Angry villagers in Senama area of Mansa district have burnt to death two unidentified middle-aged men whom they suspected of being ritual killers.

Police and people who witnessed the killing of the duo confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Mansa today.
According to eyewitnesses, the two victims were pounced on by a mob of villagers when a little boy they allegedly attempted to snatch last evening shouted for help.

The same eyewitnesses said the mob had assaulted the two men to unconsciousness before dragging them to the roadside where they piled wood and grass and set them on fire.

The angry mob of villagers also booed and attacked police officers who went to the scene to investigate the matter. The sticks and stone wielding villagers smashed the windscreen of the police vehicle.

Luapula province deputy police commanding officer, Musweswa Wakwinji, described the incident as a senseless brutal murder but could not give details and referred all queries to the police spokesperson in Lusaka.

Earlier, some villagers told ZANIS that there have been incidences of children going missing in Senama area.
When asked to lead the ZANIS news crew to anyone of the parents who have lost children, the villagers withdrew.

But Luapula Province Minister Besa Chimbaka, who visited the scene this morning to see the charred bodies of the victims, said people in Senama have been living in fear of suspected ritual killers.

Mr. Chimbaka confirmed having heard rumours that Senama area was suspected to have ritual killers snatching children.

He expressed sadness that the rumours have now resulted into the senseless loss of two lives through mob justice.

He said police must now realise that there was a problem in the area. The minister said there is need to quickly build a fully fledged police station in Senama to secure the lives of people.

ZANIS

The Driving Schools Association of Zambia (DSAZ) has appealed to government to stop the mushrooming of illegal driving schools in the country.
And the association has appealed to government to find lasting solutions to curbing corruption in the transport sector.
DSAZ vice president Hope Kasese told ZANIS in a statement today that the illegal driving schools must be discouraged in order to bring sanity to the transport sector.
Ms. Kasese said quick intervention in the issue will also help enhance protection and safety of people on the roads.
She said government should constantly inspect all driving schools to find out whether they are legally registered and comply with all legal obligations to avoid flooding the transport sector.
She recommended that all schools that fail to meet the required standards should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, Ms Kasese has disclosed that DSAZ will soon release a list of all registered driving schools to protect the public from being trained by illegal instructors who do not possess instructors’ licences as stipulated by the law.
[ ZANIS ]

Former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has called on law enforcement agencies to put in place measures that will curb the escalating levels of political violence in the country.
Mr. Mulongoti says there is need to maintain law as the country holds the tripartite elections this year.

The former Minister pointed out that violence conduct must not be tolerated and political leaders should ensure there is peace and stability in the country.

He says the recent violence perpetrated by political cadres is a wake up call for the security wings to intensify the efforts in maintaining peace.

Mr. Mulongoti also says that if violence is left unchecked, it will have an adverse effect on the good governance of the country.
[ QFM ]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“…Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised”
(Hebrews 6:12, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Are you facing a challenge today that seems overwhelming? Through faith and patience, you will see God’s promises come to pass in your life.

Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. He’d leave you alone if he thought you were going to live in mediocrity. If you keep pressing on toward your promise, through faith and patience, you will get there. Don’t be like the Israelites in the Old Testament who were right next to their promised land when they talked themselves out of it! They said, “There are giants in the land. It’s too difficult.” No, today, don’t look at the obstacles in your life. Lift up your eyes because you serve a supernatural God! Follow the example of Abraham who believed God even when his circumstances looked impossible. Remember, God always rewards the people who seek after Him. Stand in faith and keep believing because God will take you places that you never dreamed. Keep pressing toward the promise so you can live in the supernatural victory He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I come to You today choosing to believe Your promises. Fill me with Your faith and patience to press through to victory. I give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

President Banda has directed the Minister of Mines, Maxwell Mwale, to direct the board of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding ZCCM IH to immediately write off outstanding balances which sitting tenants of 3,386 houses in the Copperbelt province owe the company.

The president has also directed ZCCM-IH to immediately stop recoveries of all outstanding balances and harassment of sitting tenants.

President Banda said he has decided to issue directives because of complaints and petitions which sitting tenants presented to him.

He said the directive refers only to residential properties.

He said it was the hope of government that houses would be sold at reasonable prices but the majority of tenants have struggled to finish paying for the houses due to exorbitant prices.

ZANIS reports that the debt write off will apply to residents in Mufulira with 1,518 houses in Butondo, Kankoyo, Kantanshi and Mupambe townships.

In Luanshya the debt write off applies to 1,011 houses, in Kitwe 732 houses in Wusakile Mindolo Nkana east and west and Chamboli while in Chililambobwe there are 31 houses.

In Kalulushi and Chambishi, the debt writes off affects 92 houses.

President Banda told sitting tenants that the house as theirs and they now have full ownership from today onwards and no parastatal company should intimidate them.

He said the MMD government is a government for all Zambians and therefore, when people complain it must listen.

He said as President, he will not stand by and watch the poor quality of life which the people have allegedly been subjected to by the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) run councils on the Copperbelt.

The President said since last year when he raised concerns over how public money was being abused by PF run councils, nothing has changed in terms of service delivery and this was why he decided to return to Kitwe and issue directives.

He said government has been left with no option but engage directly in finding partners in order to fix some of the roads in the Copperbelt province.

And president Banda has announced that he will soon go back to Kitwe to outline the plan on the road rehabilitation in the Copperbelt province.

He charged that it was not because of elections that government has decided to take up the rehabilitation of roads in the province but because local councils have failed to do so.

ZANIS

Zambian High Commissioner to Canada, Nevers Mumba has predicted that Zambia will have a sustainable, vibrant and diversified economy during President Rupiah Banda’s reign.

Dr. Mumba said the country under President Banda’s leadership has seen robust economic growth coupled with an unprecedented infrastructure development programmes especially in the social sector.

He told ZANIS in an interview that it was therefore important for Zambians to build on the achievements that have been registered through various economic diversification programmes.

Dr. Mumba hoped that government will ensure that the fundamental socio-economic policies that have contributed to recent growth and macroeconomic stability are strengthened.

He said it was gratifying that government has huge amounts of money in its reserves and has continued to register single digit inflation.

Dr. Mumba said Zambians in the diaspora are happy with President Rupiah Banda’s
setting up of a desk for them at State House.

He said the Zambian diplomatic mission in Canada will continue marketing the
country as a preferred tourism and investment destination in Africa.

Dr. Mumba was among other Zambian heads of missions abroad that attended the 2011 Heads of Missions and Senior Management Conference in Chisamba which ended yesterday.

And the Unemployment Association of Zambia has unanimously resolved to support President Rupiah Banda and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) during the forthcoming general elections.

Association president Mpundu Mwanamwelwa told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the organisation will rally behind President Banda because of his government’s good economic policies.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said President Banda’s government has created jobs in the country thereby meeting the association’s aspirations.

He said his organisation, which was formed in 2008, has a sole responsibility of lobbing government to create more jobs for the benefit of all Zambians, which President Banda has started addressing.

He said the President deserves another term of office so that he continues with his development programmes which his administration initiated a few years ago.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said the current government has built many schools, hospitals, clinics and revamped the agriculture sector to guarantee food security in Zambia.

He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.

[pullquote]He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.[/pullquote]

 

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said he was confident that President Rupiah Banda is going to win this year’s election without much difficulty because people will base their voting on what he has done for the country.

He said his organization will help the MMD to conduct a vigorous campaign for President Banda to get a resounding victory.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa has also warned youth in the country not to vote for leaders promoting violence in this country because such leaders would plunge Zambia into chaos, a thing he said should not be entertained at all costs.

He also called on all youths in Zambia to support President Banda if they were to benefit from 50,000 jobs government is scheduled to create in the next few years.

And speaking at the same occasion, Labour Consultant and Human Rights Association of Zambia General Secretary Agrippa Tembo said government should continue empowering youth so that they may be able to stand on their own.

Mr. Tembo further called on all investors in Zambia to complement government efforts in the area of job creation.

He said investors should also stop the trend of recruiting staff from their countries of origin but to always adhere to the labour laws of Zambia.

He expressed sadness that some employers have continued to pay workers as low as K200, 000 despite government increasing the minimum wage of K419 000.

ZANIS