s security and tainted Zambia’ international reputation.

“This is the website that has accused everyone of being adulterous, a thief, terminally ill, corrupt, and so on, so we would glad to have it shut because it is denting our image abroad”, Scott said as a number of opposition MP kept murmuring in disapproval.

But Monze Central Member of Parliament Jackie Mwiimbu said the Zambianwatchdog was the only source of credible news and information in Zambia.

Mr. Mwiimbu wondered whether it was not true that civil servants were only given 4 per cent salary increment as shown by the documents carried by the Zambiawatchdog.

In response, Dr Scott said he was even more worried that even MPs were now using the Zambianwatchdog content as basis for debate and questioning government in parliament.

According to Zambian Watchdog problems started Monday 24 June 15:30 GMT when Internet connections coming from inside Zambia towards Zambianwatchdog.com were quickly terminated during the connection establishment.

Matero Member of Parliament, Miles Sampa, has urged the well-to-do members of society to have compassionate towards less-privileged children.

And Mr Sampa has commended Children International Zambia for supplementing government’s efforts towards improving the lives of less privileged children in society.

Mr Sampa, who is also Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, said people who are well-to-do should at all cost assist the most vulnerable in society, particularly children.

He said this at the handover of 60 wheel chairs to children living with different disabilities in Lusaka’s George Compound yesterday.

Mr Sampa said it is gratifying on the part of government to note that the private sector has come on board to assist children born with different disabilities.

Earlier, Children International Programmes Officer, Richard Chikwa, disclosed that the 60 wheelchairs are part of the 550 wheelchairs which were procured at a cost of KR213, 000.

Mr Chikwa said other wheelchairs have already been distributed to over 11 institutions and pledged that his organization will remain committed to improving the morbidity of disabled children.

ZANIS

THE Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has said it is deeply saddened by the death of the 34 year old Mode Chitulumani of Chiyaba village in Sinazongwe who was attacked and eaten by a crocodile while drawing drinking water from Lake Kariba.

NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said the death of Ms Chitulumani was regrettable, given the fact that she was an expectant mother.

Ms Chitulumani was on Monday attacked and eaten by a crocodile while fetching some water from Lake Kariba.

“It is for this reason that NGOCC, has been advocating for the inclusion of soci-economic rights in the new constitution which promote affirmative action for women and children.

“As a women’s movement we are concerned and disappointed that in this day and age our people, especially women, are still losing their lives while in pursuit of a basic necessity like water. Access to safe water is a social economic right which the government is supposed to provide to its citizens,” she said.

Ms Mwale has since appealed to the government to address the challenges in the provision of safe water to people especially in the rural areas if such deaths are to be avoided.

“The unfortunate incident in Sinazongwe exemplifies the fact that lack of access to safe water is adversely affecting women more as they are the ones that usually fend for the family in most households.

“Government should refocus its priorities and begin to direct more resources on important social services such as provision of safe water so that more Zambians have easy access and avoid unnecessary deaths like what transpired in Sinazongwe,” she said.

ACTING Home Affairs Minister Wynter Kabimba has advised Members of Parliament (MPs) who wish to hold public meetings in their constituency to give notice to Local the police command in accordance with the Public Order Act.

Mr Kabimba said this was a precautionary measure in case during the same meeting the security and safety of the MPs was compromised.

He said this in Parliament yesterday when he gave a ministerial statement arising from the Point of Order that was raised in the House last week as to why Independent Lubansenshi MP Patrick Mucheleka was harassed by the Police when he held meetings with his members in his constituency on June 5, this year.

Mr Kabimba who is Justice Minister said all MPS were free to visit their constituencies at any given time, but should give notice as a precautionary measure in case during the same meeting the security and safety is compromised.

He said it was unfortunate that Mr Mucheleka was allegedly renowned for being uncooperative with the police who have complained about his lack of courteous to them.

“In this regard we are aware of the honourable MPs complaint about Luwingu police and the Provincial command decided to use Police officer from Kasama to ensure that the MP does not use his perceived difference with the local police as a excuse for not going to his constituency,” Mr Kabimba said.

He advised the MP that he needs the local police command as well as the district administration for him to easily work in his constituency

PRESIDENT Sata says his Government remains open to dialogue on national issues and that he expects a certain level of maturity from those who seek to engage Government on various national issues.

President Sata was reacting to remarks reported in the media and attributed to MMD president Nevers Mumba regarding the State’s decision to withdraw former President Rupiah Banda’s diplomatic passport.

On Thursday, Pastor Mumba described Government’s decision to cancel Mr Banda’s diplomatic passport as an ‘act of stupidity’.

President Sata said Pastor Mumba’s remarks do not reflect the maturity Government expects from opposition leaders.

President Sata said this in a statement issued by his spokesman Mr George Chellah.

Pastor Mumba was quoted as having said: “… I am a pastor and I am supposed to choose words I use but I am asking God to allow me to use the word ‘stupidity’, utter stupidity to behave like that.”
President Sata has advised Pastor Mumba to be genuine with his spiritual calling and stop misrepresenting God.

“Pastor Mumba’s biggest problem is the impression he creates around himself as though he has the monopoly on matters of spirituality to the extent of misrepresenting the Creator.”

The President said, “As a clergyman, he must be ashamed of this hypocrisy and stop abusing the freedom and democracy, which so many well-intentioned Zambians sacrificed for.”

President Sata told Pastor Mumba not to be a menace to the unity and peace the country has enjoyed since independence.

On Thursday Pastor Mumba told journalists that what Government had done was an embarrassment to the country and the region because former Presidents deserve respect.

Pastor Mumba said this at Chipata Municipal Council shortly after MMD candidate Reuben Phiri filed his nomination papers for the July 25 Chipata Central parliamentary by-election.

President Michael Sata has observed that the teaching service is facing numerous challenges which need to be addressed urgently.

Mr. Sata said people that charged with the responsibility of addressing these challenges in the education sector should work hard.

He was speaking at State House today when he swore in education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education deputy ministry Patrick Ngoma.

President Sata implored Mr. Ngoma, who is Feira Member of Parliament in Luangwa district, to work closely with the Minister of Education, John Phiri to address the problems in the education sector.

He bemoaned the fact that nearly 50 years of Zambia’s political independence, some children in Luangwa district are still subjected to walking long distances to access primary education.

President Sata said more efforts should be applied in the education sector so as to enable more children in rural districts to access primary education.

“Mr. Ngoma, you are not new to this discipline because when I was District Governor of Lusaka, I found you teaching and poached you from teaching to bring you in politics. We have given you the opportunity. You know the problems in the teaching service therefore assist your minister who is an educationist like you,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Sata told Mr. Ngoma to use his position as deputy minister to address problems in the teaching service.

The President expressed optimism that Mr. Ngoma will contribute positively in the improvement of the education system.

“I have been in Luangwa with you. Let us provide education to all the poor children. You must be embarrassed that 50 years of independence, we still have children walking long distance to access primary education,” he noted.

And speaking to Journalists after being sworn in, Mr. Ngoma thanked President Sata for reappointing him as deputy minister in the Ministry of Education.

Mr. Ngoma admitted that the education sector has a lot of challenges and called for concerted effort in addressing the problems.

ZANIS

Four people died on the spot while several others sustained serious injuries when a Marcopolo bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a tanker near 15 Miles in Chibombo district in Central Province.

Police deputy spokesperson, Charity Munganga Chanda, said involved in were a CV Transport bus registration number ABT 2108 which was coming from Mpulungu to Lusaka and an empty Frontline tanker, registration number ABC 1805 and ABV 39832T belonging to Kobil Transport in Mongu.

Ms Chanda said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
She disclosed that the dead are the drivers from both vehicles only identified as Amos Hamwemba, aged 47 while that of the bus is Morgan Kasonde, aged 30, of Bwacha compound in Kabwe.

The police spokesperson said the accident happened around 04:30 hours as the driver of the Marcopolo bus, coming from Mpulungu, was trying to overtake the Canter which was coming from the opposite direction.

She said the injured were rushed to Chipata and Ngwerere clinics while others were taken to the University Teaching Hospital.

She added that details of the injured were still being compiled and would be communicated as soon as they are available.

The bodies of the deceased are lying in UTH mortuary awaiting post mortem.

ZANIS

The Drug Enforcement Commission in Lusaka has arrested a male Nigerian national for trafficking in cocaine.

DEC Public relations Officer, Samuel Silomba, named the culprit as Nnawuihe Chibueze, 30, a Nigerian national residing at plot no. 2841, Matero Compound in Lusaka.

Mr Silomba disclosed the arrest to ZANIS in a press statement in Lusaka today
He said the suspect has been arrested for trafficking in 2 rocks and 3 sachets of cocaine.

He stated that the suspect was also found with 5090 Naira (Nigerian currency) and KR 1,600 cash believed to be proceeds from illicit drug business.

Mr Silomba said the money has since been seized by the Commission pending further investigations.

And Mr Silomba also revealed that in the last five days, the Commission has arrested over 30 people countrywide for trafficking in various quantities of illicit drugs.

Mr Silomba said those arrested include Kamwaya Manongo, 35, a businessman of Kaoma district, for trafficking in 6.7 kg of loose cannabis, Kahalu Sakaponde, 37, a businessman of Chilombo Market in Kaoma, for trafficking in 1.2kg of loose cannabis and Kennedy Kantu, 26, of Libuyu Compound in Livingstone, for trafficking in 5.1kg of loose cannabis.

He Silomba said all the suspects will appear in court soon.

Meanwhile, Mr Silomba has said the Commission in Mongu, Western Province, is searching for a suspect who attempted to buy groceries from a named shop using a K100 counterfeit note.

Mr Silomba said the Commission also wishes to urge traders, farmers and the public at large, to familiarise themselves with the features of the new notes and be on the lookout for criminals who might want to buy goods using counterfeit notes.

ZANIS

Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe has nullified the 2011 election victory of MMD Petauke Central MP Dora Siliya.

This was after Losing PF candidate in the 2011 elections Leonard Banda petitioned the election victory of Ms. Siliya in the courts of law.

Mr. Banda had appealed to the Supreme Court after he lost the original petition in the High Court.

In delivering judgement this morning, Judge Muyovwe stated that there was overwhelming evidence of widespread corruption in the run up to the election in Petauke Central.