The number of people accessing draft copies of the constitution placed at parliamentary constituency offices is low.

A snap check by ZNBC news in Lusaka revealed that members of the public are not coming forward to access and make submissions.

At Kabwata constituency office, the professional assistant Racheal Muvumbo has told ZNBC that the office received four hundred copies of the draft last week but bemoaned the low turnout.

A check at Lusaka Central constituency office revealed that only one person had passed through the office as at 11 hours on Tuesday.

Professional assistant at the office Jacqueline Lukumba has attributed the low turn out to lack of adequate sensitization.

And a member of the public that was found collecting draft copies at the office called for extensive sensitization to encourage other members of the public to collect the document.

Violet Kafula says it is important that people know where to collect draft copies so that every member of the public is given an opportunity to make submissions to the constitution making process.

And a check at Chawama constituency office situated on Findeco house found the office locked.

Fifteen days have elapsed since the draft constitution was launched on April 30.

Members of the public have been given forty days to read and make submissions on the draft document.

On Monday the technical committee drafting the constitution disclosed that officers have been dispatched to all districts to distribute draft copies to public institutions.

ZNBC

Airtel Zambia today announced the details of the second round of Africa’s largest youth football initiative – the Airtel Rising Stars soccer talent programme that aims to focus on identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage. The second season of the program – which follows a hugely successful inaugural year –provides a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts and coaches, giving them an opportunity to further their football skills.

Speaking at the launch of the program Airtel Zambia Marketing Director, Mr. Navdeep Kapur said: “Last year’s extremely successful tournament is testament to the fact that football has a unique ability to connect and empower communities, as well as to create a positive community impact from the grassroots to a national level In our first year alone, we had countrywide participation from all provinces followed by an elimination process to select the 9 teams that participated in the national championships. This great turnout made it clear to us that we were on the right track with this tournament, which is why we are so eager for it to kick off this year.”

This year, ARS is being launched under the campaign “Zambitious,” which encourages the Zambian youth to rise above any challenges to achieve their dreams.

And speaking on behalf of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President, Mr Lee Kawanu said, “We welcome a new partner and sponsor, Airtel who has committed and is dedicated to uncovering and nurturing young talents who tomorrow will carry our flag, defend our colours and bring glory in the orange and green colours of the Chipolopolo. In Zambia we have enormous spirit, great ambition and an enviable amount of determination. And with various partners and sponsors coming on board to give a push to these talents and the administration, there is no measuring how high we can go”.

Mr. Kawanu added, “The coming on board of new partners and sponsors demonstrates too that the current situation in Zambian Football is one that is full of potential. With the right mind-set and the Zambian people behind us we have an opportunity to reach even greater height. From an administration and technical point of view I believe we have the right people in place. Perhaps not enough people, but these numbers can be augmented over a period of time when our financial situation is able to sustain some more qualified staff members. Through partnerships like the one we are unveiling today; we can meet the above shortfalls”.

Similar to last year, the program will be organized in the format of regional and national tournaments, and will culminate in an exclusive football camp under the tutelage of professional coaching staff. Top teams from each participating country will compete against each other for the title of Airtel Rising Stars African Champion.

And speaking during the launch, Director of Sports Mr. Bernard Nakachinda thanked Airtel and FAZ for coming together and strengthening the quality of soccer in Zambia “I am very proud and pleased to be here today to launch a programme and officially herald the start of a partnership between the Football Association of Zambia and Airtel Zambia. Government is proud of this partnership and the investment that Airtel is bringing into football development and the value and greater benefits that the platform of the Football Association of Zambia will bequeath to Airtel”.

The pan-African football tournament, which will span 16 Airtel markets across the continent, is designed to provide a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts, coaches and have an opportunity to further their football skills. The initiative targets youths across the country and provides a structured platform for scouts, coaches, football authorities and other partners to tap into a vast pool of upcoming talent.

Airtel will spend close to K3 billion in this year’s tournament, which is double the amount spent from last year’s event. As a unique aspect of this year’s tournament, Airtel Zambia will also be awarding K400, 000.00 for each goal scored during the final games to each team, to be used towards the players’ education.

The Airtel Rising Stars registration will kick-off on 14 May 2012 and close on 30 June 2012; this is expected to draw participants from all ten provinces in Zambia. The registration forms will be available from all Airtel centres and at Football Association of Zambia offices (Football House).

Judge Lovemore Chikopa has arrived in readiness to start Tribunal sittings to probe the conduct of three suspended judges. Judge Chikopa arrived in Zambia last night aboard a South African Airline.Judge Chikopa is widely known in Malawi for delivering remarkable judgements.

When asked by Nyasa times about the assertions that he is too junior to head a tribunal which is tasked to probe a case involving two senior judges from the Zambian Supreme Court, Justice Chikopa laughed off saying for any judge no case is small or big because it is a matter of determining justice adding that he has enough experience and qualified expertise to competently handle the matter.

“The law will take its course in this matter based on natural justice. I will ensure that the wheels of justice will move in a just manner,” said Justice Chikopa.

But Justice Chikopa was quick to say that heading the Zambian tribunal is a challenge that he is not taking lightly emphasizing that he will approach it with respect, integrity and its due gravity.

“I am not looking at it as a personal achievement, rather it is national duty. This is not about me as an individual it is about my country Malawi and a lot of other stakeholders. I am proud that the Zambian government has invested its trust into the Malawi Judiciary.

“I will do the best of my ability to face the challenge and to prove those who think otherwise about Malawian Judges. All the Zambian government is asking is justice and I on behalf of the Malawi Judiciary will administer justice with due impartiality. This means that the Malawian Judiciary is doing something commendable in this part of Africa,” said Justice Chikopa.

He added: “I’m also happy and proud that President Sata and his government have confidence in my professional aptitude. This is great for our country,but it must also be noted that Malawian Judges are professional and over the years have done tremendous job in other countries within the continent and beyond.”

President Michael Sata on April 30 suspended three judges and constituted a tribunal to investigate alleged corrupt activities in the Judiciary

Judge Chikopa will be assisted in the case by retired judges Naboth Mwanza and Thomas Ndhlovu.

The three are Supreme Court Judge, Philip Musonda, and two High court Judges, Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna who would remain suspended pending recommendations of the tribunal.

According to the terms and reference on Justice Mutuna, the tribunal would inquire into his conduct in relation to the manner in which he presided over hearing and determination of the case of Development Bank of Zambia versus Post Newspaper limited, JCN Holdings limited and Mutembo Nchito.

The tribunal would specifically inquire into charges that Justice Mutuna misbehaved or acted incompetently when he proceeded to hear and determine the matter without a formal order transferring the matter from Justice Albert Mark Wood before whom the matter had been heard.

It is alleged that Justice Mutuna misbehaved or acted incompetently when he proceeded to hear and determine the matter in total disregard of evidence available to him that clearly demonstrated that Justice Wood’s independence as a Judge had been interfered with in the course of proceedings relating to the matter.

Justice Mutuna allegedly misbehaved or could have acted incompetently in the circumstance of the matter when he proceeded to deliver judgment in a matter in which the plaintiff had expressly indicated that it no longer intended to proceed with matter as a result of which it filed a notice of discontinuance.

On Justice Musonda and Justice Kajimanga, the tribunal would inquire into their relation in the matter in which they interfered in and illegally retrieved or caused the retrieval of cases of Development Bank of Zambia versus the Post Newspaper limited, JCN Holdings and Mutembo Nchito and Finsbury Investment limited versus Antonio Vetriglia and Manuela Sebastiani Vetriglia the matter from Justice Wood.

Justice Musonda and Justice Kajimanga allegedly misbehaved or acted incompetently when whilst acting together they conspired to pervert the course of justice by retrieving or causing the retrieval of records relating to matters from Justice Wood during the due execution of his judicial functions as Judge of the High Court of Zambia.

The tribunal is expected to give recommendations President Sata within a period of two months or such other period as the tribunal would reasonably recommend.

Pupils at Chati High School in Kalulushi have not reported for school this term for fear of being arrested after they rioted and broke school
property the previous term.

And teachers at the school have vowed not to return to classes until all the pupils who took part in the violence last term are brought to
book.

This has created so much anxiety and uncertainty among the pupils and parents who are concerned that the school calendar and pupils’
performance during examinations would be greatly affected.

Before the close of the previous term, pupils at Chati High school rioted. In the ensuing violence, the slogan chanting pupils broke
school property and burnt the house of head teacher Charles Mpofu. Mr Mpofu sustained major injuries in the inferno.

The riot was instigated by the death of a pupil who committed suicide after the school authorities refused to take her examination fees,
which were submitted late.

The Parent Teachers Associations chairperson Amon Kafwali said the pupils at Chati High School had not reported for classes although the
teachers were ready to resume lessons for the second term of the school calendar.

He said many pupils especially those in examination classes would miss out on important lessons.

Mr Kafwali said the pupils should report for lessons since the teachers whom they offended had forgiven their transgressions.

The PTA was concerned about the matter.

“I confirm that the situation at Chati High School is very bad because pupils have not been reporting for classes since the second term
started on Monday, May 7th, 2012 when the schools re-opened, but teachers are reporting for work and they are just sitting and sun
basking because there no pupils to teach.”

“I am appealing to the pupils that they should start attending classes because teachers are very willing to teach them. We have been
monitoring the situation at the school and speaking to the teachers who have been assuring that pupils were not going to be victimized in
any way despite what they did last term,’’ he said.

But the head-boy at Chati High School, Daute Mudenda said pupils had decided to stay away from school because there was a rumour that they
police would nab them following their riotous behaviour last term.

“The bad thing is that pupils such as grade nines and grade 12s are missing lessons which they should have been preparing for their
examinations later in the year.

Mudenda said it was not true that teachers were ready to resume classes for the second term. He said the teachers are not reporting
for classes even for the small number of pupils that attempted to go for lessons earlier in the week.

“As head-boy for this school, I have been going to class but the teachers are not showing up although they had been reporting for work.

“My appeal to the teachers is that they should consider their position because their action is affecting many other pupils who did not take
part in last term’s riot at the school.

‘Pupils have not yet stared reporting for classes the reason is that there is a rumour going round pupils will be arrested the moment they
start reporting for classes.