The United Party for National Development (UPND) is considering complaining to the United Nations on what they term as human rights abuses by the Patriotic Front government.

UPND presidential advisor Douglas Siakalima says it is a pity that the Zambia Police failed to respect individual human rights of the UPND youths when they broke-up the demonstration yesterday.

Mr. Siakalima has wondered why the Lusaka province Police commissioner Charity Katanga has declared war on the UPND.

He has accused the Lusaka province police chief of being compromised as portrayed by her behavior.

He has told a media briefing today that the conduct of the Police commissioner herself amounts to police brutality.

Mr. Siakalima says the UPND will soon engage the UN in order to address the purported deteriorating human rights record in Zambia.

And The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zambia) has observed that the continued harassment of journalists by police is an attack on the free flow of information.

MISA Zambia Chairperson Daniel Sikazwe further states that an attack on the free flow of information becomes a direct attack on democracy.

Commenting on the beating by Police of QFM’s Alexander Musokotwane during the UPND demonstration yesterday, Mr. Sikazwe says it is a clear indication that the police ignored the journalist’s identity despite being told that he was merely doing his job.

Mr. Sikazwe says it is unfortunate that journalists end up being attacked whilst carrying out their duties.

He notes that MISA will soon engage the police to understand what exactly transpired and also to find ways of ensuring that such occurrences are not repeated in the future.

QFM

Government has warned of stern action against pupils and students engaging in riotous behaviours saying the consequences of rioting have far reaching implications on future learners.

The country has recorded about seven riots in the periods between March and June this year, the latest being at Samfya Secondary School in Luapula province which happened last evening.

Ministry of Education, Science, Vocation Training and Early Education Permanent Secretary Miriam Chinyama said the Ministry will not Condon the acts of lawlessness amongst pupils and warned that stern action will be meted on those that will be found guilty of the offence.

Mr. Chinyama stated that the riotous behaviours by pupils and students is clearly in breach of Section 76 of the penal code, Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia which states that any person who takes part in a riot is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

She reiterated that the Ministry will not deal with cases of riotous behaviour administratively as always but will from now on treat them like any other criminal offence as the repair and maintenance of school property are at great cost to government and their families who are made to pay for damages caused.

The Permanent Secretary has since implored parents and other concerned stakeholders to counsel and educate their pupils about their rights and responsibilities and directed school administrators to put in place mechanisms that will facilitate effective communication between the school administration and pupils.

ZANIS

President Michael Sata is tomorrow expected in Geneva, Switzerland to address the on-going International Labour Conference(ILO).

President Sata is one of the high-level guests invited to deliver a keynote speeches at the 101st Session of the International labour
conference which stated on May 30.Zambia’s Ambassador to Switzerland Encyla Sinjela told ZANIS in Geneva yesterday that President Sata was expected to arrive at Geneva- Cointrin Airport at 19:35 hours accompanied by First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba and some top government officials.

Ambassador Sinjela said other leaders who were invited to deliver keynote speeches at the labour conference which has brought together more than 3,000 government, union and employer delegates from the ILO’s 184 member states include the Prince Asturias of Spain, the President of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchila, President of Tunisia Moncef Marzouki and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

Others are the President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli, President of Peru, Olanta Humala and founder of the Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab.

Ambassador Sinjela has described the Head of State’s visit to Switzerland as a rare opportunity adding that the Zambian mission in Geneva was looking forward to warmly receive the Zambian Head of State.

She explained that it was a rare honour for the Geneva mission to receive the Head of State because unlike the General Assembly meetings in New York which are always attended by world leaders every year, the ILO meetings in Geneva were more attended at the level of minister and senior government officials.

Ambassador Sinjela said apart from giving a keynote address to the ILO Conference, President Sata will on Friday meet the Tripartite African delegations under the aegis of the African Union (AU), meet the Swiss-African Business Community before meeting Zambians based in Geneva at the Ambassador’s residence.

President Sata arrives in Geneva from London where he was one of the top guests at the Diamond Jubilee, marking the Queen’s 60-year reign as the head of the monarchy.

Zambia’s advance delegation in Geneva includes Information,Broadcasting and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda and his Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga, Acting Labour Commissioner Mukamasole Mundale, Director of Occupational Safety and Health Chivunda Kakoma,Director of Social Security Trevor Kaunda and Chief Planner Owen Mgemezulu.

Union representatives from Zambia attending the UN labour conference in Geneva include Secretary General of the Zambia Congress of Trade
Union (ZCTU) Roy Mwaba, Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) Joyce-Nonde Simukoko and Zambia National Union of Teachers
President Henry Kapenda.

Representatives from the employers sector in Zambia include Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) Executive Director Harrington Chibanda,Director-General of NAPSA Charles Mpundu, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Lungu Nkumbula and ZESCO
Senior Manager, Human Resources Chanda Mwila.

ILO is the only tripartite UN agency with government, employer and worker representatives.This tripartite structure makes the ILO a unique forum at which the governments and the social partners of the economy of the 184 member states can freely and openly debate and elaborate labour standards and policies.

[ZANIS]

President Michael Sata is on today expected in Geneva, Switzerland to address the on-going International Labour Conference -ILO.

President Sata is one of the high-level guests invited to address the one hundred and first session of the International labour conference which opened on May 30.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Switzerland, Encyla Sinjela told ZANIS that President Sata is expected to arrive in Geneva at 19:35 hours.

He will be accompanied by First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba and some top government officials.

The conference has attracted 3-thousand government, union and employer delegates from the ILO’s 184 member states.

Yesterday, British secretary of state for international development Andrew Mitchell has reaffirmed his government’s support to Zambia.

Mr. Mitchell says the British government will not balance its books at the expense of the poor people in the world despite the financial difficulties in the Eurozone.

ZNBC’s Melesiana Chibwe reports that Mr Mitchell was speaking to Zambian journalists after a closed door meeting with President Michael sata at the Department of International development offices which took about 30 minutes.

Mr. Mitchell who described the meeting with President Sata as excellent said he is pleased with Zambia’s campaign against corruption and the promotion of private sector investment.

He says his government is also happy to receive President Sata who is visiting the UK for the first time after his election as Zambia’s head of state.

Mr. Mitchell says the 2011 general elections in Zambia is a good example of a well run election.

And special assistant to the president for press and public relations George Chellah says the meeting discussed government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.

He says president Sata wants to see donor funds trickling down to the poor Zambians.

Mr. Sata was received at the offices by head of DFID in Zambia Mike Hammond and British High commissioner to Zambia James Thornton.

Mr. Sata also took time to walk about the streets to greet British citizens.

And President Michael Sata has called on Zambians living in the UK to return home and contribute to the country’s development.

ZNBC’ Melesiana Chibwe Phiri reports that President Sata also said that Skilled Zambians who have chosen to live in the Diaspora should not complain when local jobs are given to foreigners.

The President said this on Wednesday night when he addressed Zambians Living in the UK at the Zambian high commissioner’s residence.

Speaking at the same occassion, mines minister Christopher Yaluma said his ministry is looking for skilled manpower to help develop the mining sector in the country.

Mr Yaluma says geologists and mining engineers are among the skills his ministry is looking for at the moment.

ZNBC

Students at the Copperbelt University- CBU- in Kitwe on Wednesday boycotted classes protesting over a directive issued by the Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma not to allow squatting in rooms at the campus.

Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma met with the Copperbelt University Student Union informing them about his decision.

In protest students at the institution gathered at the Monk square demanding for an address from Professor Ngoma.

Addressing the students, Professor Ngoma says the university wants to ensure that all students have decent accommodation.

He says plans are under way for the construction of more hostels within the university campus.

Professor Ngoma also disclosed that government through the public private partnership has already made funds available for the construction of new hostels at the university.

He however says, for now all students will continue staying at campus until the university finds alternative accommodation.

ZNBC

Lawyer, Mumba Kapumpa has withdrawn his legal services from Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda in all matters related to the tribunal set up by President Michael Sata.

This is according to a statement issued by Mr Mumba Kapumpa advocates and issued to ZNBC on Wednesday evening.

President Michael Sata established a tribunal to probe the misconduct of Judge Philip Musonda and two other High court judges who have since filed in an injunction against the tribunal .

Judge Musonda who until now was being represented by Mr Mumba Kapumpa who was suspended pending the tribunal has since resumed work after he sought judicial a review.

ZNBC

Vice President Guy Scott has assured the nation that no Zambian will go hungry.

Dr Scott says government has already instructed the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to carry out countrywide assessment to ascertain how many vulnerable households are in dire need of relief food.

He says 200 tonnes of maize will be distributed to four thousand people in Serenje District in few weeks.

Dr Scott says the distribution of Food is a normal routine and should not be politicized.

He says the distribution of relief food will help clear old maize stocks so that the new crop can be stored in the depots.

Dr Scott said this in Serenje Central province on Wednesday.

University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Managing Director Lackson Kasonka has said that he is elated at the remarkable progress former Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga who is admitted to the institution is making.

Dr Kasonka said Mr Konga was making impressive recovery and was responding “exceptionally well” to treatment.

He said Mr Konga’s blood pressure was brought to manageable levels and that he was undergoing physiotherapy treatment to address the numbness on his limbs, explaining that limbs often became numb when the blood pressure overtook one’s body.

He, however, said he was not in a position to state when the former Minister was likely to be discharged.

Mr Konga collapsed last week on Wednesday during interrogations with the joint investigative wings of Government. He was initially admitted to St John’s Medical Hospital before being transferred to UTH where he has been since.

The law enforcement agencies, early this year, seized the MMD Chavuma West parliamentarian’s luxurious Hummer motor vehicle which he said he acquired using money that Members of Parliament (MPs) got from National Assembly as car loans.

Mr Konga was also warned and cautioned over a multi-billion Kwacha Hotel situated near Kamwala, a semi-detached flat in Kabulonga and mining equipment in Makeni, property that has all been given back to him.